History of Children's Literature

  • John Newbery's Bookstore

    Located in St. Paul's Churchyard, London. Published and sold books for children there. Meant to teach children proper behavior without threatening them if they did not behave.
  • Nathaniel Hawthorne, A Wonder Book for Boys and Girls

    Hawthorne is considered to have written the first American book specifically for children. However, American children did not see the difference in British or American or other countries books. To them they were all the same
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    Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventure in Wonderland & Through the Looking Glass

    One of the first authors that encouraged children's imagination instead of instruction. Written purely for the child's pleasure with no morals or lessons taught in the book.
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    Johanna Spyri's, Heidi

    Published in Switzerland. Children in America read the book not knowing that it was from another country.
  • Carlo Collodi's, Pinocchio

    Originally published from Italy. Children in America read the book not knowing that it was from another country.
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    Selma Lagerlöf's, The Wonderful Adventures of Nils

    Published in Sweden. Children in America read the book not knowing that it was from another country.
  • Child Labor Laws

    Once passed children were free to go to school to learn how to read and write which allowed for the quality and type of books for children to increase. New technology permitted library to rapidly develop as publishing became cheaper. Literature for children became profitable and established departments specifically for children's books.
  • Macmillan: U.S. Publishing House

    Launched a children's book only department and appointed Louise Bechtel Seaman, an editor of adult books and taught in a progressive school, as department head.
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    Picture Books

    Modern picture books began to develop
  • John Newbery Award

    Established by the American Library Association.
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    Helen Dean Fish & May Massee

    The first two women to become children's book editors. They were both at different companies.
  • The Horn Book Magazine

    Published by the Bookshop for Boys and Girls in Boston. Under guidance of Bertha Mahony and Elinor Whitney.
  • May Massee

    Moved to open children's book department at Viking which sparked other publishers to do the same thing. This caused children's literature to blossom.
  • Randolph Caldecott Award

    Followed the John Newbery Award.
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    Racial Representation in Books

    Few books were published representing pluralistic, balanced racial and ethnic parallel cultures even though the number of US residents that identify with the parallel culture increased.
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    Women Representation

    Could not find women or girl in books that were not the traditional roles of them at that time.
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    Young Adult Literature

    Went through a robust renaissance and began publishing books such as S.E. Hinton's The Outsiders, Paul Zindel's The Pigman, Robert Lipsyte's The Contender, Robert Cormier's The Chocolate War, and Judy Blume's Forever, and many others.
  • Children's Book Press

    Established by Harriet Rohmer. She was disgusted by the lack of diversity in picture books, so she created her own that would publish bilingual picture books that reflected a diversity of cultural experiences.
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    Contemporary Realistic Fiction

    Showed the difference of society's perception on women/ girls and social class. More books included poor or working class characters.
  • Just Us Books

    Influenced by Harriet Rohmer, the spall press addressed the lack of diversity in picture books and encouraged forward thinking editors such as Phyllis Fogelman at Dial, who supported and encouraged many African American authors and illustrators.
  • Orbis Pictus Award

    Administrated by the National Council of Teacher of English to reflect the popularity of non-fiction books.
  • Bishop Study

    In his study he found that from 1990 to 1992 only 3 to 4 percent of children's books published were related to people of color.
  • Michael L. Printz Award

    Administrated by the American Library Association. The establishment of the award marked the increasing popularity of adolescents literature.
  • Robert F. Sibert Award

    Administrated by the American Library Associate for outstanding informational books.
  • International Children's Digital Library (ICDL)

    Helped to translate books for children all around the world.
  • Geisel Award

    Celebrates the differences and diversity of the different genres of books and the creativity of people mixing them and furthering the popularity of the genres.