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The Early Years
Children were given chapbooks (badly printed books sold by peddlers or chapmen), battledores (folded sheets of cardboard covered with crude woodcuts), and hornbooks ( small wooden paddles with lesson sheets). -
Bookstore
John Newbery opened a bookstore in St. Paul's Churchyard in London. He published and sold books for children. -
Global Publishing
England supplied North American children with literature for generations. American children did not make distinctions between books from America or other countries. They read Italian (pinocchio 1883), Heidi published in Switzerland (1879-80), and others. -
First American Book for Children
Nathaniel Hawthorne is considered the first American author to write a book intended for children. A Wonder Book for Boys and Girls -
Nurturing Children's imagination Through Books
Lewis Caroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass were reprinted in English speaking countries all over the world with no morals or lessons intended for children to read. -
Child Labor Laws Freed Children
With more children learning to read through the public school system, more books became published. Technology also helped reduced publishing cost and the public library system developed. -
Department Entirely Devoted to Children's Literature
US publishing house Macmillan opened a department entirely about Children's literature. -
Award Established
John Newbery Award and in 1938 Randolph Calecott Award was established by the American Library Association. -
1920's through 1960's Modern Picture Books
Modern picture books began to develop and children's literature became an important part of libraries, schools, and homes. Libraries devoted sections to children's and young adult literature which brought in a completely new audience to listen to stories. -
Reflect Diversity
Harriet Rohmer established Childrens Book Press devoted to the publication of picturebooks that reflect a diversity of cultural experiences. Others followed in 1988, Just Us Books was established to address diversity. In the final decade of the twentieth century there was still not enough books that reflected diversity. -
Young Adult Literature
The genre began in the 1960's and 1970's with the novels such as the The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton and other novels. Appreciation for this genre was reflected when ObisPictus Award was put in place and Robert F. Sibert Award for outstanding informational books and ministered by the American Library Association in 2001.
