Children's literature

Children's literature is literature specially for children (not to be confused with literature about children, although there is a quite a large overlap between these two categories). 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 (or bowdlerized) somewhat for children.

Picture books are very popular in the pre-reader and early reader market, as they are illustrated on every page.

The most noted awards for children's literature in the United States are awarded each year by the American Library Association (ALA): the Caldecott Medal is awarded to the illustrator of the picture book that the ALA deems "most distinguished"; while the Newbery Medal, nominally for the author of the most distinguished children's book in any genre, usually (but not always) goes to a chapter book. Runners-up are designated "Caldecott Honor Books" and "Newbery Honor Books".

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.

• 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.

• The Famous Five books by Enid Blyton, the adventures of four children and a dog.

• The Narnia series by C. S. Lewis, starting with The Lion, The Witch, And The Wardrobe

• The Oz books of L. Frank Baum and others.

• The Hardy Boys series about detective brothers, written by several authors under the nom-de-plume of Franklin W. Dixon

• The Nancy Drew series, about a young sleuth, written by several authors under the nom-de-plume of Carolyn Keene

• The Lone Pine adventures by Malcolm Saville

• The Swallows And Amazons series by Arthur Ransome, nautical stories featuring the crews of the Swallow, the Amazon, and the Scarab