History of Children's Literature Part 2
Summary
TLDRThis script explores the evolution of children's literature, highlighting the emergence of picture books in the 19th century with influential illustrators like Randolph Caldecott. It discusses the 20th century's groundbreaking works such as 'The Tale of Peter Rabbit' and 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,' and the rise of American illustrators like Wanda Gag. The narrative continues through the 20th century, touching on the impact of awards, the shift to consumer markets, and the inclusion of diverse narratives. The 2000s are marked by digital formats, meta-fiction, and the recognition of children's literature's importance through Library of Congress ambassadors.
Takeaways
- π¨ The early 19th century saw the rise of the picture book, with illustrators like Randolph Caldecott and Kate Greenaway becoming influential figures, leading to awards named in their honor.
- π° Beatrix Potter's 'The Tale of Peter Rabbit' is recognized as the first modern picture storybook, blending text and illustrations to enhance storytelling.
- π The 20th century began with groundbreaking works like 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz', marking a shift towards modern fantasy in children's literature.
- π Publishers in the early 20th century hired ghostwriters to produce series like the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew, which were popular but of varying quality.
- π The mid-20th century introduced prestigious awards like the Caldecott and Newbery medals to honor outstanding contributions to children's literature.
- π The 1960s financial boom led to an increase in school library funding, which in turn boosted the publication and sales of children's books.
- π The 1960s also saw a shift towards more realistic themes in children's literature, with books addressing previously taboo subjects like death and divorce.
- π In the 1970s, the market for children's books shifted towards consumer purchases, leading to the publication of more interactive and attention-grabbing books.
- ποΈ The 1980s and 1990s witnessed a resurgence of institutional purchases for schools and a rise in the involvement of large corporations in children's book publishing.
- π± The 2000s brought a focus on new literacies, with digital formats and online resources becoming more prevalent in children's literature.
- π The Harry Potter series had a significant impact on the children's book industry in the 2000s, expanding the audience to include adults and redefining the genre.
Q & A
What significant change occurred in children's literature during the early 19th century?
-The early 19th century saw the rise of the picture book in children's literature, with improved printing techniques making color illustrations more common.
Who was Randolph Caldecott and why is he influential in children's literature?
-Randolph Caldecott was a famous illustrator known for showing action in pictures. He is influential because he was one of the first to create dynamic illustrations that complemented the storytelling, and the Caldecott Medal, an illustration award in the United States, is named in his honor.
What is the significance of Beatrix Potter's 'The Tale of Peter Rabbit'?
-Beatrix Potter's 'The Tale of Peter Rabbit' is significant as it is considered the first modern picture storybook, where the text and colored illustrations were designed to work together to tell a story for children.
How did the publishing landscape for children's books change in the 20th century?
-In the 20th century, the domain of children's books was firmly established with groundbreaking events and the creation of enduring classics. Publishers began to honor outstanding books with awards, and the market expanded with the rise of series books and the influence of ghostwriters.
What was unique about Wanda Gag's 'Millions of Cats' in the context of American picture storybooks?
-Wanda Gag's 'Millions of Cats' is credited as the first American picture storybook, marking a significant milestone in the development of children's literature in the United States.
Why were Edward Stoudemire's series books considered a publishing phenomenon?
-Edward Stoudemire's series books were a publishing phenomenon because they were produced in large quantities for young readers, with Stoudemire outlining the plots and ghostwriters or junior editors handling the actual writing, making them accessible and affordable.
What impact did the financial boom of the 1960s have on children's publishing?
-The financial boom of the 1960s led to an increase in government grants for public school libraries, resulting in more books being published and sold than ever before, and a rise in the number of awards given to outstanding children's books.
How did the shift from school to consumer market in the 1970s affect children's books?
-The shift to a consumer market in the 1970s led to the publication of more books aimed at attracting individual buyers, such as parents. This resulted in the creation of books with more engaging and interactive elements, like pop-up books and books with records.
What were some of the taboos in literature that began to be addressed in children's books during the 1960s and 1970s?
-In the 1960s and 1970s, children's books started to address previously taboo subjects such as death, divorce, alcoholism, and child abuse, reflecting a new realism and a more open discussion of difficult topics.
How did the involvement of larger corporations in the 1980s and 1990s change the children's book publishing industry?
-The involvement of larger corporations in the 1980s and 1990s led to the consolidation of publishing houses and an increase in the scale of operations. This resulted in a bigger business with more institutional purchases for schools and a continued focus on the retail market.
What is the significance of the 'I can read' or beginning reader genre in children's literature?
