Children's Literature

The first children's book published in English was William Caxton’s edition of Aesop’s Fables in 1484.

The first ever children’s book published in America was Spiritual Milk for Boston Babes in Either England Drawn from the Breasts of Both Testaments for Their Souls’ Nourishment. It was written by Puritan preacher John Cotton in 1646.

The first picture book for children, Orbis Sensualium Pictus (The World Of Things Obvious To The Senses In Pictures) was published in 1658 in Germany. It was written by Czech educator and champion of universal education John Amos Comenius. It contained 150 pictures showing everyday activities such as brewing beer and tending gardens. The English edition taught children that "the Duck quacketh" and "the Crow crieth."

A late 18th-century reprint of Orbis Pictus, published in Pressburg (Bratislava).CommonsHelper2 Wikipedia

The Tales Of Mother Goose, by Charles Perrault (1697), was the first collection of fairy tales for children. It included eight stories, including Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood. Puss In Boots and Sleeping Beauty,

Grimm’s Fairy Tales were not originally written for children but were folk tales for adults.

The Governess, or The Little Female Academy (published 1749) was the first full-length novel written for children, It was written by Sarah Fielding the sister of Tom Jones novelist Henry Fielding. Fielding’s book follows a group of schoolgirls under the guidance of their governess, Mrs. Teachum, who encourages them to reflect on their behavior and learn from their mistakes. Unlike earlier children's books, which were often collections of moral tales or fables, The Governess presents a continuous story with character development, making it an important milestone in children's literature.

Published in London in 1765 by John Newbery, The History of Little Goody Two-Shoes was one of the first children's novels.  Possibly written by Irish author Oliver Goldsmith, the story follows Margery Meanwell, a poor orphan girl who owns only one shoe.  When a rich gentleman gives her a complete pair, she is so happy that she tells everyone that she has "two shoes." "Goody" was a term that, before it signified excessive virtue, was a shortened form of "goodwife," meaning "missus." The novel is credited with popularizing the term "goody two-shoes:"

The younger son of Frances Hodgson Burnett (November 24, 1849 - October 29, 1924), Vivian, clamored for something for little boys to read, so Frances wrote Little Lord Fauntleroy in 1886 and modeled the main character after him. Mrs. Burnett found inspiration for the character in Vivian's blonde curls and Oscar Wilde's style of dress.

Portrait photo of Burnett in her forties

The Boys Own Paper was a magazine that was founded in 1879 by the Religious Tract Society. Though intended to be improving, with an emphasis on manly and Christian ideals, it sold extremely well because of the excitement of its adventure stories and public school serials. It folded in 1967 after 88 years of “things for idle hands to do."

The first issue of the children's comic The Dandy was published on December 4, 1937.  It is the world's third-longest running comic, after Detective Comics (cover dated March 1937) and Il Giornalino (cover dated 1 October 1924).

Front page of first issue

The original manuscript for Curious George was written by the team of Hans Augusto Rey and Margret Rey in Paris in 1940. Both Jews, Hans was a gifted illustrator, and his wife helped him craft the prose. The couple fled Paris on self made bicycles, cycling the 439 miles to the Spain border with little else besides their unpublished manuscript about a mischievous monkey named George.

Where the Wild Things Are was originally Where the Wild Horses are before Maurice Sendak realized he didn't know how to draw horses.