-
In London, John Newbery opened a bookstore where he not only sold books for children, but also published them. His books were about teaching children proper behavior like most books were in those days. The difference was his books did not follow with threats if they didn't behave.
-
Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote a children's book titled, A Wonder Book for Boys and Girls. Hawthorne's book is considered the first American book that was written for children. Most children's books came from England.
-
While most books that came from England had lessons and morals taught, new books from author's like Lewis Carroll were emerging. Carroll wrote Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, which was written for children's pleasure only. Later on in 1977 Carroll also wrote Though the Looking Glass
-
When child labor laws started to pass in 1907, more children were allowed to attend school. There was free public school for grades 1st through 8th grade. With more kids learning how to read and write, their selection of books began to increase. Children were starting to gain more access as libraries started to open too. There started to be a profit for children's literature.
-
Macmillan is a US publishing house and in 1919 they added a new department that was just for children's books. Louise Bechtel Seaman became the department head.
-
The American Library Association established the John Newbery Award. They give this award is given to authors who they feel make a distinguished contribution to American literature for children. The first award went to Hendrick Willem can Loon (Liveright) for The Story of Mankind.
-
Helen Dean Fish and May Massee, two women, became the first children's books editors. They did not work for the same company.
-
May Massee opened a children's book department at Viking. This caused a ripple affect as more children's book departments began opening by other publishers. This then caused for children's literature to take off into the 20th century.
-
After the John Newbery award was created, the Randolph Caldecott Award was established. This award goes to the best illustrated children's book every year. The first award went to Helen Dean Fish (Stokes) for Animals of the Bible, A Picture Book.
-
Very few children's books published showed diversity.
-
Books represented females in only "traditional" roles. By the end of the 20th century this began to change to show females in less traditional roles. Even subjects like social class began to change too. Diversity in young adult books began to emerge through author's like S.E. Hinton, Paul Zindel, and Robert Lipsyte.
-
Ashley Bryan was the first African American to not only write a children's book, but illustrate it too.
-
Harriet Rohmer was bothered with picture books because of their lack of diversity, so she established the Children's Book Press. It focused on the diversity of other cultures and made bilingual picture books.
-
This was another press company that established due to the lack of diversity in children's books. Phyllis Fogelman, who was an editor, encouraged and supported African American authors and illustrators.
-
Non-fiction writing didn't get a lot of attention until the end of the 20th century. The OrbisPictus Award was established by the National Council of Teachers of English. The first award went to Jean Fritz (Putnam) for The Great Little Madison.
-
Only 3-4% published children's books related to people of color.
-
Less than 3% of books published each year were by or about people of color.
-
The American Library creates the Michael L. Printz Award. This award is given annually for the best book written for teens on its literary merit. The first award went to Walter Dean Myers for Monster.
-
The American Library Association established the Robert F. Sibert
Award for the best informational book. The first winner of this award was Marc Aronson for Sir Walter Ralegh and the Quest for El Dorado.
