HISTORY AND TRENDS IN CHILDREN’S LITERATURE
1400 to 1800
1440
1484
1580
1646
1657
1697
1719
1726
1744
1765
Introduction of hornbooks. First reading material printed specifically for children.
Aesop’s Fables published by William Caxton. One of the first books published for adults that was also
enjoyed by children.
Introduction of chapbooks. Cheap books offering pleasure reading instead of instruction. Often considered
scandalous by many adults.
Spiritual Milk for Boston Babes in Either England, Drawn from the Breasts of Both Testaments for Their
Souls’ Nourishment by John Cotton. Example of a heavily didactic book.
Orbis Pictus by Johann Amos Comenius. First illustrated book published specifically for children.
Tales of Mother Goose retold by Charles Perrault. Early compilation of oral tradition folk and fairytales for
children.
Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe. Island survival story published for adults but popular with children.
Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift. Satire and parody published for adults but popular with children
because of its wild adventures.
A Pretty Little Pocket-Book published by John Newbery. Taught the alphabet with games, rhymes, and fables.
The History of Little Goody Two Shoes published by John Newbery. The most famous and enduring of John
Newbery’s books for children.
1800-1900
1812
1814
1820
1823
1835
1846
1857
1860
1863
1864
1865
1865
1868
1868
1871
1873
Household Tales retold by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm. Popular collection from oral sources of traditional folk
and fairy tales.
The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann Wyss. Survival story of a shipwrecked family published for adults but
popular with children.
Ivanhoe by Walter Scott. Adventure novel set in 12th century England published for adults but popular with
children.
Grimm’s Fairy Tales illustrated by George Cruikshank. Well-known artist commissioned to illustrate book of
folk and fairy tales for children.
Fairy Tales Told for Children by Hans Christian Andersen. Collection of modern fantasy tales resembling
stories from the oral tradition.
A Book of Nonsense by Edward Lear. Collection of outrageous and appealing limericks.
Tom Brown’s School Days by Thomas Hughes. The mother of all boarding school novels
Beadle & Adams publishes Ann S. Stephens’ Maleaska, The Indian Wife of the White Hunter and launches the
‘dime novel’ industry that runs until 1926.
The Water Babies by Charles Kingsley. Early didactic fantasy novel for children.
Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne. Science fiction novel published for adults but popular with
children.
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll (Charles Dodgson), illustrated by John Tenniel. Popular
fantasy novel that plays with logic in an appealing manner.
Hans Brinker, or the Silver Skates by Mary Mapes Dodge. Classic children’s novel set in Holland.
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. Trendsetting novel which broke with the tradition of preachy and pious
books for children; characters and events reflected honest human experiences.
Ragged Dick by Horatio Alger. The rags-to-riches novel that established Alger’s place in American
publishing.
At the Back of the North Wind by George MacDonald. Serialized in a children’s magazine, and then published
as a popular fantasy novel.
St. Nicholas Magazine begins publication. Published 1873-1941; probably the most popular children’s
magazine of that era.
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1876
1878
1878
1881
1883
1883
1885
1894–95
1896
1899
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens). Adventure story of a 12-year-old boy
published for adults but popular with children.
The Diverting History of John Gilpin illustrated by Randolph Caldecott. Centerpiece book of English
illustrator noted as the first to show action in his illustrations for children.
Under the Window illustrated by Kate Greenaway. A collection of verses with accompanying illustrations;
first book by one of Britain’s most famous illustrators.
The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi. Fantasy novel of a wooden puppet who becomes human; one
of the early fantasy stories about toys and/or objects coming to life.
Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson. A “pirates and buried treasure” adventure story published for
adults but popular with children.
The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood of Great Reknown written and illustrated by Howard Pyle. Beautifully
illustrated classic tale.
A Child’s Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson. Early and still-popular collection of poems for
children.
The Jungle Books by Rudyard Kipling. Anthropomorphic animals present lessons for life in interesting tales
set in India.
Frank Merriwell by Burt L. Standish. Using Standish as his pen name, Gilbert Patten published 209 novels
for boys from 1896 – 1930.
Edward Stratemeyer publishes the first of The Rover Boys series. His syndicate, founded in 1906, would
produce such long-running series as The Bobbsey Twins (1904), Tom Swift (1910), The Hardy Boys (1927),
and Nancy Drew (1930).
1900 to 1950
1900
1902
1906
1908
1908
1911
1913
1922
1926
1928
1937
1937
1938
1939
1939
1941
1942
1943
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum. First of fourteen Oz books written by Baum; the first classic
modern fantasy written by an American.
The Tale of Peter Rabbit written and illustrated by Beatrix Potter. “Beatrix Potter was the mother of the
modern picture storybook, and Peter Rabbit the firstborn.”
Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens by J. M. Barrie, illustrated by Arthur Rackham. Became classic book after
first appearing as a play.
Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery. Spunky, likeable Canadian heroine; first in a series.
The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame. Granddaddy of animal fantasies.
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Classic tale of mystery, friendship and healing.
Mother Goose illustrated by Arthur Rackham. Splendidly illustrated collection of traditional verse.
John Newbery Medal established. America’s and the world’s first prize for children’s books. Named for an
Englishman.
Winnie the Pooh by A. A. Milne, illustrated by Ernest Shepard. Gentle animal fantasy that remains a favorite.
Millions of Cats written and illustrated by Wanda Gág. First American picture storybook.
The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien. High fantasy published for adults but popular with children.
To Think I Saw It on Mulberry Street written and illustrated by Dr. Seuss (Theodor Geisel). First of Seuss’s
landscape-changing books for young readers.
Randolph Caldecott Medal established. America’s prize for illustration in children’s books. Named for an
Englishman.
