TIMELINE AND HISTORY OF CHILDREN’S LITERATURE

Early Oral Traditions:

Stories were an integral part of early human societies, serving as a means of

passing down cultural heritage, traditions, and values.

Oral traditions included myths, legends, folktales, and epic poems, often passed down
through generations by storytellers or bards.

These stories were not only entertaining but also served educational and moral
purposes, teaching children about societal norms, virtues, and the consequences of
actions.

Examples of early oral traditions include creation myths, heroic epics like the Epic of Gilgamesh, and moral tales like
Aesop's Fables.

Ancient Literature:

With the development of writing systems, literature intended specifically for

children began to emerge in ancient civilizations.

In Mesopotamia, clay tablets contained stories like the Epic of Gilgamesh, which included
themes relevant to both adults and children.

Ancient Egyptian literature included instructional texts like the Instructions of Ptah Hotep,
which provided moral guidance and advice for young people.

Ancient Greece produced works like Homer's Odyssey, which although not specifically
aimed at children, were often adapted or retold in simplified forms for younger audiences.

Aesop's Fables, attributed to the ancient Greek storyteller Aesop, were moral tales
featuring anthropomorphic animals and were widely used to teach children moral lessons.

Medieval and Renaissance Periods:

During the Middle Ages, children's literature was scarce, and what existed was largely
didactic and religious in nature, aiming to instill Christian values and teachings.

In the Renaissance, the invention of the printing press led to the mass production of books,
including literature for children.

Fairy tales and folktales, such as those collected by the Brothers Grimm and Charles Perrault,
began to gain popularity. However, these stories were often darker and more violent than
modern adaptations.

Notable works from this period include "Aesop's Fables" (translated by Roger L'Estrange),
"Pilgrim's Progress" by John Bunyan, and fairy tales like "Cinderella" and "Little Red Riding Hood."
 17th and 18th Centuries:

The 17th and 18th centuries saw a significant increase in literature

specifically written for children.
John Locke's "Some Thoughts Concerning Education" (1693) emphasized the
importance of tailoring education to the needs of children, including providing
them with suitable reading materials.

John Newbery, an English publisher, is considered the "Father of Children's

Literature" for his pioneering efforts in publishing books specifically aimed at
young readers. He published "A Little Pretty Pocket-Book" (1744), which is
considered one of the first books written specifically for children.

Other notable works from this period include "Robinson Crusoe" by Daniel Defoe and "Gulliver's Travels" by Jonathan
Swift, which although not written exclusively for children, were often enjoyed by younger readers.

19th Century:

The 19th century saw a significant expansion of children's literature,

with authors like Lewis Carroll, Hans Christian Andersen, and the Brothers
Grimm producing enduring classics.

Lewis Carroll's "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" (1865) and "Through the

Looking-Glass" (1871) revolutionized children's literature with their
imaginative storytelling and nonsensical wordplay.

Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tales, including "The Little Mermaid," "The
Ugly Duckling," and "The Emperor's New Clothes," introduced readers to
timeless stories with moral lessons and memorable characters.

The Brothers Grimm collected and published numerous fairy tales, including "Snow White," "Cinderella," and "Hansel and
Gretel," which have become iconic tales enjoyed by generations of children.

20th Century:
The 20th century brought about a further diversification of children's literature, with authors like Beatrix Potter, Dr.
Seuss, and Maurice Sendak making significant contributions.

Beatrix Potter's "The Tale of Peter Rabbit" (1902) and subsequent stories featuring anthropomorphic animals captivated
young readers with their charming illustrations and engaging narratives.

Dr. Seuss (Theodor Geisel) revolutionized children's literature with his whimsical rhymes and imaginative characters in
books like "The Cat in the Hat" (1957) and "Green Eggs and Ham" (1960).

Maurice Sendak's "Where the Wild Things Are" (1963) challenged traditional notions of children's literature with its dark,
emotional themes and distinctive illustrations.

Contemporary Trends:
In recent decades, children's and adolescent literature has continued to evolve, reflecting changes in society and an
increasing focus on diversity, inclusion, and representation.

