History of Children's Literature

  • The Early Years

    The Early Years

    In 1744 John Newbery opened a bookstore located in St. Paul's Churchyard in London. He published and sold books there for children.
  • Child Labor Laws

    In 1907 the first child labor laws were passed. This allowed children to go to school and learn to read and write.
  • The 20th Century

    In 1919 Macmillan, a US publishing house, opened a department specifically for children's books.
  • Picture Books

    During the 1920's and 1930's modern picture books started to develop.
  • The John Newbery Award

    The John Newbery Award

    In 1922 the American Library Association established the John Newbery Award.
  • 1st Children's Book Editors

    in 1922 and 1923 Helen Dean Fish and May Massee became the first children's book editors and different companies and at different times.
  • The Horn Book Magazine

    A bookshop in Boston called the Bookshop for Boys and Girls published The Horn Book Magazine under the guidance of Bertha Mahony and Elinor Whitney.
  • May Massee

    May Massee

    May Massee opened a children's book department at Viking. Other publishers began to do the same and this made children's literature blossom into the 20th century.
  • Randolph Caldecott Award

    Randolph Caldecott Award

    The Randolph Caldecott Award was established following the John Newbery Award in 1938
  • Children's and Young Adult Books

    From the 1940's to the 1960's Children's and Young Adult books started to become an important part of libraries, schools, homes, and publishing houses.
  • Orbis Pictus Award

    Orbis Pictus Award

    The National Council of Teachers of English administered the Orbis Pictus Award
  • Robert F. Sibert Award

    Robert F. Sibert Award

    This award was given for outstanding informational books which was given by the American Library Association.