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History of Children's Literature

  • Spiritual Milk for Boston Babes

    Spiritual Milk for Boston Babes
    In 1656 minister John Cotton published the first known children's book for children. The book is a catechism
  • First Bookstore opened for Children

    First Bookstore opened for Children
    In 1744, John Newberry opened up the first book store geared towards children. He wrote and published books specifically for children. Location of bookstore is in St. Paul's Churchyard London
  • A Wonder Book for Boys and Girls

    A Wonder Book for Boys and Girls
    Nathanial Hawthorne writes the first American children's book. The book was the retellings of Greek Mythology
  • Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

    Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
    In 1865 Lewis Carroll wrote the first book for children that was purely for pleasure. Alice's Adventures is one of the most popular English-language fiction books that has never been out of print.
  • Heidi

    Heidi
    Swiss Author Johanna Spyri wrote the original Heidi in two separate children's novels.
  • Pinocchio

    Pinocchio
    In 1883 Italian author Carlo Collodi wrote Pinocchio.
  • The Wonderful Adventures of Nils

    The Wonderful Adventures of Nils
    Selma Lagerlöf wrote The Wonderful Adventures of Nils, as well as part two the following year. She was the first woman to win the Noble Peace Prize in literature and advocated for spelling reform.
  • First department of Children's books at Macmillan

    First department of Children's books at Macmillan
    Macmillan, a US publishing house devoted the department to Children's literature. (logo was for Alice's Adventures-published with Macmillan)
  • John Newbery Award Established

    John Newbery Award Established
    In 1922, the American Library Association established the John Newbery Award.
  • First Children's book Editor, Helen Dean Fish

    First Children's book Editor, Helen Dean Fish
    Helen Dean Fish became the first children's book editor at Stokes publishing.
  • May Massee, Children's book editor

    May Massee, Children's book editor
    May Massee, was the 2nd children's book editor and instrumental in creating the juvenile book departments for two US publishing houses that she worked with. Doubleday and second to follow...
  • First Children's Magazine

    First Children's Magazine
    The Horn Book Magazine was published by the Bookshop for Boys and Girls in Boston. This was the first bi-monthly magazine that reviewed children's literature. It was run by Bertha Mahony and Elinor Whitney
  • May Massee opens Children's/Juniors Department at Viking Press

    May Massee opens Children's/Juniors Department at Viking Press
    in 1933, May Massee moves to Viking Press and opens up children's/junior's departments.
  • Randolph Caldecott Award Established

    Randolph Caldecott Award Established
    In 1938 the Randolph Caldecott Award was established for the previous' year most distinguished American Children's picture book.
  • Period: to

    The spread of Children's/young adults book in public libraries, schools, homes, and publishing houses.

    From the 1940s-1960s, CHildren's and juniors books began to increase. This lead to departments devoted strictly to these ages. This brought out eager readers to pay visits to libraries to read and enjoy the influx of books at their fingertips.
  • Children's Book Press

    Children's Book Press
    Due to lack of diversity, in 1975 Harriet Rohmer established Children's Book Press that published bilingual picturebooks that reflected diversity of culture. This lead to other small presses to follow in her footsteps...
  • Just Us Book was founded

    Just Us Book was founded
    In 1988, Just Us Books was founded by Wade Hudson and Cheryl Willis Hudson. As CEO, writer, and publisher between the both of them they have written over 50 children's books themselves.