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John Newbery's Bookstore
John Newbery opened a bookstore in St. Paul's Churchyard, London, where he sold and published books for children. These books were created to teach children what was considered proper behavior. -
First American Book for Children
Nathaniel Hawthorne's A Wonder Book for Boys and Girls is considered to be the first American book intended for children. -
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Lewis Carroll's book was written to entertain children, with no moral lesson implied through the plot or characters. This was considered to be revolutionary. -
Heidi
Johanna Spyri's Heidi is published in Switzerland. -
Pinocchio
Carlo Collodi's children's book Pinocchio is published in Italy. -
Child Labor Laws Implemented
After the enforcement of the first child labor laws, more children were able to attend school. As more children gained the ability to read, children's literature rapidly evolved. Children's literature became profitable, so publishing companies established departments specialized in books for children. -
Macmillian: Department for Children's Books
Louise Bechtel Seaman is appointed the head of Macmillan's children's literature department. -
Modern Picture Books Begin Development
From the 1920's through the 1930's, the modern picturebook begins to develop. -
John Newbery Award Established
The John Newbery Award is established by the American Library Association. -
First Woman Editor
Helen Dean Fish becomes the first woman editor for a children's literature field. -
Randolph Caldecott Award Established
The Randolph Caldecott Award is established by the American Library Association. -
Importance of Children's Literature Spreads
From the 1940's through the 1960's, the importance of children's books gained traction in public libraries, schools, and homes. -
Young Adult Renaissance
From the 1960's through the 1970's, the young adult genre underwent a renaissance with the publications of S.E. Hinton's The Outsiders, Paul Zindel's The Pigman, and Judy Blume's Forever. -
Children's Book Press
Harriet Rohmer establishes the Children's Book Press devoted to the publication of bilingual picturebooks due to the lack of diversity. -
Representation of Women
Towards the end of the twentieth century, women began to be represented in nontraditional roles. -
OrbisPictus Award Established
The OrbisPictus Award is established and administered by the National Council of Teachers of English. -
Twenty-First Century
Children's literature continues to evolve in the twenty-first century. New genres and styles have emerged, along with new methods of publishing due to technology.
