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John Newbery opened a bookstore in St. Paul's Churchyard, London. He published and sold books for children. His books were meant to teach children proper behavior, but unlike earlier literature, he did not threaten them if they did not behave.
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Nathaniel Hawthorne is considered the author of the first American book written specifically for children, A Wonder Book for Boys and Girls.
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Most children's books came to North America from England. These books were intended for instruction but became books that nurtured children's imagination. In 1865, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland was written by Lewis Carroll, and was reprinted in English speaking countries all over the world.
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In 1871, Lewis Carroll wrote Through the Looking Glass, which was written to give pleasure to children.
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England is known as a major source of literature for North American children led the way to global publishing.
1883- Italy, Carlo Collodi's "Pinocchio"
1879- Switzerland, Johanna Spyri's "Heidi"
1906- Sweden, Selma Lagerlof's The Wonderful Adventures of "Nils" -
Child Labor Laws were passed which freed children to attend school. Children began to learn to read and write which created a rapid increase the quality and types of books published.
New Technologies and charitable individuals, helped with cost and allowed public library system to reach a number of children worldwide. Publishers began to establish departments of children's books. -
US publishing house Macmillan created a department dedicated to children's books. Editor of adult books and teacher, Louise Bechtel Seaman, was appointed department head.
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The John Newbery Award was established by the American Library Association. The award is the first children's book award in the world. The award is given for the most distinguished American children's book published the previous year.
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Helen Dean Fish and May Massee, became the first female books editors for children's books. They were each from a different company.
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In 1924, The Horn Magazine was published by the 'Bookshop for Boys and Girls' in Boston under the guidance of Bertha Mahony and Elinor Whitney.
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May Massee moved to open a children's books department at Viking. Other publishers started to open children's books departments, and the children's literature grew into the twentieth century.
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The Randolph Caldecott Award was established. The award is a second annual medal. The medal is given to the artist who had created the most distinguished picture book of the year and named in honor of the nineteenth-century English illustrator Randolph J. Caldecott.
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The growth of literature was noted beginning in the 1920's- 1930's, with the development of modern picturebooks.
In the 1940's- 1960's, Children's and young adult's books became an increasingly important part of libraries, schools, homes, and publishing houses. -
The lack of picturebooks reflecting diversity influenced Harriet Rohmer to establish Children's Book Press. Children's Book Press was dedicated to the publication of bilingual picturebooks that reflected a diversity of cultural experiences.
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Just Us Books was established to address the lack of diversity in the field, and forward-thinking editors such as Phyllis Fogelman, which encouraged and supported the work of several now-notable African American authors and illustrators.
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The increasing attention paid to non-fiction in the final decades of the twentieth century is reflected by the initiation of the OrbisPictus Award, administered by the National Council of Teachers of English.
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The revival of adolescent literature was marked by the establishment of the Michael L. Printz Award, this award was administered by the American Library Association.
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The Robert F. Sibert Award is for outstanding informational books, administered by the American Library Association.
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Literature continues to evolve along many dimensions in content and form. Books continue to reflect on popular and relevant content such as diversity.
