| Some of the most enduring tales and characters we know were creations borne of early 20th century childrens literature. Where would we be today without Winnie the Pooh, Peter Rabbit, or Dorothy and Toto? The early 20th century produced a wealth of childrens literature that stands the test of time and has been cherished by generations of children for nearly a century.
Writers in the 1900s were among the earliest generations exposed to specific and engaging childrens literature. With their own fond recollections of such works as Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book, and Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island, 20th century writers were poised to broaden and enrich childrens literature with a variety of content and volumes of work.
Rich tapestries of fantasy, historical fiction, fairy tale, and childhood adventure compose the landscape of this period. Beatrix Potter popularized the genre of illustrated series books with her stories of a frolicsome rabbit’s adventures in the Scottish countryside. Margery Williams explored the notion of toys that could come to life with The Velveteen Rabbit. A.A. Milne brought us another illustrated classic on the topic, the beloved Winnie the Pooh. Illustrated mini-series such as these were tremendously successful, and still are loved today.
Writers like J.R.R. Tolkien popularized dramatic adventure tales, carrying young readers into worlds where history, fantasy, and ancient literature collided. Scores of talented 20th century writers created hundreds of cherished children’s novels exploring history and mythology, including J.M. Barrie’s Peter and Wendy, the story of Peter Pan and Captain Hook. Stories like these inspired C.S. Lewis’ creation of The Chronicles of Narnia in the 1950s, and set the groundwork for the treasured knight-and-castle tales of Redwall, by Brian Jaques.
Frank L. Baum, perhaps inspired by Lewis Carrol’s Alice in Wonderland, took a different approach, combining bizarre fantasy with the reality, dreams and longings of teenage Dorothy, in the 1902 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. The combination of modern day child heroes and magical occurrences and characters became a staple in the 20th century as authors penned stories encouraging children to embrace their sense of wonder and use their imaginations.
From fantasy-laden lands of princesses and ancient battles to scrappy, daydreaming everyday heroes, early 20th century childrens literature is loved because it encourages us to think, dream, and create in ways that illuminate the marvel of our world.
To learn more about early 20th century childrens literature, visit Bethlehem Books. Bethlehem Books is a publisher dedicated to putting good literature into children's hands by re-printing quality books from the earlier part of the 20th century. From timeless classics and living history to adventure stories and read-aloud favorites, a wealth of wholesome children’s literature is available at Bethlehem Books. Their many titles, which include historical fiction, biographies, adventure and family stories, help young people expand their imagination and understand the past.
At the click of a mouse, you can make great literature a lasting part of your child's life and education. To learn more about Bethlehem Books and the quality children’s literature that they offer, visit www.bethlehembooks.com
Heather Preston. Childrens Literature - Bethlehem Books re-prints children's literature from the earlier part of the 20th century. |
