Loading...

What is the history of illustrated children's books?

Lesson Content Banner

Let's find out!

While illustration itself has been around since the illuminated manuscripts (and it could be argued that it existed long before that), children's book illustrations did not come about until the 1840s. Why do you think that was? Click on each image to enlarge it and learn more about the history of children's book illustration.

With the Industrial Revolution (1760–1840) came increased printing capabilities. This allowed books to be printed more easily and more affordably than ever before. More families were able to afford books for their children, and this increased demand. The middle class became larger, and with increased prosperity, more children had both the education and the time to read books.

Prior to the growth of the middle class, most children were expected to help their families by doing chores or holding jobs outside the home. Children didn't have much free time, and the time they did have was usually spent interacting with other children. Learning how to read was not a priority. As the middle class expanded, a greater emphasis was placed on education, and the demand for child-friendly books grew.

The artists Randolph Caldecott and Walter Crane are credited as the earliest children's book illustrators. They created illustrations for well-known stories such as “Beauty and the Beast” and Aesop's fables. As time passed and technology improved, the demand for children's books continued to rise. Click through the slideshow to learn more about early illustrators. Do you recognize any of the stories from the illustrations?

Hey_diddle_diddle

And the Dish Ran Away with the Spoon by Randolph Caldecott

This is a scene from the poem "Hey, Diddle, Diddle." This is one of the earliest illustrations of this well-known poem, and it has been remade multiple times. In this rendition, Caldecott makes the dish and spoon very human-like with legs, arms, and facial features. This style has been maintained through various new renditions of this same poem.

Walter-crane-little-red-riding-hood-meets-the-wolf-in-the-woods

Little Red Riding Hood Meets the Wolf in the Woods by Walter Crane

Walter Crane's rendition of "Little Red Riding Hood" was published in 1875 as a toy book. These were short books sold at a low price for children in Victorian England. Crane created some of the most colorful illustrations of the time period and liked to add intricate details into his work.

greenaway-thepiedpiperofhamelin2

The Pied Piper of Hamelin by Kate Greenaway

Kate Greenaway was another Victorian-era illustrator who worked at the same time as Randolph Caldecott and Walter Crane. Her illustrations were softer than those created by the men, and many were created to go along with poetry and nursery rhymes that she wrote. While the others were simply illustrators, Greenaway was also an author. This particular illustration, though, was taken from her collection of fairy tales.

peter-rabbit-benjamin-and-flopsy-bunny

Peter Rabbit, Benjamin, and Flopsy Bunny by Beatrix Potter

Beatrix Potter is another writer and illustrator who created many beloved children's stories in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Her illustrations are less stylistic than those of Caldecott, Crane, and Greenaway. The bunnies look very much like real rabbits, except that they are dressed in clothing! The characters are not really exaggerated, and the background is also very realistic.

These Victorian-era illustrators created many of the characters that we still see today. They also inspired other illustrators, such as Maurice Sendak. The rest of this lesson looks at the work of some well-known children's book illustrators who may give you some inspiration for your final project.