Childrens books 1246675 960 720

History of Children's Literature

  • First Children's Bookstore

    First Children's Bookstore
    John Newbery opened a bookstore in London which gave him the opportunity to publish and sell children’s books. The First book he published was called A Pretty Little Pocket Book.
  • A Wonder Book for Boys and Girls

    A Wonder Book for Boys and Girls
    Nathaniel Hawthorne's A Wonder Book for Boys and Girls is published
  • Alice’s Adventure in Wonderland

    Alice’s Adventure in Wonderland
    Lewis Carroll's Alice’s Adventure in Wonderland is published
  • Through the Looking Glass

    Through the Looking Glass
    Lewis Carroll's Through the Looking Glass is published
  • Heidi

    Heidi
    Johanna Spyri's Heidi is published
  • Pinocchio

    Pinocchio
    Carlo Collodi's Pinocchio is published
  • The Wonderful Adventures of Nils

    The Wonderful Adventures of Nils
    Selma Lagerlof's The Wonderful Adventures of Nils is published
  • Child Labor Laws

    Child Labor Laws
    First child labor laws pass, children now had time to attend school and pursue an education
  • Peter Pan

    Peter Pan
    James M. Barrie's Peter Pan is published
  • Louise Bechtel Seaman

    Louise Bechtel Seaman
    Louise Bechtel Seaman became the head for the world’s first department devoted to children’s books
  • Modern Picture Books Emerge

    Modern Picture Books Emerge
  • John Newbery Award

    John Newbery Award
    The American Library Association established the John Newbery award
  • First Children Book Editors

    First Children Book Editors
    May Massee and Helen Dean Fish become the first children book editors.
  • Horn Book Magazine

    Horn Book Magazine
    Under the supervision of Bertha Mahony and Elinor Whitney, the Vookshop for Boys and Girls in Boston published the Horn Book Magazine
  • Children’s Book Departments

    Children’s Book Departments
    May Massee opened a children’s book department at Viking, which pushed other companies to follow suit
  • Randolph Caldecott award is created

    Randolph Caldecott award is created
  • The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe

    The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe
    C. S Lewis' The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe in published
  • The Fellowship of the Ring

    The Fellowship of the Ring
    J.R.R Tolken's The Fellowship of the Ring in published
  • Where the Wild Things Are

    Where the Wild Things Are
    Maurice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are is published
  • The Outsiders

    The Outsiders
    S.E. Hinton's The Outsiders is published
  • The Children’s Book Press

    The Children’s Book Press
    The Children’s Book Press was founded by Harriet Rohmer. her goal was to make bilingual picture books to reflect diversity of cultural experiences
  • Just Us Books

    Just Us Books
    Just Us Books is founded and pushed for more diversity in children's books