History of Children's Literature

  • John Newberry opened a bookstore in London, where he sold and published children's books.

  • Nathanial Hawthorne is the author of the first American book written for children

  • First Child Labor Laws passed

  • US publishing house created a department entirely for children's books

  • Period: to

    Modern picture books were created

  • The John Newberry Award was created

  • Period: to

    Helen Dean Fish and May Massee became the first children's book editors

  • The Randolph Caldecott Award was created

  • Period: to

    Children's and young adult books became an important part of libraries, homes, and publishing houses.

  • Period: to

    It was difficult to find books about girls and women in nontraditional roles.

  • Ashley Bryan was the first African American to both write and illustrate a children's book

  • Coretta Scott King Award for African American literature was created

  • Harriet Rohmer created Children's Book Press to publish bilingual picture books about diversity

  • The first African American to win the Newberry Award for M.C. Higgins, The Great.

  • Just Us Books was created to address the lack of diversity and also supports work of African American authors and illustrators.

  • Latino literature began to increase popularity

  • Bishop found that only 3% to 4 % of children's books published between 1990 to 1992 were about people of color.

  • The Pure Belpre Award for Latino literature was created

  • International Children's Digital Library was created

  • 400 books became available online

  • The CCBC received 3,400 books and only 156 books had African content, 22 books had American Indians content, 64 books had Asian content, and 66 books had Latino content.

Plan projects on a visual timeline

Map milestones, phases, deadlines, and key events in one place so the sequence is easier to see and share. Timetoast is a timeline maker for work, school, research, and stories.