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown, illustrated by Clement Hurd. Classic bedtime read-aloud.
Madeline written and illustrated by Ludwig Bemelmans. First of the titles about an irrepressible Parisian girl
living in a boarding school.
Make Way for Ducklings written and illustrated by Robert McCloskey. Most popular of McCloskey’s classic
and award-winning titles.
Seventeenth Summer by Maureen Daly. A teenage author’s debut novel.
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith. A classic and foundational novel for adolescents.
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1950-2000
1950
1951
1952
1956
1957
1957
1959
1962
1963
1964
1964
1966
1967
1967
1967
1968
1969
1970
1971
1972
1972
1974
1974
1975
1975
1976
1977
1981
1982
1983
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis. First of classic fantasy series comprising seven titles.
Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger. A groundbreaking novel written in an authentic teen male’s voice.
Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White, illustrated by Garth Williams. Classic Newbery Honor book and animal
fantasy; soon overshadowed the year’s Newbery winner (Secret of the Andes).
Hans Christian Andersen Prize established. International Board of Books for Young People prize honoring an
author of international stature.
Little Bear by Else Minarik, illustrated by Maurice Sendak. First of the beginning reader picture books.
The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss. Along with Little Bear, introduced the beginning reader picture book.
The Lantern Bearers by Rosemary Sutcliff. Example of fine historical fiction from the 1950s. Winner of the
Carnegie award in Great Britain.
The Snowy Day written and illustrated by Ezra Jack Keats. First Caldecott Award winner featuring African
American protagonist.
Where the Wild Things Are, written and illustrated by Maurice Sendak. Controversial picture book which
helped usher in the age of new realism. Caldecott winner.
Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh. Groundbreaking novel ushering in the age of new realism.
The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander. Early American challenger to the high fantasy crown long worn
exclusively by the British.
Mildred L. Batchelder Award established. American Library Association award for foreign language
children’s books translated into English.
A Boy, a Dog, and a Frog by Mercer Mayer. Often credited with popularizing wordless picture books.
The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton. A teenage girl’s debut novel that helped formalize a definition of YA
literature.
The Chosen by Chaim Potok. A novel about adolescents, not written for them. Nevertheless, it found a strong
audience among teen readers.
The Pigman by Paul Zindel. The use of alternate narrators to tell a story caught teen readers’ attention.
Coretta Scott King Award established. American Library Association award honoring African American
writers and illustrators.
Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume. Popular novel dealing with taboos not traditionally
addressed in children’s books.
Journey to Topaz by Yoshiko Uchida. Example of novel dealing with an unsavory slice of American history.
Push-Pull, Empty-Full: A Book of Opposites by Tana Hoban. Early concept book for the very young; Hoban
often cited as popularizing the concept book.
Dinky Hocker Shoots Smack by M. E. Kerr. Kerr’s humor and realism helped set YA novels on a new path.
My Brother Sam Is Dead by James Lincoln and Christopher Collier. One of the early historical novels to treat
American history from a nontraditional perspective.
The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier. Long recognized as one of the best YA novels ever written.
M. C. Higgins, the Great by Virginia Hamilton. First novel written by an African American to win Newbery
Medal.
Forever by Judy Blume. The novel that broke the sexual taboos in YA literature.
Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears retold by Verna Aardema, illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon. First
African American to win Caldecott Medal.
NCTE Excellence in Poetry for Children Award established. Given by National Council of Teachers of
English; first award in U.S. to honor children’s poetry.
A Visit to William Blake’s Inn: Poems for Innocent and Experienced Travelers by Nancy Willard, illustrated
by Alice and Martin Provensen. First book of poetry to win Newbery Medal.
Annie on My Mind by Nancy Garden. The first successful YA novel to deal with homosexual relationships.
Sugaring Time by Kathryn Lasky, photographs by Christopher Knight. First photo essay to win Newbery
Honor Medal.
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1985
1987
1987
1988
1990
1990
1993
1996
1996
1998
1999
1999
The Polar Express written and illustrated by Chris Van Allsburg. Instantly popular Caldecott Medal winner
that was as much a hit with adults as with children. Record-setting sales.
Lincoln: A Photobiography by Russell Freedman. First photobiography to win Newbery Medal.
Hatchet by Gary Paulsen. The ultimate boy’s survival story.
Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices by Paul Fleischman. First interactive book (choral reading) to win
Newbery Medal.
Color Zoo by Lois Ehlert. First engineered picture book to win Caldecott Honor Medal.
Orbis Pictus Award established. First nonfiction book award; National Council of Teachers of English.
The Giver by Lois Lowry. The prototype for 21st century dystopian novels.
Pura Belpré Award established. American Library Association award for Latino/Latina authors and
illustrators.
“Young People’s Literature” category of the National Book Award established.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling. All-time best-selling children’s series.
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. The novel that gave voice to rape victims.
Monster by Walter Dean Myers. An award-winning multi-genre YA novel.
2000+
2000
2001
2002
2005
2006
2007
2007
2008
2010
Michael L. Printz Award established. American library Association award for young adult literature.
Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award established. American Library Association award for nonfiction.
Feed by M. T. Anderson. An unforgiving dystopian novel the pressed the boundaries of the genre.
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. An adult novel in Australia, this raised the literary bar for US YA fiction.
Theodor Seuss Geisel Award firs presented. American Library Association award for excellence in writing
for very young readers (beginning reader books).
The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick. Unique combination of picture book and novel; Caldecott
winner
The Arrival by Shaun Tan. This wordless picture book stretched the boundaries of audience.
The Library of Congress creates the position of National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature
YALSA establishes the Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults Award
Compiled by:
Michael O. Tunnell, Department of Teacher Education
Chris Crowe, Department of English
Brigham Young University
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