Authors like J.K. Rowling, J.R.R. Tolkien, and J.R. Martin have contributed immensely to the popularity of fantasy literature
for young readers, with series like "Harry Potter," "The Lord of the Rings," and "A Song of Ice and Fire."

The rise of young adult literature as a distinct genre has led to the publication of books that tackle more mature themes and
appeal to older adolescents, addressing issues such as identity, mental health, and social justice.
The raise of children literature

Literature for children began to be published in the seventeenth century. Most of the early books for children were
didactic rather than artistic, mean to teach letter sounds and words or to improve the child’s moral and spiritual life
.
There have been many changes related to the publishing of literature for children
since the beginning of the 17th century when the only books published for children
were school books to teach them the alphabet and spelling, as well as morals, manners,
and religion. At that time, the content of school books was influenced by puritan
beliefs that children were inclined to evil and needed to be taught morals. However,
during this time, cheaply published books called chapbooks containing popular stories
and tales also began to be produced and sold. Since these books did not contain strictly
moral stories, they were often criticized for departing from Puritan belief’s (Gangi,
2004).

Puritanical thinking eventually gave way

to the Enlightenment ideals characterized by
the philosophy of John Locke, which marked
a shift in the view of children to that of a
“blank slate” that could be written upon.
During this time, moral, tales, and fables were still published, but more Light-
hearted books featuring word play, riddles, rhymes, and games began to appear in
children’s books as well. Children’s books also borrowed stories originally written
for adults, such as Gulliver’s Travels, Ivanhoe, and Robinson Crusoe.
Before the 17th century, children were seen as small adults; however, during the Enlightenment and Romantic periods,
childhood was viewed as a time of innocence that was distinct from adolescence (young adulthood) and adulthood (Avery
& KinneII, 1995).

These changes in viewpoints created a new market for the writing and publishing
of books specifically for children, who were seen as innocent and playful beings rather
than mini-adults. During the 18th century, John Newbery, a writer of children’s books,
greatly influenced children’s literature by starting the first publishing house dedicated to
children’s stories. He published his own stories, as well as the works of other children’s
book authors (Gangi, 2004). The idea of a publishing house just for children’s stories
reflected a shift in how society thought of children. During the 19th century, greater
numbers of books were written for children’s play and enjoyment, including the first
picture book, which was written by Randolph Caldecott.

This early history of children’s literature illustrates how societal changes

influenced writers and book publishers to create and produce books specifically for
children. As a market for children’s literature had become firmly established in the 18th
and 19th centuries, changes in children’s literature in the 20th century were related to the
content of books.

For example, the period between World War l and World War ll showed a proliferation of books
depicting idealism and a pioneering spirit, such as the showcasing of small-town life in the Little
House on the Prairie series published between 1932 and 1943 by Laura lngalls WiIder (1971).
However, stories from this time period still include some serious and realistic writing, such as the
simplicity and down-to-earth style of Margaret Wise Brown’s work for young children, or the realities
and hardships of Life depicted in stories like Strawberry Girl by Lois Lenski (1945) that shared the
struggles of a poor, working farm girl (Hunt, 1995)
 The emergence of more realistic stories preceded the onset of a major shift toward realism that accompanied the
social and political revolution of the 1960s and 1970s. Between the 1930s and 1950s, writers became more willing to address
topics related to societal issues and hardships, such as struggles associated with poverty; however, in the 1960s and 1970s,
a flood of children's books emerged centering on realism.

Authors such as Beverly Clearly, Judy Blume and Paul Zindel

wrote about growing up, death, obesity, and other issues, which
marked a shift in the boundaries of what was acceptable, and arguably,
even necessary for children to understand. These earlier authors paved
the way for the writing of M. E. Kerr, Cynthia Voigt, and Robert
Cormier, who wrote about homelessness, race, and sexuality. The
realism of children's literature in the 1960s and 1970s represented a
radical shift at that time, similar to many of the other shifts throughout
history related to historical, political, and societal influences.