History of Literature

  • The Bookstore

    The Bookstore
    in 1744, John Newbery decides to open up a bookstore in St. Paul's Churchyard, London. Here, he begins to publish children's books (real ones, not the small chapbooks they were used to getting). His books focused on teaching children proper behaviors without threatening them.
  • Books Galore!

    Books Galore!
    Starting in 1865, more children's books come to light. These books finally served the mere purpose of making children happy, or entertaining them (Lewis Caroll's, Alice in Wonderland). Soon after came, A Wonder Book for Boys and Girls (1851)
  • L:abor Laws

    L:abor Laws
    Come 1907, child labor laws were passed and finally granted children the ultimate freedom, obtaining an education.
  • Children's Literature IS Important

    Children's Literature IS Important
    In 1919, a U.S. publishing house (Macmillan) launches a department dedicated to only producing children's literature.
  • John Newbery Award

    John Newbery Award
    The American Library Association establishes the John Newbery Award for exceptional authors.
  • WOMEN? PUBLISHERS!?

    WOMEN? PUBLISHERS!?
    In 1922-1923, the first women publishers come to light- Helen Dean Fish and May Massee. Each are at two seperat companies, but nonetheless have established a name for themselves.
  • Magazine

    Magazine
    The Horn Book Magazine is published in 1924 under the Bookshop for Boys and Girls in Boston. Bertha Mahony and Elinor Whitney supervise its development.
  • Here Comes Literature!

    Here Comes Literature!
    May Massee moves to open a children's books department in Viking. At this, publishers decide to begin opening publishing companies for children everywhere.
  • More Awards

    More Awards
    The Randolph Caldecott Award is established for outstanding authors.
  • Children's Literature IS important

    Children's Literature IS important
    Throughout the 1940-1960s, childrens' and young adults' literature would be more prominent in libraries.
  • Diversity in Literature

    Diversity in Literature
    Harriet Rohmer was upset by the lack of diversity displayed in childrens' literature and worked to change this through the development of the Children's Book Press.
  • Diversity, Diversity, Diversity!

    Diversity, Diversity, Diversity!
    Just Us Books took the influence of Children's Book Press and opened up to promote the diversity within the field of publication as well.
  • POC?

    POC?
    In 1999, Bishop found that less than 3% of children's books depicted people of color in them.