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A Brief History of Early American Children’s Books. By Professor Carol H. Sibley. First children’s books published in New England in mid 1600’s. They had strong religious overtones. Emphasis on death—”children were born not to live but to die” ( Lystad 4). Stories taught them how to die.
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A Brief History of Early American Children’s Books By Professor Carol H. Sibley
First children’s books published in New England in mid 1600’s. • They had strong religious overtones. • Emphasis on death—”children were born not to live but to die” (Lystad 4). Stories taught them how to die.
New England Primer, 1st published in 1691 Included alphabets, Lord’s Prayer, etc. illustrated in woodcuts. Used as textbook to teach reading.
After the Revolution, patriotism was emphasized in biographies for children Parson Weems published The Life of Washington in 1800.
Published in 1771 as inexpensive toy book Rhymes were used to teach the alphabet, some were religious, others more fun.: “A was an archer who shot a Frog.”
Females and males were treated differently in their books. Boys were given advice on how to succeed at work. Girls books encouraged them to be “kind, gentle, and affectionate, and to do all in their power to make their friends happy” (Lystad 6). Little Lucy; or the pleasant day: An example for little girls.
Chapbooks were small, inexpensive stitched tracts sold by merchants or chapmen, in western Europe and North America from the seventeenth to the early nineteenth century. These chapmen went door to door selling these little books, as well as other merchandise. Chapbooks
A hornbook is a piece of wood with printed words on both sides of it. It is covered by a thin sheet of cow horn. Children were taught to read so they could read the Bible. Hornbooks
McGuffey Readers were a series of graded primers that were widely used as reading textbooks in American schools from the mid-19th century to the mid-20th century. These had less focus on morals and religion. MCGuffey Readers
By the 1850’s, the Victorian family was the center for social life. Here children learned social roles and some academic skills. The family was a source for entertainment. Reading aloud was a prime source of recreation. Victorian period: family novels for children
Provided commentary on social norms and morals in entertaining style Books by Mark Twain were Popular during the Victorian Period
In the 1800’s, the German Grimm Brothers popularized fairy tales in Europe & America. Fairy tales became very popular as entertaining reading.
Published in 1835 in Denmark, Hans Christian Andersen stories became popular in America in English translations by the mid-1800’s. Adults and children are still enjoying these literary tales.
Polly Hovarth writes that Little Lord Fauntleroy "was the Harry Potter of his time and Frances Hodgson Burnett was as celebrated for creating him as J.K. Rowling is for Potter." This popular book of the Victorian era, made the author famous & rich!
Many famous authors were first published in St. Nicholas Magazine. Little Lord Fauntleroy was first published here . Other well known authors appeared, including Louisa May Alcott, Mark Twain, and F. Scott Fitzgerald. Children across America looked forward to receiving their new issues in the mail. St. Nicholas Magazine, 1873-1943
Works Cited Lystad, Mary. At Home in America as Seen Through Its Books for Children. Cambridge, MA: Schenkman, 1984.
