Literature that Relfects Society

As I anticipate completing the bibliography assignment, I find myself reflecting on the time in my life when weekly visits to the library found me bringing home the likes of these books:

Do you remember library day in elementary school? -- That half hour or 45 minutes set aside each week where you traverse the halls in a single file line with your class as you journey to the library in search of a new book? From third grade up, my personal book selections consisted of chapter books. Yours probably did too. But think back to the time before novels. Think back to the time when going to the library meant finding a new picture book. Think back to the time when Curious George, Green Eggs and Ham, and Alexander and the Horrible, Terrible, No Good, Very Bad Day meant more to you than any other reading you did. For me, this was the time when the printed word meant the most to me. This was when reading was exciting!

The history of children's literature greatly reflects and has been profoundly influenced by the history of the printing press. Spanning folk, oral, written, and print knowledge, children's literature is an ever-changing genre that manifests cultural perceptions of childhood.

Scene from The Illiad

Initially, no genre of literature existed specifically for children, as the concept of childhood as we see it today did not exist. From 50 BC to 500 AD, any stories shared orally by children were originally intended for adults. Stories and myths of adventure like the Odyessy and The Illiad shared in group settings entertained children and adults alike. If ever any stories were told that were specifically aimed at children, these stories were generally used to educate children in preparation for adulthood rather than entertain them.

Between the fall of the Greek and Roman Empires and the invention of the printing press in 1440, very little was written for children. Because they were seen as adult members of the family and because distribution of books was so limited prior to the printing press, the only literature that may have been targeted toward a younger audience was written in Latin, intended for instruction. Still, few children could read these books because of illiteracy, little access to books, or a combination of the two.

Illustration from the Book of Martyrs

Then came the Renaissance. With the success of the printing press, authors began to pen books specifically written for children. Although these books still took on an adult tone, they were written as a means of instruction and tutelage for children like the Book of Martyrs. Since children were still treated like adults, such books did not shy away from the grim and gruesome, as demonstrated by the illustration on the right. Beyond showing the cruelty of society, instruction books taught things like the alphabet, numbers, and the Lord's Prayer. As more books became available more variety in their content started to appear, and in the late 15th Century, books written for pleasure rather than instruction began to appear.

About two hundred years later, cultural perception of children began to shift as Puritanism became popular in the late 1600s and early 1700s. Obsessed with the need for salvation, puritans began directing books toward children in hopes of saving their particularly vulnerable souls. Simultaneously, books written for entertainment were on the rise, making way for a revolution in the concept of children's literature and children themselves.

During the 1740s, the idea of the child as an innocent being became popular, and with this innocence serving as a distinction from adults, more and more books written for the innocent child came into existence. In a movement led by John Newbery (for whom the Newbery Award is named), children's books with pictures and rhymes, much like popular books written today started appearing.

Map from Treasure Island

Over the next two centuries, children's literature grew both in popularity and style. As society further developed its definition of the child, so did it develop its idea of children's literature. This time period originated some of the most enduring children's tales including:

• Swiss Family Robinson (tr. from the German, 1814)
• Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1865)
• Little Women (1869) 
• Through the Looking Glass (1872)
• Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876)
• Treasure Island (1883)
• Huckleberry Finn (1884)
• Pinocchio (tr. from the Italian, 1892)
• Bambi (tr. from the German, 1928)
• Little Prince (tr. from the French, 1943)
• Pippi Longstocking (tr. from the Swedish, 1950)

It was also during this time that stories by the brother's Grimm (1823) and Hans Christian Anderson (1846) became popular and world renown. 

Today, the wildly successful children's book industry continues to reflect its roots through constant adaptation and change. As new technologies become available, so do new books that utilize these technologies appear. Yet, even with every new book, even every new advancement made to increase the learning that takes place whilst reading, traditional, classic books endure.

One of my favorite picture books

The beautiful thing about children's literature today is the cultivating effects it has on the imagination. Picture books for example, often integrate storytelling, art, and poetry into one comprehensive work. Through simple stories, great imaginations are fed. And I think that's beautiful! It is for this reason that children's literature is my all time favorite genre. I love picture books. Some of the most defining characteristics of my personality have developed from an abiding love for picture books. Amidst all your college reading, take time to read a silly, little picture book every once in a while. I promise it's worth your time.

SOURCES:
http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/ent/A0857283.html
http://www.randomhistory.com/1-50/024children.html

TOP 100 CHILDREN'S BOOKS
http://childrensbooksguide.com/top-100