Timeline of the History of Children's Literature

  • John Newbery

    John Newbery

    John Newbery published and sold books meant to teach children proper behavior.
  • Nathaniel Hawthorne

    Nathaniel Hawthorne

    Nathaniel Hawthorne (1851-1893) was the first American author to write books for children.
  • Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures In Wonderland

    Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures In Wonderland

    Alice's adventure in wonderland was reprinted in English-speaking countries to give English-speaking children access to the book since most children's books came to North America from England.
  • Child Labor Laws

    Child Labor Laws

    Children were increasingly learning how to read and write due to child labor laws that permitted children to go to school. Thus, more books for children were published during this time.
  • Macmillan Publishing House

    Macmillan Publishing House

    US Macmillan Publishing House launched its first children's book department to target young readers.
  • Picture books

    Picture books

    During the 1920s and 1930s, picture books gained popularity.
  • American Library Association

    American Library Association

    The ALA established the John Newbery Award to recognize distinguished authors of American Literature for children.
  • Helen Dean Fish and May Massee

    Helen Dean Fish and May Massee

    In 1922 and 1923, Fish and Massee became the first editors of children's books.
  • Viking

    Viking

    May Massee, the first children's book editor, opens up a children's book store at Viking.
  • The Rise of Children and Young Adult Books

    The Rise of Children and Young Adult Books

    In the 1940s and 1960s, children's and young adult books were essential and found in libraries, schools, homes, and Publishing houses.
  • Harriet Rohmer

    Harriet Rohmer

    Rohmer establishes Children's Book Press, and her main focus was to publish bilingual picture books that reflect diversity.
  • Just Us Book Press

    Just Us Book Press

    This book press supported African-American authors and illustrators.
  • People of Color

    People of Color

    Less than 3% of books published during this time were written by or represented people of color.
  • Sibert Award and Twenty-First Century

    Sibert Award and Twenty-First Century

    The American Library Association recognizes authors with the Sibert Award for outstanding informational books. Literature for children in the Twenty-First century continues to be on the rise and it reflects the diversity of people and many different genres. In addition, it comes in many different forms such as ebooks and audiobooks.