History of Children’s Literature

Presented byProf. T. Méndez

ENGL 3440 Children’s Literature in English

Early WorksBefore the eighteenth century there

were no separate categories of books for children.

Early books for children were strongly influenced by the conservative English beliefs of the seventeenth century.

Early WorksChildren were seen as amoral savages

needing to be taught right from wrong.Death and damnationHumor and imagination banned

Early Works Johann Amos Comenius, 1592-1670

Joh. Amos Comenii Orbis Sensualium Pictus. London: Printed for S. Leacroft, 1777. Translated as “The Visible World” or “The World Around Us

in Pictures, was the first European schoolbook based on the idea of visual education.

This book is generally considered to be the first picture book specifically for children.

Early WorksJohn Bunyan, 1628-1688

The Pilgrim’s Progress: From this World to that which is to Come

This powerful religious allegory of man’s quest for salvation is one of the most influential books in English literature.

Early WorksJohn Foxe, 1516-1587

Acts and Monuments of Matters Most Special and Memorable, Happening in the ChurchOne of the most widely-read books in

England

Early WorksDaniel Defoe, 1661-1731

The Life and Strange Surprising Adventures of Robinson CrusoeConsidered one of the first English Novels

Early WorksA Little Pretty Pocket-book:

Intended for the Instruction and Amusement of Little Mater Tommy, and Pretty Miss PollyFirst published in English in 1744 by

John NewburyConsidered the first children’s book

Early WorksHistory of Goody Two Shoes.

Baltimore: Bayly and Burns, 1837Thought to be the first piece of original

English fiction written to amuse children.Originally published by John Newbury in

1765.Authorship is attributed to the English

poet Oliver Goldsmith.

Early WorksMaria Edgeworth, 1767-1849Frank and the Farmer. Troy, N.Y.:

Merriam & Moore, circa 1850.The Irish author Maria Edgeworth was

one of the earliest and most important woman writers for children.

Early WorksIsaac Watts, 1674-1748Divine Songs Attempted in Easy

Language for the Use of children, first published in 1715 was one of the first books expressly written for children.

Early Works - ChapbooksChapbooks were small inexpensive

stitched tracts sold by itinerant merchants or chapmen, in western Europe and North America from the seventeenth to the early nineteenth century.

Chapbooks The Pleasant and Delightful History of

Jack and the Giants. Nottingham: Printed for the Running Stationers, 1790.

Famous Exploits of Robin Hood: Including an Account of his Birth, Education, and Death. Penrith [England]: Joseph Allison, circa 1800.

Chapbooks The Renowned History of Richard Whittington and

his Cat. New-Haven: Sidney's Press, 1826.

History of the Sleeping Beauty in the Wood. Glasgow: Printed for the booksellers, 1852

The Polish General, and Faithful Servant: to which is added The Wonderful Deliverance of a Soldier. Norwich: Printed by J. Payne, circa 1800.

FablesAesop’s Fables

Earliest written stories known to children

Sir Roger L’Estrange, 1616-1704Fables of Aesop: and other eminent

mythologists: with morals and reflexionsL’Estrange added “reflections” which further

discussed the moral issues involved in the stories.

Fables The Childs Illuminated Fable-book -

William Smith, 1847 The use of chromolithography and the

pseudo-mediaeval design reflects the craze of the middle of the nineteenth century for ornate gift books. Improvements in color printing technology made it possible to produce multicolored plates inexpensively.

Fairy TalesFairy tales, which were passed down

from generation to generation through oral tradition, were first collected and published in France in the seventeenth century.

Fairy TalesCinderellaSleeping BeautyRed Riding HoodPuss in Boots

All derived from the “Tales of Long Ago” collected by Charles Perault in 1697.

Later on other versions of these stories were presented in different forms.

Fairy Tales Jacob Grimm, 1785 - 1863 The Brothers Grimm collected and

published German Popular Stories between 1812 and 1822

They collected over 200 stories from friends, storytellers and old books

Stories generally ended happily but filled with violence and trickery.

Books of Instruction In eighteenth century books for children,

the main concern was imparting religious and moral instruction and a code of social behavior.

By the beginning of the nineteenth century, there was a movement to extend the child’s education.

Books of InstructionBooks began to appear in the homes

of the growing middle class.The books often used a

conversational approach of question and answer.

Used as a monologue on the part of the adult.

PrimersOriginally the name of a prayer bookSimple books for teaching children

letters, prayers and simple subjects.

PrimersReproduction of a Horn Book. Boston:

Printed by Otto H. Miller. Miller for the Horn Book, 1939.

The hornbook was the earliest form of children’s primer in England and America from the late 16th to the late 18th century.

PrimersA sheet containing the letters of the

alphabet, simple words, and a Bible verse was mounted on a wooden frame and protected with thin, transparent plates of horn.

PrimersMy Little Primer. Worcester: S.A.

Howland, 1800.The verses in this small book include

“Mary Had a Little Lamb” and “The Lord’s Prayer”.

PrimersThe New Fun with Dick and Jane.

Chicago: Scott, Foresman and Co., 1956.

From the 1930s to the 1960s, Dick and Jane books were synonymous with learning to read.

Pop-up and Movable BooksThe books were called “harlequinades”

due to the appearance of the Harlequin character in early versions first appearing during the seventeenth century.

Stories: Before 1850 Religious books Requiring a stated moral perspective Fairy tales and folk tales considered a

threat to moral order Literature developed to ensure children’s

reading would reflect the conservative Protestantism of the time.

Stories: After 1850 Golden age of Children’s Literature in

England and the United States. Great writers teamed with great

illustrators Industrial revolution led to advances in

printing. Growing middle class increase interest in

education, expanded audience for children’s books.

Stories: After 1850 Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Caroll Little Women - Louisa May Alcott The Adventures of Tom Sawyer - Mark

Twain The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn -

Mark Twain The Jungle Book - Rudyard Kipling

Stories: After 1850The Wonderful Wizard of Oz - L.

Frank BaumRobin Hood and the Men of the Green

Wood - Henry GilbertTreasure Island - Robert Louis

StevensonJumanji - Chris Van Allsburg

The Book Awards The Newbery Medal

Winners chosen every year by the Association for Library Service to Children

Established in 1922 The Oldest award for children’s books. Awarded to the author of the most

distinguished contribution to American literture

The Book AwardsThe Randolph J. Caldecott Medal

Established in 1938Awarded to the most distinguished

American picture book for children