Children's literature is literature
specially for children. The genre has a long history, although
originally it was more for instruction than specifically for
entertainment.
John Newbery's publication of A Little Pretty Pocket-Book
in 1744 marks the beginning of pleasure reading marketed
specifically to children. Previous to Newbery, literature
for children was intended to instruct the young, though
children adopted adult literature that they found diverting.
Among the earliest examples found in English of this co-opted
adult fiction are Thomas
Malory's Morte d'Arthur and the Robin
Hood tales.
In current publishing, the typical breakdown within the
field is - pre-readers, early readers, chapter books, and
young adults.
Picture books, which cross all genres and age levels, feature
art as an integral part of the overall work.
Many authors specialize in books
for children, or have written books beloved by children.
In some cases, books intended for adults, such as Swift's
Gulliver's Travels have been edited somewhat for children.
Famous Works of Children's Fiction
Alice's Adventures
in Wonderland (1864) by Lewis
Carroll, a novel about a little girl who enters Wonderland
- a land where craziness and weirdness are a way of life
- by diving into a rabbit hole in pursuit of a white rabbit.
It was succeeded by Through
the Looking-Glass.
Charlie and the
Chocolate Factory (1964) by Roald
Dahl, a novel about a young boy who recieves a once-in-a-lifetime
chance to visit the near-magical Willy Wonka's Chocolate
Factory. It was succeeded by Charlie
and the Great Glass Elevator. Other children's books
by Roald Dahl include James
and the Giant Peach, Fantastic
Mr Fox, and The
Witches (winner of the 1983 Whitbread Award) and Matilda.
Bridge to Terabithia
by Katherine Paterson, about a young girl who helps
a young boy break stereotypes and follow his heart in the
battle of puberty - until their friendship is tragically
destroyed.
Charlotte's Web by E.
B. White, about a spider who befriends a pig and saves
him from being slaughtered by writing messages about him
in her web.
Popular Series
The Little Women
series is probably the first series of children's books.
It was written by Louisa
May Alcott.
The Harry Potter
series of books (1997 - present day) by J.
K. Rowling, about a boy who saves the wizarding world
and is famous - even before he is a year old.
The Artemis
Fowl series of books (2001 - present day) by Eoin
Colfer, about a twelve-year-old criminal mastermind
and boy genius - who knows a secret about the underground
world of fairies.
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