-The 'I can read' or beginning reader genre is significant because it introduces simpler vocabulary versions of stories to accommodate younger or less experienced readers, making literature more accessible to a wider audience of children.
Outlines
π The Rise of the Picture Book in the 19th and Early 20th Century
This paragraph explores the emergence of picture books in the 19th century, highlighting notable illustrators like Randolph Caldecott, whose work influenced the Caldecott Medal. It also discusses key milestones, such as Beatrix Potter's *The Tale of Peter Rabbit*, the first modern picture storybook, and L. Frank Baum's *The Wonderful Wizard of Oz*, a pioneering American fantasy. Other notable works from this period include *Peter Pan*, *Anne of Green Gables*, and *Winnie the Pooh*. American illustrators like Wanda GΓ‘g and books like *Goodnight Moon* and *Make Way for Ducklings* also gained prominence.
π The Impact of Ghostwriting in Children's Literature and the Emergence of Awards
This section reveals the ghostwriting practice behind famous book series like *Nancy Drew* and *The Hardy Boys*, all masterminded by publisher Edward Stratemeyer. It also discusses the creation of major children's literature awards, such as the Hans Christian Andersen Award, the Newbery Medal, and the Caldecott Medal, recognizing outstanding contributions to the field. The importance of children's literature grew, especially with government support for school libraries in the mid-20th century.
π The Evolution of Realism in Children's Books
This paragraph details how children's literature in the 1960s embraced new realism, addressing once-taboo topics like death, divorce, and child abuse. Key books from this period include *Where the Wild Things Are*, *Harriet the Spy*, and *The Snowy Day*, the latter being the first picture book to feature a Black protagonist without stereotyping. In the 1970s, the market shifted from schools to consumers, and more innovative formats like scratch-and-sniff and pop-up books emerged. Realistic fiction, addressing controversial themes, gained popularity with authors like Judy Blume and books like *My Brother Sam is Dead*.
π Corporate Influence and the Expansion of Beginning Reader Books
This section focuses on the corporate takeover of children's publishing in the 1980s and 1990s, with companies like Simon & Schuster and Viacom acquiring smaller publishers. The rise of the 'I Can Read' genre, simplifying classic stories for younger audiences, also occurred. Despite frustrations with varying reading levels, this genre became a staple in children's literature. Poetry and anthologies gained more recognition during this period, further diversifying the market.
π Digitalization and the Future of Children's Literature in the 2000s
The final paragraph examines trends in the 2000s, including the growing importance of digital literacy and debates about online learning vs. traditional books. Metafiction and postmodern picture books are also emerging genres. The Harry Potter phenomenon reshaped children's literature, showing its appeal to adults. Young adult and new adult literature gained traction, targeting older adolescents and young adults. Lastly, the Library of Congress established an ambassador for young people's literature, acknowledging the genre's national importance.
Mindmap
Keywords
π‘Picture book
π‘Randolph Caldecott
π‘Beatrix Potter
π‘The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
π‘Nancy Drew
π‘Caldecott Medal
π‘Newbery Medal
π‘Winnie the Pooh
π‘Stratemeyer Syndicate
π‘New Realism
Highlights
The rise of the picture book in the early 19th century marked a pivotal shift in children's literature.
Famous illustrators like Randolph Caldecott and Kate Greenaway revolutionized children's book illustrations.
The Caldecott Medal, named after Randolph Caldecott, is now a prestigious illustration award in the United States.
Howard Pyle's illustrations in classics like 'The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood' were highly influential.
Beatrix Potter's 'The Tale of Peter Rabbit' is recognized as the first modern picture storybook.
L. Frank Baum's 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz' was one of the first modern fantasy books written in America.
Wanda Gag's 'Millions of Cats' is credited as the first American picture storybook.
Margaret Wise Brown's 'Goodnight Moon' remains one of the best bedtime stories.
Dr. Seuss's 'The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins' was his first published book, marking his entry into children's literature.
The Edward Stoudemire Syndicate popularized series books for young readers through ghostwriters.
The creation of the Hans Christian Andersen Award in 1956 recognized international contributions to children's literature.
The 1960s financial boom led to an increase in funding for school libraries, influencing children's book publishing.
Books addressing taboo subjects like death and divorce became more prevalent in the 1960s.
The 1970s saw a shift in the market for children's books from schools to consumer markets.
Interactive books like scratch-and-sniff and pop-up books gained popularity in the 1970s.
The 1980s and 1990s experienced a resurgence of institutional purchases for schools and a focus on whole language teaching.
Corporations outside of publishing began acquiring publishing houses, making children's book publishing a bigger business.
