The History of Children' Literature

  • Bookstore

    John Newbery opened a bookstore in St.Paul's churchyard in London. He published and sold books for children.
  • School

    Child labor laws were passed, which freed children to go to school.
  • Publishing

    US publishing house Macmillian launched a department devoted to children's books.
  • Period: to

    Development

    Children's books began to develop picture books and young adult books became a super important necessity in schools, libraries, homes, and publishing houses.
  • Award

    The John Newbery Award was established by the American Library Association
  • Period: to

    Women Editors

    Helen Dean Fish and May Massee, became the first
    children’s books editors, each at a different company
  • Magazine

    The Horn Book Magazine was published
    by the Bookshop for Boys and Girls in Boston
  • Children Books Department

    May Massee moved to open a children’s
    books department at Viking.
  • Period: to

    Roles of Women

    There was a lack of children's books that represent women or girls in "nontraditional" roles.
  • Publication

    Harriet Rohmer established
    Children’s Book Press, devoted to the publication of
    bilingual picturebooks that reflected a diversity of cultural experiences.
  • Other small presses

    Other small presses such as Just Us
    Books were founded.
  • People of color

    Bishop found that only 3 to 4 percent of the children’s
    books published in 1990, 1991, and 1992 related to
    people of color.