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John Newberry opened a bookstore in St. Paul's Churchyard, London. He published and sold children's books.
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A Wonder Book for Boys and Girls written by Nathaniel Hawthorne was the first American book written specifically for children.
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Lewis Carroll's book, Alice in Wonderland came to North America from England and was reprinted in English. Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass were revolutionary for being purely for children's enjoyment. Prior to this, books were for the purpose of learning.
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The first child labor laws were passed and children were able to go to school and learned to read and write. The quality of books published for them increased rapidly.
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Macmillan, a US publishing house, launches a department devoted to only children's books. This department was headed by Louise Bechtel Seaman. She worked as an editor of adult books and was a teacher in progressive schools.
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In the 1920s through the 1930s, more modern picture books began developing.
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The American Library Association established the John Newberry Award.
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Helen Dean Fish and May Massee became the first children's book editors. They worked for different companies.
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From the 1940s through the 1960s, these books became increasingly important and in libraries, homes, and schools.
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Harriet Rohmer established Children's Book Press and created bilingual picturebooks reflecting diversity in 1975. In 1988, Just Us Books was established and created diverse books as well.
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In the Twentieth Century books started portraying non-traditional outlooks for women and girls such as women working outside of the home. Literature slowly began to reflect diversity.
