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Period: Jan 1, 1500 to
Book Themes
Children's Literature is a hard thing to define because of the change in the world, the change in the target audience etc. However from the period of 16th-18th century, books were based on the teaching of morals and education. -
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John Locke
John Locke wrote the influensial essay, "Thoughts Concerning Education" in which he formulated the notion that children's minds are blank slates just waiting to be written upon and instructed, Locke believed that children possessed the capacity for learning and that it was the responsibilty of the adults to see to the proper education of children. So children continued to adopt certian adult writing such as Pilgrim's Progress and Gulliver's Travels. -
A Token for Children: Being an Exact Account of the Conversion, Holy and Examplary Lives, and Joyful Deaths of Several Young Children
Religious and moral lessons for young children were displayed throughout this book. The book is about children dying at young ages. This relates to this century's genre because it teaches children information as well as entertains. -
The Pilgrim's Progress
The Pilgrim's Progress is about the journey of Christian, a man who is seeking his salvation on a pilgrimage to Heaven. Along the way, Christian encounters many obstacles that test his faith as well as many characters that are useful in showing him the difference between right and wrong, from the perspective of Christian religious faith. This shows to be an example of the Moral, Educational and Relgioius books for the 17th Century. -
Some Thoughts Concerning Education
John Locke, famous writer and philosopher wrote this particular book called, "Some Thoughts Concerning Education". This book was the most important book of Education in England. This book is different from most modern story books because reads more like a instruction manual than a story. -
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17th Century Literature
During this time period, adults recognized the special need of chidhood, the needs children, including childhood reading. There were two specific influences of childhood reading in this time period, religion and intellect.
During this time period there was there was the rise of Puritanism, that placed special emphasis on the individua's need to tend to his or her own salvation. Also the work of John Locke the philosopher has a major impact. -
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John Newbury
He was the first one to create books for children that were meant to be educational and entertaining. Newbury led the way for aspiring authors of this time and created a new outlook upon childrens literature. HIs inspiring pieces of literature led him to be honored by having the "Newbury Award" named after him. The award bestoed upon the most outstanding pieces of children's literature. -
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Anna Laetitia Barbauld
Her poems were often very personal, and showed multiple sides to her character. She wrote devotional pieces and books on the education of small children. Through her writing she encourages children to love God, and she addresses their fears of darkness and death. -
A Pretty Little Pocket Book
Written by John Newbury, "A Little Pretty Pocket Book" teaches children about the alphabet. It provided educational information and excitement for the children of this time. -
Emile; or on Education
This book is a formal explanation on the nature of man. It discusses political and philosophical questions regarding the individual’s relationship to society.In Emile, Rousseau attempts to describe a system of education that will enable the “natural man” to live within corrupt society and gives some specific tips for raising children. -
Lessons For Children
Barbauld demanded that her books be printed in large type with wide margins so that children could easily read them and, even more important, she developed a style of "informal dialogue between parent and child" that would dominate children's literature for a generation.Barbauld employs the concept of a mother teaching her son. This book shows Locke's ideas of children being blank slates and that the adults responibility to educate the child. -
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18th Century Literature
During this era, signifiant separation between adults literatue and children's literature was created. Children's novels consisted of shorter and easier sentances, lots of pictures, rhymes, and games. A new world was created, one "for children only. These books were now meant to be educational as well as entertaining.
