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History of Children's Literature

By cindygmendoza

  • 1774

    1774
    John Newbery opened a bookstore in St. Paul's Churchyard, London where he sold books to children. These books were intended to educate children whereas most literature given to children in those days were made for the purpose of teaching proper behavior.

  • 1851

    1851
    Nathaniel Hawthorne is the Author of the first American Children's book titled, "A wonder book for boys and girls".

  • 1865

    1865
    Lewis Carrol, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland was reprinted in English-speaking countries worldwide.

  • 1871

    1871
    Lewis Carroll's "Through the Looking Glass" was written. It was created for the sole purpose to pleasure children.

  • 1907

    1907
    Children were freed to go to school. As more children learned how to read and write, the quantity and genres of books started diversifying. New printing techniques were arising and made it easier to reduce printing costs. Due to this, library systems started developing and made access to children's novels accessible.

  • 1919

    1919
    The U.S Publishing house Macmillan launched a department devoted entirely to children's books. Louise Seaman was appointed Department Head.

  • 1922

    1922
    The John Newberry Award was established by the American Library Association.

  • 1922-1923

    1922-1923
    Helen Dean Fish and May Massee became the first female children book's editors, each at a different company.

  • 1924

    1924
    The Horn Magazine was published by the Bookshop for Boys and Girls in Boston under the guidance of Bertha Mahony and and Elinor Whitney.

  • 1920's-1930's

    1920's-1930's
    Modern picture books began to develop

  • 1933

    1933
    May Massee moved to open a children's book's department in Vikings. Other publishers began to open and children's literature made its way into the twentieth century.

  • 1938

    1938
    The John Caldecott award was created.

  • 1940's-1960's

    1940's-1960's
    Children and young adult books became an important part of libraries, schools, homes, and publishing houses.

  • 1975

    1975
    Harriet Rohmer established Children's Book Press devoted to the publication of bilingual picture books that reflected a diversity of cultural experiences.

  • 1988

    1988
    A small press by the name of "Just Us Books" was was founded to address the lack of diversity in the field.