The study of children's literature, of the prose and poetry that compels children to become and to remain readers, properly belongs in the college English department. The importance of accepting children's literature as a legitimate course in the humanities may be seen in the following three reasons: teachers with a background in, and critical appreciation of, all literature will be much better able to instill in children a love of good books; the alternatives--teachers exposed to children's literature in schools of library science or of education--are less desirable and not as likely to focus on literary excellence; and children nurtured by good literature will be much more likely to study the humanities when they get to college. (JM)