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In London, John Newberry opened a bookstore where he supplied books for children. The books were meant to teach children proper behavior in a way that was less threatening than the reading materials children were being given, such as battledores and hornbooks.
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Nathaniel Hawthorne writes first American book specifically for children titled, "A Wonder Book for Boys and Girls"
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Most children's books were coming to North America from England. The books were intended for instruction. However, people soon realized that literature helped foster a child's imagination. Lewis Carroll's "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" and "Through the Looking Glass" were written solely for children's enjoyment.
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The first child labor laws are passed allowing children to go to school. The quantity and types of books published for children increased rapidly since they were learning to read and write. Around the same time, publishing costs were reduced, and public library systems were developed rapidly. Children's literature became profitable, and publishers started to establish departments for children's literature
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The US publishing house, Macmillan, launched a department devoted solely to children's books. Louise Bechtel Seaman becomes department head.
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Modern picture books began to develop.
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The John Newbery Award was established by the American Library Association.
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Helen Dean Fish and May Massee became the first women to become children's books editors at different publishing companies.
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The Horn Book Magazine was published by the Bookshop for Boys and Girls in Boston under Bertha Mahony and Elinor Whitney.
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May Massee opens a children's books department at Viking. Other publishers began to open children's books departments.
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The Randolph Caldecott Award is created.
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Through the 1940s to 1960s, children's and young adult literature became an important part of libraries, schools, homes, and publishing houses.
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Due to the lack of diversity in picture books, Harriet Rohmer established Children's Book Press, devoted to the publication of bilingual picture books about various diverse cultural experiences and backgrounds.
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Other small presses were founded to address the lack of diversity. Phylliss Fogelman, as well as other forward-thinking editors, encouraged and supported the work of several notable African-American authors and illustrators.
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Nonfiction received increased attention by the establishment of the OrbisPictus Award and the Robert F. Sibert Award in 2001.
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The resurgence of adolescent literature was marked by the creation of the Michael L. Printz Award administered by the American Library Association.
