|
There are several types of children's fiction: story book collections, series, and individual books. A perenial favorite for younger children who can not yet read or who are beginning readers, is the story book. These were especially helpful for younger readers because they were collections of short stories. There are a wide variety of story books. They vary widely. Some are collections of storie of related themes. We note story books specifically for boys or girls while others have storries that will appear to both. Fairy tales were common for the younger child. Others for older children might deal with exciting adventures. Some story books have stories about children while others have stories in which children are interested. Some cover a wide range of themes. Almost always story books are meticulously illustrated. Older boys turn to books with adventure or youth themes. There were serveral popular series of fiction books. While often held in low esteem by teachers, these books were very poular with young readers. Increasingly the children's book market today is becoming dominated by individual stories. Here the variety is as wide as the imagination can conceive.
Nursery rhymes are very simple, brief poems for very young children. The term came into use about 1840. Volumes of nursery rhymes for children began to appear well before this. Nursery rhymes are some of the earliest forms of children's literature. Perhaps the best known nursery rhymes are the Mother Goose rhymes which were first published about 1760 in Londeon. I'm not sure who the author was. There are many wonderful volumes of nusery rhymes with wonderful illustratiions. Often these illustrations are beautifully drawn, but the costumes depicted are often imaginative.
A perenial favorite for younger children who can not yet read or who are beginning readers, is the story book. These were especially helpful for younger readers because they were collections of short stories. There are a wide variety of story books. They vary widely. Some are collections of storie of related themes. We note story books specifically for boys or girls while others have storries that will appear to both. Fairy tales were common for the younger child. Others for older children might deal with exciting adventures. Some story books have stories about children while others have stories in which children are interested. Some cover a wide range of themes. Almost always story books are meticulously illustrated. Older boys turn to story books with adventure or youth themes.
There were serveral popular series of fiction books. While often held in low esteem by teachers, these books were very poular with young readers. I am not sure why children are especially foind of book series. Presumably it is their familiarity with the characters that attracts then. Of course the most prolific writer of children's books was Enid Blyton. Her two most famous series were The Famous Five and the Secret Seven, but there were many more. One especially noted series was C.S. Lewis books about Naria. Other series included the Willam and Jennings books. I am sure our English readers will know severla more.
Increasingly the children's book market today is becoming dominated by individual stories. Here the variety is as wide as the imagination can conceive. A great many authors wrote these stories. One of the best loved in Roland Dahl who wrote imaginative stories like James anmd the Magic Peach. Today it is J.R. Rollings' Harry Potter that has captured the childhood fancy. Some of the first real children's books were written by English authors. Lewis Carol's Allice in Wonderland was one of the first and created a tradition of fantasy. J.M. Barie followed that tradition in Peter Pan. Some believe that Edith Nesbit was the first modern English children's author for her more realistic stories. Her best-loved book is The Railway Children.
Navigate the HBC literary pages' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Return to the main Main English children's book fiction ]
[Return to the main Main literary page]
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Introduction]
[Activities]
[Biographies]
[Chronology]
[Clothing styles]
[Countries]
[Bibliographies]
[Contributions]
[FAQs]
[Glossaries]
[Images]
[Links]
[Registration]
[Tools]
[Boys' Clothing Home]
