Name:
LESSON 4: History of Literature for Children
TIME PERIOD EVENT SIGNIFICANCE
Classical World ● Oral literature was the ● Stories were used to
500 BCE – 400 principal entertainment for entertain, comfort, instruct
CE most people. children, and pass on
religious and cultural
heritage.
● There was no distinction ● Children were exposed to
between adult and children’s the same stories as adults,
literature. shaping their understanding
of cultural values and
traditions.
● Greek stories emerged ● These stories introduced
around 500 BCE. themes of heroism,
adventure, and morality,
influencing later storytelling
traditions.
● Aesop’s Fables became ● Helped instruct children in
well-known, featuring animal cultural and personal
tales with pointed morals. values, marking one of the
earliest forms of moral
education in literature.
● Roman stories around 100 ● Passed down myths and
CE legends that became a
foundational part of
Western literary tradition.
● Modern retellings of Greek ● Helped preserve and adapt
and Roman myths. classical stories for new
generations, making them
accessible to young
readers.
● Online texts, such as ● Continued the tradition of
Bulfinch’s Mythology (The sharing classical myths,
Age of Fables), provide keeping them relevant in
access to stories. . modern education.
Middle Ages ● Roman Catholic Church ● Education was a luxury,
476 CE – 1400 dominated education books were rare, and few
(476–1450 CE) people could read or write.
● Used to teach moral values
and set examples for young
● Biblical stories and lives of people.
saints were popular
● Provided entertainment and
heroic role models.
● Secular medieval romances
emerged
● Children’s versions of ● Made medieval legends
medieval tales accessible to young readers
● Online texts ● Preserved and adapted
these stories for modern
education.
Renaissance ● Gutenberg’s Printing Press ● Made books cheaper and
World (c. 1450) more accessible, increasing
1400 – 1700 literacy and mass
education.
● Early Renaissance ● Taught proper behavior to
(1450–1600): Children’s young gentlemen; women
books were mostly textbooks had no dedicated books.
and "books of courtesy.”
● First children’s picture book: ● Used pictures to teach Latin
Orbis Sensualium Pictus and provided insight into
(1658, John Comenius) 17th-century life.
● 17th Century – Special ● Encouraged literacy among
Attention to Children’s the middle class, believing
Needs: Puritanism the Bible should be
emphasized reading and accessible to everyone.
literacy.
● Hornbooks (wooden slabs ● Helped children learn basic
with language lessons) and reading skills.
Battledores (cheap folded
cardboard books) were
common.
● New England Primer (c. ● Remained in print until
1690): Early schoolbook 1886, shaping early
teaching alphabet and American education.
religious lessons.
● Chapbooks (small, cheap ● Introduced fairy tales and
secular books) gained entertainment literature for
popularity but were frowned children.
upon by Puritans.
● John Locke’s Educational ● Emphasized proper
Philosophy (1693): Essay education and equal
Thoughts Concerning learning potential for all
Education introduced "tabula children.
rasa" (blank slate) theory.
● Adult Literature Adopted for ● These stories were later
Children: The Pilgrim’s rewritten for young readers,
Progress (1678) – Christian influencing adventure and
allegory about a journey to moral tales in children’s
Heaven, Robinson Crusoe literature.
(1719) – Shipwreck survival
story, Gulliver’s Travels
(1726) – Satirical fantasy
adventure.
18th and early ● John Newbery (1713–1778) ● First to promote books
19th Centuries pioneered children’s book designed to entertain and
1700 – 1830 publishing. educate children.
● A Little Pretty Pocket-Book ● Marked the shift from purely
(1744): Early children’s book moral instruction to
with stories, poems, and enjoyable reading for
illustrations. children.
● Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s ● Inspired moralistic and
Emile (1762) emphasized didactic children’s books.
moral development through
simple living.
● Women dominated moralistic ● Writing for children was
children's literature (e.g., The considered inferior, leading
Purple Jar by Maria women to take the role.
Edgeworth, 1796).
● Mother Goose Tales (Charles ● Introduced classic fairy
Perrault, 1697; English tales (Cinderella, Little Red
edition 1729). Riding Hood).
● Tales from the Arabian ● Brought Middle Eastern
Nights (Elizabeth Newbery, stories like Aladdin and
1791). Sinbad to children’s
literature.
● Grimms’ Nursery and ● Inspired European folktale
Household Tales (1812, collecting.
Germany).
● Hans Christian Andersen’s ● First modern fairy tales
Fairy Tales (1835, Denmark). created by an author rather
than collected.
● Joseph Jacobs’ English Fairy ● Preserved English folk
Tales (1894). stories.
● Some adults criticized fairy ● Sparked debates on
tales for violence and lack of appropriate literature for
moral lessons. children.
The Victorians: ● Blossoming of Children's ● Shift from morality tales to
Golden Age Literature (1830–1900) entertaining stories for
1830 – 1900 children.
● Publishing Fantasy Stories ● Established fantasy as a
major genre in children's
literature.
● Publishing Adventure Stories ● Inspired adventure and
(for boys) coming-of-age stories.
● Publishing Domestic Stories ● Focused on personal
(for girls) growth, family life, and
female protagonists.
● Children’s Book Illustration ● Stunning, affordable
illustrated children's books
became widely available.
20th Century ● Flourishing of Children’s ● Marked a more
Literature child-centered approach to
storytelling.
● Notable Fantasy and ● Expanded the popularity of
Realistic Fiction Works fantasy and realistic fiction
in children’s books.
● Establishment of Major ● Recognized outstanding
Children’s Book Awards children’s literature and
encouraged quality
storytelling.
● Impact of Social Movements ● Children’s books became
on Children’s Literature. more inclusive, diverse, and
reflective of societal
changes.
