At the heart of children’s literature are books that generations have enjoyed reading.
Many have been reimagined for film and television, and are as popular today as when they were first published.
Fables and fairytales
Fables and fairytales have been fascinating children from a very young age. These stories are fantasies but also have hidden moral lessons. They were handed down orally through generations, some even being based on Greek and Roman tales.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, authors such as the Brothers Grimm, Hans Christian Andersen and Perrault compiled these fables into anthologies such as Tales of Mother Goose and Grimm’s Fairytales.
Would you enjoy reading these tales today?
Do they work in more modern times?
Children’s Amazing Adventures
Over time, children’s books moved away from having a moral meaning, with authors creating story worlds with children central to the adventure. The stories may be based in real life or fantastical like Alice in Wonderland. Today’s authors also use this approach – think about Harry Potter by JK Rowling for example.
Which child heroes did you most identify with growing up?
Animal Escapades
Authors often create characters who are not human but who lead human-like lives. This was common in the late 19th and early 20th century but the genre continues today with characters such as Peppa Pig.
Which animal characters did you love growing up?
Pop-up Display by Jo S., volunteer at the BSM
