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