John Amos Comenius & John Newbery: The Origins of Children’s Literature

Only two years later in 1658 the Orbis Pictus by John Amos Comenius—the Czech philosopher widely considered to be the father of modern education—was published. While today the definition of children’s literature excludes books not meant to be picked up and read in order, like dictionaries and encyclopedias, Comenius’s Orbis Pictus, which translates into The Visible World in Pictures, is notable because it is the first picture book written for children. Orbis Pictus is separated into chapters, each with woodcut illustrations on topics like religion, botany, and zoology. The book has had a lasting impact on education for children, as it is the first book to combine illustrations with text as an approach to learning.

The first true children’s book is believed to be A Little Pretty Pocket-Book, a small book that is quite normal and traditional by today’s standards, but in 1744 was groundbreaking. John Newbery, wrote the colorful, child-sized book purely for the enjoyment of children. The book contained simple rhymes and charming illustrations, each focusing on a letter of the alphabet. In a marketing move seemingly well before its time, the book came with a pincushion for girls or a ball for boys. A Little Pretty Pocket-Book is widely considered one of the most important books in the genre of children’s literature. Newbery’s innovations were so crucial to the formation of the genre that he is in fact known as the father of children’s literature. The Newbery Medal, awarded each year to an outstanding work of American literature for children, was named in honor of him and his achievements.