The History of

Children's Literature

ANGLO-SAXON PERIOD 15TH CENTURY

Aldhelm (640-709) was the first Johannes Gutenberg was born in William Caxton (1421-1491) was
person to write children's Germany during the 14th century. He the first English printer. He
instruction books in verse or in is a German inventor who developed published a number of moral
question and answer form. He was the first printing press, which helped and didactic or teaching works.
the bishop of Sherborne and the to promote literacy and education In 1477, he set up his own
abbot of Malmesbury. across Europe. printing press in England. He
translated Aesop's Fables in
1484, including Thomas Malory’s
Morte d’ Arthur, and History
of Reynard the Fox, and many

16TH CENTURY more.

The ABC book or The Hornbook is a printed page is

primer is a prayer and pasted on a square piece of wood Chapbooks, a corruption of
with a handle at one end. The lessons "cheapbooks" are today's
religious instruction
comic books. Popular tales,
book for students of all are combinations of the alphabet,
narratives, and legends are
ages. vowel and consonant combinations.
shown with illustrations.

Orbis Sensualium or Orbis Pictus John Bunyan's Divine

The New England Primer,
known as "The Little Bible of
New England," consisting of
alphabetical pages, each of
which represented a biblical
theme.
(The World in Pictures) were the
first illustrated children’s books
written in 1637 by Johann Amos
Comenius. He is recognized in
introducing several concepts of
modern education.
Emblems is the first
book of poetry designed
for children published in
1686 which contained
rough but kindly natural
history verses and
vigorous morals.