Books

Timeline of 19th and 20th Century Children's Literature

  • Fables Ancient and Modern (adapted for the use of children) by William Godwin

    Fables Ancient and Modern (adapted for the use of children) by William Godwin
    The book translates a variety of stories from the First Book of Homer's Lilan, Ovid's Metamorphoses, Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, and many more into children stories. The author thought that by translating them to children he was somehow connecting English Literature with great works of the past.
  • Five weeks in a Balloon by Jules Verne

    Five weeks in a Balloon by Jules Verne
    First major science fiction novel.
  • The Jungle Book

    The Jungle Book
    This was a popular book for girls but in 1895 the second Jungle Book was thought to appeal both sexes.
  • Little Women by Louisa May Alcott's

    Little Women by Louisa May Alcott's
    These types of stories were often domestic and celebrated the family life for girls.
  • The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain

    The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
    Encouraged boys to have adventures.
  • Winnie The Pooh by A. A. Milne

    Winnie The Pooh by A. A. Milne
    Popular picture book was create.
  • And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street by Dr Seuss

    And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street by Dr Seuss
    First Dr. Seuss book. Very popular in children literature later in time.
  • The Hobbit

    The Hobbit
    Fantasy books became popular, later came The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe in 1950, and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in 1997.
  • The Outsiders by Susan Eloise Hinton

    The Outsiders by Susan Eloise Hinton
    Books started treating subjects like death, drugs, sex, urban crisis, discrimination, the environment, and women's liberation.
  • The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

    The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
    Picture books became very popular in Family homes.
  • Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling

    Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling
    Harry Potter and many more books became movies, changing the views of children and young adults. By watching the movie kids began to want to read the books or because they would watch the movie they wouldn't care about the books.
  • Insect Soup (bug poems) by Barry Louis Polisar

    Insect Soup (bug poems) by Barry Louis Polisar
    The International Children’s Digital Library
    (ICDL) was made by the University of Maryland
    which allows children to read books from different counties electronically.
  • Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey

    Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey
    Children’s literature has improved with all the technology and authors making better quality literature and series books.
  • The Help by Kathryn Stockett

    The Help by Kathryn Stockett
    The need to educate children/young adults began to grow. Books that would address race and discrimination became popular.
  • The Fault in our Stars by John Green

    The Fault in our Stars by John Green
    Young adult books that represent every conceivable
    genre and literary style became very popular.