The 'I can read' or beginning reader genre emerged, simplifying vocabulary for younger readers.
The 2000s brought a focus on new literacies, with digital formats and meta-fiction becoming more prominent.
The Harry Potter series had a significant impact on the children's book world, appealing to both children and adults.
The Library of Congress appointed an ambassador for young people's literature, recognizing the importance of children's literature.
Transcripts
hi this is the history of children's
literature part 2 and we're going to be
beginning by talking about the rise of
the picture book in the early 19th
century so at the top there are listed
some illustrators that were some of the
most famous English and American
illustrators of their time publishers
would hire the illustrators to produce
the work for many different children's
books especially as the printing
techniques improved and the color
illustrations were more common in books
Randolph Caldecott was so influential
that the Caldecott medal is now the
illustration award in the United States
and in Britain they are called their
illustration award that kate greenaway
medal Randolph Caldecott is often known
as the first illustrator to show action
in pictures such as his book the
diverting history of John Gilpin and
that's one of his most best remembered
illustrations in fact it's on the cover
of the Caldecott medal he also had Pyle
was known for doing stunning
illustrations in classics like the Mary
Adventures of Robin Hood of great renown
he also wrote that book so the domain of
children's books was firmly established
with the dawning of the 20th century the
century began with a lot of
groundbreaking events Beatrix Potter
wrote and illustrated her enduring tale
The Tale of Peter Rabbit which is known
as the first modern picture storybook
which means it was written for children
with illustrations she matched the
colored illustrations with text page for
Paige thus using the pictures to share
in the storytelling process Peter Rabbit
was one of the first characters known to
be a child children's book character
another first occurring book in the
early 20th century was The Wonderful
Wizard of Oz and it was known to be one
of the first modern fantasy
books I'm usually fantasy had been kind
of the domain of the Europeans but the
Wizard of Oz was the first modern
fantasy written in America other
enduring classics that were written were
Peter Pan in Kensington garden and of
Green Gables the granddaddy of animal
fantasies which is the wind and the
Willows
and another trend-setting fantasy was
Winnie the Pooh published in 1926 the
illustrator from America who was known
to be equal to Beatrix Potter from
England is someone named Wanda gag her
book millions of cats is credited to be
the first American picture story book
another landmark picture book of the
time was good night moon in published by
written by Margaret wise Brown which is
still known to be published as one of
the the best bedtime stories as well as
Madeline written by led lug we'd been
demoman's dr. Seuss also had a book
published he was known to be widely
known as an American children's book
author and illustrator and his book to
think that I saw on Mulberry Street was
his first published book another
modern-day classic is the book make way
for ducklings which is an endearing tale
of a spunky duck and the eight ducklings
that follow her around through Boston
while those books were definitely
noteworthy and popular with the public
there were also other public popular
books that were considered lesser
quality and those are the books
published by Edward Stoudemire
Stoudemire syndicate was a publishing
phenomenon that
began in the late 19th century Eduard
Stoudemire saw potential to produce more
books that were fiction series for young
readers so typically Eduard Stoudemire
would outline the plots and then he
would hand over all of the writing to
his ghost writers or his junior editors
and so the the following series here the
rover boys the Bobbsey Twins
Tom Swift the Hardy Boys Nancy Drew and
the baby-sitters club were all written
by ghost writers the ideas were
brainstormed by Eduard Stoudemire but
most of them were written by just people
on the publishing staff so if you know
of any of the authors such as the author
of Nancy Drew to be known as Caroline
King there is no person named Carolyn
keen or Franklin Dixon for the Hardy
Boys there is no Franklin Dixon so
that's usually a shocking revelation to
people in the latter half of the 20th
century because the world of children's
books was becoming so prevalent the
publishing world began to want to honor
the books that really stood out in 1956
the hand Christian Anderson award was
created and that is an international
award the American Library Association
began a few different Awards such as
there are no those notables list the
Newberry and the Caldecott and other
organizations like the National Council
of teachers of English began their
awards one's called the Orbis pictus
award and they also give an Excellence
and poetry award in the 1960s there was
a financial boom and there were many
large government grants that would help
fund public school libraries and so the
children's publishing most of their
money what went to the schools the books
were usually hard bound and durable for
school libraries and also public
libraries more books were published and
sold than ever before and there were
more awards given out than ever before
at the same time
there was also in our American culture
an age and of new realism there were
taboos that used to be placed on
literature in general that were being
lifted people wanted to talk about
issues that in the past might have been
taboo such as death divorce alcoholism
and child abuse so many of the books
that began in the 1960s started to show
a more real view of life noteworthy
books at that time were where the wild
things are Harriet the Spy the snowy day
which is the first picture book
published that shows a black child as a
