Chapter One

  • Early Years

    Children read off chapbooks, battledores of the alphabet or Bible verses. They also had hornbooks made from odd materials.
  • First bookstore

    Opening of the first bookstore fro children, in St. Paul’s Churchyard, London, by John Newbery.
  • Various Genres

    Various genres in children's literature began ti providing a wider selection for young readers.
  • Libraries

    Charitable individuals allowed public library systems to
    develop quickly, this put more books in the hands of children worldwide.
  • Labor Laws

    The passing of the first Labor Laws, leading to more children to attend school and an increase in children's books.
  • Period: to

    More Books

    Modern picture books began to develop for children’s and young adults’ book. They became an increasingly important part of libraries, schools, homes, and publishing houses. There was also a spread of public libraries with rooms just for children and adolescent books.
  • Newbery Awards

    The development of the John Newbery Award was established by the American Library Association.
  • Bilingual Picture books

    Harriet Rohmer established Children’s Book Press, it was devoted to the publication of bilingual picture books that reflected a diversity of cultural experiences.
  • Books for Fun

    Books for Fun
    Lewis Carroll’s two books, Alice’s Adventures
    in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass were reprinted in English-speaking
    countries.
  • Continuing to Grow

    Literature for young readers continues to evolve. with experimentation with innovative techniques and genre mixing, the development
    of electronic books (e-books) and apps.