History of Children's Literature

  • John Newbery

    John Newbery opened a bookstore in St. Paul's Churchyard, London, where he published and sold children's books. His books were meant to teach children proper behavior without using threatening punishments if they misbehaved.
  • Nathaniel Hawthorne

    "A Wonder Book for Boys and Girls" by Nathaniel Hawthorne was published. He was considered the first author to have written a book specifically for children.
  • Lewis Caroll

    "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" by Lewis Caroll was published
  • Lewis Caroll

    "Through the Looking Glass" by Lewis Caroll was published
  • Johanna Spyri

    "Heidi" by Johanna Spyri is published in Switzerland
  • Carlo Collodi

    "Pinocchio" by Carlo Collodi is published in Italy
  • Selma Lagerlof

    "The Wonderful Adventures of Nils" by Selma Lagerlof is published in Sweden
  • Child Labor Law

    The first child labor laws were passed and freed children to go to school.
  • Macmillan

    US publishing house Macmillan creates a department especially for children's book.
  • John Newbery Award

    John Newbery Award was established by the American Library Association.
  • Helen Dean Fish and May Massee

    Helen Dean Fish and May Massee became the first children's book editors at different companies.
  • The Horn Book Magazine

    The Horn Book Magazine was published by the Bookshop for Boys and Girls in Boston under the guidance of Bertha Mahoy and Elinor Whitney.
  • May Massee

    May Massee opened a children's bookstore department at Viking.
  • Randolph Caldecott Award

    Randolph Caldecott Award was established by the American Library Association.
  • Diversity in picture books

    People were troubled by the lack of diversity in picture books.
  • Just Us Books

    Just Us Books was founded and address the issue of lack of diversity in the field
  • People of color in books

    Less than 3% of books published each year were by or about people of color