The History of Children's Books
Week 2
First Children's Book
- Orbis Sensualium Pictus (The Visible World), 1658, is regarded as being one of the very first children's picture books aimed towards children of all abilities.
- By sounding out animal noises linked to their corresponding letters, the author believed children would find it easier to learn the alphabet. For example, to learn the letter: s, the child has to hiss like a snake.
- The very first edition was published in Latin and German by the author Jan Komensky (otherwise known as Comenius). It was translated into English, a year later, by Charles Hoole.
- The book was influenced by Komensky’s ideas based on the educational theory: by teaching children to use their senses they will be able to learn easier.
- There are 150 illustrations within the book which depict: animals, nature, the elements and religion.
- He is best known for his collection of fairy tale stories for children: Contes de ma mere l'Oye (Tales of Mother Goose). This was published in 1697.
- The stories were written to entertain Perrault’s children.
- The stories he wrote included, Little Red Riding Hood, The Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Puss in Boots and Bluebeard.
- 1727 (30 years later) the English version Tales of Mother Goose was published, in England.
- Circa 1660 he was known for his light verse (poetry that has a trivial theme) and love poetry.
- 1671- He was the leading member of Academie Francaise. -A literary movement who debated their preference of using modern text as averse to ancient text. Perrault argued that modern text was constantly evolving for the better, whilst ancient text was considered too barbarous and coarse.
- Created: 17th-19th Century
- Small paper booklets that were sold by travelling salesmen, pedlars, street criers and ‘chapmen’ (N.B. 'chap' related to the word 'cheap') for a penny or less.
- Chapbooks contained stories, moral tales and/or songs.
- Often the illustrations printed within the book would have no relation to the text.
- These books were illustrated with crude illustrations.
- During the 1860s chapbooks started to disappear due to religious societies deeming them 'ungodly'.
- A larger portion of the consumers were lower and middle class children.
- Originated during the 1450s in England.
- Educational hornbooks are a single sheet of thin paper mounted on a wooden paddle, depicting letters of the alphabet or the Lord’s Prayer.
- A Little Pretty Pocket-Book is classed as the first stage (early years) reading book for children.
- The book was originally sold with free gifts -ball for a boy and a pincushion for a girl.
- It contains the first documented use of the term: ‘baseball'.
- During the 1800s the children's book industry boomed due to paper and printing becoming more economical.
- With more than a million copies being sold, Millions of Cats (1928) by Wanda Gag, was notably the most successful book of this era. In fact it is the oldest American picture book still in circulation today.
- When Wanda Gag was making Millions of Cats she utilised the double pages to create one overall image. She also incorporated a sense of movement throughout the book, to encourage the reader to keep turning the pages.
- Wanda had a strong dislike for machine print. Therefore, her brother hand-lettered the text throughout Millions of Cats.
- The success of Millions of Cats led to other notable works being produced: The Little Engine that Could (1930), Babar (1931), Madeline (1993), and Curious George (1941).
Bibliography:
Britannica (2021) Charles Perrault. Available at: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Charles-Perrault (Accessed: 1 October 2021)
British Library (2021) Orbis Sensualium Pictus. Available at: https://www.bl.uk/collection-items/orbis-sensualium-pictus-animal-tales-space (Accessed: 1 October 2021)
Katie Behrens (2015) Charles Perrault: French Aristocrat and... Mother Goose! Available at: https://blog.bookstellyouwhy.com/charles-perrault-french-aristocrat-and-mother-goose (Accessed: 1 October 2021)
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