protagonist without any negative
stereotyping and that book also won the
new the Caldecott medal in 1963 and
another noteworthy book are the series
the book of three which is a fantasy
series by Lloyd Alexander in the 1970s a
lot of the federal money's that went to
school libraries started to go away and
so the market for children's books
shifted from the school market into a
more consumer market so book store
purchases were going to be made by the
parent or the consumer with so with that
in mind a lot of the publishing houses
began to make books that were what I
call manipulative type books that might
get the attention of someone spending
their own personal money books like that
included scratch-and-sniff books touchy
feely or texture books books too fragile
for the school library such as pop-up
books toy books books with records and
other type of books shown in this in
this picture there picture books
continued to be published but the
illustrations had to be bigger and
brighter and more flashy to get people's
attention also the the series books that
were of a cheaper price such as those by
the Stottlemeyer syndicate so
quickly and so more of those books were
published in the 1970s some of the books
that were realistic fiction were also
highly popular in the 70s some of the
books for children started taking on
shocking and realistic themes such as
those by Judy Blume titled are you there
Margaret are you there God it's me
Margaret and the book forever and also
books that would talk about death more
like my brother Sam is dead and those
other ones listed there also tackled
often unpopular viewpoints or points of
view that were silenced in the past
journey to topaz was about a Japanese
concentration camp and the two listed
there at the bottom were books that won
the Caldecott and Newbery Award awards
for that year and they were depicting
stories from an african-american point
of view so books with underrepresented
populations were being recognized among
the awards so in the 18 9 1980 SN in the
1990s the publishing world started
getting more institutional purchases
back into the schools the whole language
way of teaching reading became more
popular and so people wanted to teach
with literature books again and so the
retail market continued but schools
started finding more money to buy books
another interesting thing about the
1980s and the 1990s was the different
corporations that started getting
involved with publishing larger
corporations that had no relation to
books started buying up the PERT
publishing houses for example the
Macmillan publishing company purchased
Atheneum along with some other
publishing houses until its children's
book division had set 11 imprints then
Simon & Schuster bought Macmillan and
paramount bought
Simon & Schuster and soon Viacom the
cable TV giant snapped up paramount and
so the children's book publishing became
an even bigger business
Simon Schuster is now got three imprints
under it it now has an imprint called
books for young readers Athenian books
for young readers and the Margaret Kaye
mcelder ebooks in addition to the the
large number of publishing houses and
their imprints there was a new genre
that was born called the I can read or
the beginning reader type of books in
those types of books they would label it
like the picture there and they would
take almost any story and use simpler
vocabulary to make the the reading age
audience a lower grade or a lower age
and so with that books that were
previously published could be
republished with simpler vocabulary and
those can be found now very commonly as
a teacher it's somewhat frustration
--all and also as a parent because the
different publishing houses have
different ways of leveling their books
and so you really have to be aware of
how they level but it's definitely a
genre of its own within the picture book
world and also in the 1990s poetry
anthologies and poetry began to be more
recognized in the award circles and in
the publishing world so where are we in
the 2000s the publishing book world now
focuses on a few different things and
usually the it doesn't reach the schools
for many years but what's popular right
now in the publishing of children's
books has to do with the new literacies
that the term people use when they talk
about how children learn to read it used
to be that people felt you had to have a
book in your hand but there's a lot of
debate going on in a controversial way
that children don't need a book they can
learn from online digital sources and
there's research going on about it but
because of that a lot of the publishing
houses now
their books in a digital format
available to schools in the consumer
online there's also the topics of meta
fiction and postmodern picture books
we're gonna be discussing that in a
different presentation but those are
things in the 2000s that break some of
the traditional structures and rules of
children's literature there's also the
Harry Potter phenomenon that happened in
the 2000s which we talked about in a
different presentation but it it kind of
gave a jolt to the children's book world
and definitely gave adults a different
view of how interesting children's
literature can be and also the the
author's influence on the children's
book industry another thing in the 2000s
has been the genres of young adult
literature and just recently the new
adult literature which is aimed at more
older adolescent into adulthood those
who are having money to spend on books
but they're not necessarily young
protagonist in the story and finally
another edition in the 2000s has been
that the Library of Congress has taken
note of the influence of children's
literature on literacy and children and
so they have began appointing an
ambassador for the young people of for
the young people's literature for the
last few years and that's always an
author or an illustrator of influence
and so it's interesting to show that we
do recognize it as a nation hope you
enjoyed this presentation
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