APA 7
APA 7th Edition is the most commonly used referencing style here at the University of Portsmouth. Below you will find general guidance on how to reference and cite using APA 7th Edition, as well as examples for the specific sources you are likely to use in your assignments.
Your department or lecturer may prefer you to reference sources differently from the guidance given here. Always follow the requirements of your department or lecturer.
External visitors are welcome to use this guide, but note that your institution's requirements may differ from those suggested here.
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References for children’s books should follow the format for books, but include the illustrator’s name in addition to the author’s name. Both names are included because the author and illustrator of a children’s book work together creatively to tell the story. A children’s book illustrator helps create the entire work.
Although other types of books may include illustrations, these illustrations generally have a different purpose. For example, a young adult novel may include decorative illustrations, but the essence of the book would usually remain without them, meaning the purpose is supportive. Likewise, a textbook may include illustrations such as medical diagrams or photographs, but the purpose is functional. Thus, only the authors, not any illustrators, appear in references for young adult novels or textbooks.
You do not need to provide series titles or numbers for children's books which are part of a series.
There is no test for whether a book is a “children’s book.” Some cases may be ambiguous, and you will need to use your judgment when referencing these sources.
Children's books with an author and illustrator
Reference
When an illustrator is prominently credited (i.e. on the cover), include the illustrator’s name after the title. Provide the illustrator’s name or names and the abbreviation “Illus.” in brackets, separated with a comma. The name of the illustrator of the book needs to be formatted slightly differently, with their initial before their surname.
Author, Initials. (Year of publication). Title of book (Initials. Illustrator of book, Illus.). Publisher.
Davies, N. (2012). Just ducks! (S. Rubbino, Illus.). Walker.
In-text citation
If you mention the title of the artwork in your sentence, use italics for this.
For information about the use of page numbers within in-text citations, please see our guidance here.
In Just ducks! (Davies, 2012) this technique is used to...
Davies (2012) uses this technique to...
Children’s books written and illustrated by the same person
When the author and illustrator are the same, credit that person twice: once as author and once as illustrator. Note that the name needs to be formatted slightly differently for the illustrator component, with their initial before their surname.
Reference
Author, Initials. (Year of publication). Title of book (Initials. Illustrator of book, Illus.). Publisher.
Garton, S. (2015). Otter loves Halloween (S. Garton, Illus.). Balzer & Bray.
In-text citation
If you mention the title of the artwork in your sentence, use italics for this.
For information about the use of page numbers within in-text citations, please see our guidance here.
In Otter loves Halloween (Garton, 2019, p. 6) the characters are shown...
Garton (2019) describes this...
Republished children's books
Classic children’s books are often republished. If you are using a republished version, include the year of this version in the main date element of the reference, and include the original year of publication at the end of the reference in brackets. When the republication is part of an anniversary edition or other special edition, include the edition information in brackets after the title and after information about the illustrator. Adjust the wording as needed to reflect the information on the work.
Reference
Author, Initials. (Year of publication). Title of book (Initials. Illustrator of book, Illus., edition details if applicable). Publisher. (Original work published Year of original publication)
Kerr, J. (2020). Mog the forgetful cat (J. Kerr, Illus., 50th anniversary ed.). HarperCollins. (Original work published 1970)
In-text citation
If you mention the title of the artwork in your sentence, use italics for this.
In-text citations for republished works require both the initial publication and republication dates, in numerical order.
For information about the use of page numbers within in-text citations, please see our guidance here.
In Mog the forgetful cat (Kerr, 1970/2020, p. 11) the pet cat is depicted as...
Kerr (1970/2020) shows her central character...
Children's books which have been translated
If the book has been translated from another language, include the name of the translator in the reference. This should be placed after the illustrator details, separated from them with a semicolon.
Reference
Author, Initials. (Year of translated publication). Title of book (Initials, Illustrator name, Illus.; Initials, Translator name, Trans.). Publisher. (Original work published Year of original publication)
Minne, B. (2017). Witchfairy (C. Cneut, Illus.; L. Watkinson, Trans.). Book Island. (Original work published 2000)
In-text Citation
If you mention the title of the artwork in your sentence, use italics for this.
In-text citations for translated works require both the initial and translated publication dates, in numerical order.
For information about the use of page numbers within in-text citations, please see our guidance here.
In Witchfairy (Minne, 2000/2017) this is shown by...
Minne (2000/2017, p. 10) demonstrates this by...