<p>This study uses bibliometric analysis to map the development of children’s literature research from 2019 to 2024 and systematically analyze its core issues and emerging trends. Based on data from six English-language children’s literature journals indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection and utilizing CiteSpace software, this study explores and visually represents key authors, keyword co-occurrence patterns, and thematic clusters. Based on keyword clustering analysis, six distinct thematic clusters were identified. Key areas of current research include trauma experiences, crisis situations, cognitive disabilities, death, and age studies in children’s literature. Furthermore, environmental and scientific issues are attracting increasing attention, while the application of artificial intelligence in children’s literature is expected to become a major focus for future research. Methodologically, the reader-response framework has evolved into affect theory and integrated with new materialism, which is anticipated to maintain its prominent role in future academic inquiry. By combining quantitative analysis and visualization, this study provides a reference for identifying some research hotspots in children’s literature and gaining possible insights into future academic trends.</p>