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Chapter I Early Children's Literature: From moralistic stories to narratives of everyday life

Until the mid-18th century, children's books mainly consisted of moralistic or enlightening stories propagating the religious and ethical view that hard work and diligence determines a person's life. Little consideration was given to children's reading pleasure.

Amid this trend, John Newbery (1713-1767), a London-based bookseller, took up full-fledged publication of books that were both "entertaining and useful" for children. A Little Pretty Pocket-book, published by Newbery in 1744, is said to be the first book that provided children with not only moral lessons but also entertainment. Newbery went on to publish numerous books for middle-class children in urban areas, whose number continued to increase. Newbery became well known in the United States as well; the most prestigious American award for children's literature is named after him—the John Newbery Medal, inaugurated in 1922.

The focus in children's books gradually shifted from simple moral lessons to entertainment, with techniques of expression employed specifically for that purpose. Books carrying witty illustrations or exploring children's inner life also began to appear. The mid-19th century saw the development of girls' novels and narratives of family life as exemplified by works by Juliana Horatia Ewing (1841-1885), Mary Louisa Molesworth (1839-1921), and Frances Hodgson Burnett (1849-1924), noted for her Little Lord Fauntleroy, originally a serial novel that appeared in the American children's magazine St. Nicholas, inaugurated in 1873.

In addition, a succession of books was published that were deeply rooted in children's daily activities, for example, books depicting school life, such as Tom Brown's School-days (1857) by Thomas Hughes (1822-1896), against the background of the spread of public schools.

Those stories filled with hopes and dreams for the future formed the beginnings of modern children's literature in which the image of ideal children was pursued.

Thumbnail of A little pretty pocket-book

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A little pretty pocket-book /
John Newbery ; a facsimile with an introductory essay and bibliography by M. F. Thwaite. (Juvenile library)
Publication etc.
London : Oxford University Press, 1966.

Detail of A little pretty pocket-book

Thumbnail of The history of little Goody Two-Shoes, otherwise called Mrs Margery Two-Shoes

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The history of little Goody Two-Shoes, otherwise called Mrs Margery Two-Shoes /
attributed to Oliver Goldsmith. (The Broadway booklets)
Publication etc.
London : G. Routledge & Sons, [18--?]

Detail of The history of little Goody Two-Shoes, otherwise called Mrs Margery Two-Shoes

Thumbnail of The history of little king Pippin : with an account of the melancholy death of four naughty boys, who were devoured by wild beasts, and the wonderful delivery of master Harry Harmless, by a little white horse.

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The history of little king Pippin : with an account of the melancholy death of four naughty boys, who were devoured by wild beasts, and the wonderful delivery of master Harry Harmless, by a little white horse.
Publication etc.
London : Printed for F. Newbery, 1780.

Detail of The history of little king Pippin : with an account of the melancholy death of four naughty boys, who were devoured by wild beasts, and the wonderful delivery of master Harry Harmless, by a little white horse.

Thumbnail of Fabulous histories, or, The history of the robins : designed for the instruction of children, respecting their treatment of animals

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Fabulous histories, or, The history of the robins : designed for the instruction of children, respecting their treatment of animals /
by Mrs. Trimmer.
Publication etc.
London : Printed for J.F. Dove, 1833.

Detail of Fabulous histories, or, The history of the robins : designed for the instruction of children, respecting their treatment of animals

Thumbnail of The history of Sandford and Merton

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The history of Sandford and Merton /
by Thomas Day ; corrected and revised by Cecil Hartley.
Publication etc.
London : G. Routledge, [1880]

Detail of The history of Sandford and Merton

Thumbnail of The parent's assistant, or, Stories for children : vol. 1

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The parent's assistant, or, Stories for children : vol. 1 /
by Maria Edgeworth.
Publication etc.
London : Baldwin & Co., 1840.

Detail of The parent's assistant, or, Stories for children : vol. 1

Thumbnail of Holiday house : a book for the young

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Holiday house : a book for the young /
by Catherine Sinclair (Famous books for boys and girls)
Publication etc.
London : Blackie & Son, [18--?]

Detail of Holiday house : a book for the young

Thumbnail of Daddy Darwin's dovecot : a country tale

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Daddy Darwin's dovecot : a country tale /
by Juliana Horatia Ewing ; illustrated by Randolph Caldecott.
Publication etc.
London : Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, [1881]

Detail of Daddy Darwin's dovecot : a country tale

Thumbnail of Four winds farm

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Four winds farm /
by Mrs. Molesworth ; illustrated by Walter Crane.
Publication etc.
London : Macmillan & Co., 1891.

Detail of Four winds farm

Thumbnail of Little Lord Fauntleroy

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Little Lord Fauntleroy /
by Frances Hodgson Burnett.
Publication etc.
London : F. Warne and Co., 1904.

Detail of Little Lord Fauntleroy

Thumbnail of Tom Brown's school-days

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Tom Brown's school-days /
by an old boy ; with illustrations by Edmund J. Sullivan.
Publication etc.
London : Macmillan, 1896.

Detail of Tom Brown's school-days