Defining Children s Literature

Books written by children

A much-overlooked kind of children's literature is work written by children and young teens.

The Young Visiters

Daily Ashford

Defining Children s Literature

Books written by children
The most common definition of children's literature is those books intentionally written for children.

Defining Children s Literature

Books chosen for children
The most restrictive definition of children's literature are those books various authorities determine are "appropriate" for children, such as teachers, reviewers, scholars, parents, publishers, librarians, retailers, and the various book-award committees.

Defining Children s Literature

Books chosen by children
The broadest definition of children's literature applies to books that are actually selected and read by children.

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

By Mark Twain

History of Children s Literature

15th Century
Some stories popular among children were written in the 15th Century.

History of Children s Literature

17th Century
Orbis Pictus Published by Jan mos Komensk in 1658. It is considered to be the first picture book published specifically for children.

History of Children s Literature

Charles Perrault (1628 1703)
His stories include Little Red Riding Hood, Sleeping Beauty, and Cinderella.

History of Children s Literature

18th Century
In 1744, John Newbery published A Little Pretty Pocket-Book in England.

History of Children s Literature

19th Century
In the early 19th century, the Brothers Grimm; Jakob and Wilhelm were responsible for writing down and preserving tales told by oral tradition in Germany. - Snow White, Rapunzel, and Hansel and Gretel (1812)

The Grimm Brothers

History of Children s Literature

19th Century
Between 1835 and 1848, Hans Christian Andersen (18051875) of Denmark published his beloved fairy tales: The Little Mermaid (1836) The Emperor's New Clothes (1837) The Ugly Duckling (1844),

History of Children s Literature

In 1865, Lewis Carroll (18321898) published Alice's Adventures in Wonderland in England. In 1880, Johanna Spyri (18271901) published Heidi (1880) in Switzerland.

History of Children s Literature

In 1883, Carlo Collodi wrote his puppet story, The Adventures of Pinocchio as a first Italian fantasy novel for the children of Italy.

History of Children s Literature

In 1894, Rudyard Kipling published The Jungle Book a collection of stories about a boy who lives in the jungle with animals, that has been made into a series of animated and live- action film adaptations.

History of Children s Literature

In 1900, L. Frank Baum (18561919) published The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in the United States.

History of Children s Literature

20th Century
In 1911, J.M Barrie (18601937) published Peter and Wendy. A. A. Milne (18821956) wrote children's poems and a series of stories about the bear Winnie the Pooh and his friends in the woods (later made into Disney cartoons).

Peter and Wendy

History of Children s Literature

In 1950, C. S. Lewis (18981963) published the first of installment of his Chronicles of Narnia series in the UK.
Roald Dahl (19161990) - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

History of Children s Literature

In 1997, J. K. Rowling (born 1965) published the first installment of her Harry Potter series in the UK.

History of Children s Literature

21th Century
In 2001, Eoin Colfer (born 1965) published the first installment of his Artemis Fowl series in Ireland.

Fin