History of Children's Literature

  • John Newbery

    John Newbery
    He sold along with published books for children in a bookstore that he opened in St. Paul's Churchyard in London. Students at this time were given materials such as hornbooks, chapbooks and battledores which were all used to instruct children. However, Newbery's books were designed to teach children proper behavior, while not threatening them as other literature did.
  • Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

    Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
    Written By: Lewis Carroll
  • Books Published

    Books Published
    Songs of Childhood
    Written By: Walter de la Mare Just So Stories
    Written By: Rudyard Kipling Five Children and It
    Written By: E. Nesbit The Tale of Peter Rabbit
    Written By: Beatrix Potter
  • Child Labor Laws

    Child Labor Laws
    With the passing of the first child labor laws it allowed children to go to school. This in turn allowed children to learn how to read and write in first through eighth-grade public schools.
  • Advancement

    Advancement
    With advancements in technology it reduced the cost of publishing. Along with the generosity of individuals it allowed public library systems to develop quickly while putting books in the grasp of children worldwide. This caused children's literature to become extremely profitable so publishers began establishing departments especially for children's books.
  • Books Published

    Books Published
    The Wind in the Willows
    Written By: Kenneth Grahame
    Anne of Green Gables
    Written By: L. M. Montgomery
  • Peter Pan

    Peter Pan
    Written By: James M. Barrie
  • Macmillan Publishing House

    Macmillan Publishing House
    Macmillan Publish House commenced a department that was completely devoted to children’s books. Louise Bechtel Seaman became the head of the department because she previously worked as an editor of adult books and taught in a progressive school.
  • John Newbery Award

    John Newbery Award
    The John Newbery Award was created by the American Library Association
  • The Velveteen Rabbit

    The Velveteen Rabbit
    Written By:Margery Williams
  • Children’s Book Editors

    Helen Dean Fish and May Massee became the first two women children’s book editors, and both women worked for a different company.
  • When We Were Very Young

    When We Were Very Young
    Written By: A. A. Milne
  • Books Published

    Books Published
    The Story of Babar
    Written By: Jean de Brunhoff
    Marry Poppins
    Written By: P. L. Travers
  • The Yearling

    The Yearling
    Written By: Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings
  • Randolph Caldecott Award

    Randolph Caldecott Award
    The Randolph Caldecott Award was created by the American Library Association
  • Books Published

    Books Published
    Madeline
    Written By: Ludwig Bemelmans
    Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats
    Written by: T. S. Eliot
  • Books Published

    Books Published
    Betsy-Tacy
    Written By: Maud Hart Lovelace
    Lassie Come-Home
    Written By: Eric Knight
  • Development 1940's-1960's

    Development 1940's-1960's
    Young adults’ and children’s books became progressively more important part of schools, homes, libraries and publishing houses. This caused a spread of public libraries the offered rooms that were dedicated to children’s and adolescents’ reading interests which invited an eager audience to read books and magazines along with listening to stories told aloud.
  • Books Published

    Books Published
    Make Way for Ducklings
    Written By: Robert McCloskey
    Curious George
    Written By: H. A. Rey
  • Johnny Tremain

    Johnny Tremain
    Written By: Esther Forbes
  • The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

    The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
    Written By: C. S. Lewis
  • Books Published

    Books Published
    The Borrowers
    Written By: Mary Norton
    Charlotte’s Web
    Written By: E. B. White
  • Books Published

    Books Published
    The Children of Green Knowe
    Written By: Lucy M. Boston
    The Eagle of the Ninth
    Written By: Rosemary Sutcliff
    The Fellowship of the Ring
    Written By: J.R.R Tolkein
  • Tom's Midnight Garden

    Tom's Midnight Garden
    Written By: Philippa Pearce
  • Women in Literature 1960-1970

    Women in Literature 1960-1970
    It was difficult at this time to find books that presented women and girls in “nontraditional” roles. However, towards the end of the twentieth century female characters reflected a profound change in society's perceptions of roles for women and girls, along with a slight transformation in social class.
  • Books Publised

    Books Publised
    The Snowy Day
    Written By: Ezra Jack Keats
    A Wrinkle in Time
    Written By: Madeleine L’Engle
  • Where the Wild Things Are

    Where the Wild Things Are
    Written By: Maurice Sendak
  • Books Published

    Books Published
    The Book of Three
    Written By: Lloyd Alexander
    Harriet the Spy
    Written By: Louise Fitzhugh
  • Books Published

    Books Published
    Zeely
    Written By: Virginia Hamilton
    The Outsiders
    Written By: S. E. Hinton
  • Books Publisehd

    Books Publisehd
    A Wizard of Earthsea
    Written By: Ursula Le Guin
    The Pigman
    Written By: Paul Zindel
  • Children's Book Press

    Children's Book Press
    Children’s Book Press was established by Harriet Rohmer when she became disturbed by the lack of picture books that reflected diversity. Children’s Book Press became devoted to the publication of bilingual picture books that reflected diversity of cultural experiences.
  • Just Us Books

    Just Us Books
    Just Us Books was founded in 1988 and it was established to address the lack of diversity in the field. Editors like Phyllis Fogelman, encouraged and supported the work of several now-notable African American authors and Illustrators.