1600’s
Czech educational reformer and religious leader John Amos Comenius – 1600’s
Fold tales and stories have been passed on by word of mouth throughout centuries, therefore it is difficult to pinpoint the time when books were first produced specifically with children in mind
Comenius is though the have produced the world’s first book for children called ‘ The Visible World’ .
Thinking around this time people were thought to be born evil and needed education and knowledge put into them. Comenius belied the opposite, and was the first person to recognise that children were different to adults in terms of reading. He also believed that children learn better through pictures.
Charles Perrault a French Parisian is said to have created the genre of fairytales. in 1697 he collated a group of traditional folk tales together which formed ; Tales of Mother Goose’ and contains many tales we know today such as Little Red Riding Hood and Cinderella.
1700’s
in the mid 1750’s when John Newbury ( bookseller and publisher) published his Juvenile Library that began to design books for children’s entertainment rather then education.
The stories he published were shortened versions of the longer classics such as Gulliver’s Travels and Robinson Crusoe, in which the illustrations emphasized the key moments in the story. Most popular at the time were A little Pretty Pocket Book and The History of Little Goody Two Shoes.
Thomas Bewick, illustrator, ornithologist and wood engraver frustrated by the quality achieved in the printing. Overcame this problem by using the end grain of the box-wood block instead of the softer grain on the side, resulting in a consistent printing that didn’t deteriorate over numerous printings and allowed for half-tone effects and hairline detail.
1800’s
Thomas Bewick, illustrator, ornithologist and wood engraver frustrated by the quality achieved in the printing. Overcame this problem by using the end grain of the box-wood block instead of the softer grain on the side, resulting in a consistent printing that didn’t deteriorate over numerous printings and allowed for half-tone effects and hairline detail.
Significant changes in the illustration of books developed during the industrial revolution. Due mainly to the improvement in print production and the development of the photography.
The market was also growing for children’s books as the literate middle classes expanded and became eager to buy books for their children.
1800’s/1900’s
With the introduction of the photo-engraving printing process and publishers fighting for the best illustrators the late 1800’s/early 1900’s became a golden age for book illustration.
The use of photography eliminated the need for a middleman and, for the first time, artist was finally free to use whatever medium they preferred with the confidence that their work would be appropriately reproduced.
In this climate children’s book illustrators flourished, seeing the emergence of many influential illustrators,including Beatrix Potter, Mabel Lucie Attwell and Cicely Mary Barker.
1900’s
Universal literacy, innovations in photography and printing led to an explosion during the 20th century in children’s illustration.
Educational improvements and health (children’s life expectancy increase). Disposable income for the middle classes contributed to expansion of books aimed at kids.
Extremely diverse and wide ranging styles. Traditional styles sit happily on book shelves alongside more modern and contemporary images.
Understanding the needs and requirements of each stage in a child’s development has seen the banner of children’s publishing divide into very specific areas or genres.
One relatively new genre is for new born/ young children. Scientific research has discovered that very young babies initially have poor eyesight and respond better to high contrast images. Images produced for this age group only tend to have one or two main colours.
Todays designs
This is the area where the illustration is crucial. The children choosing and looking at these books are either unable to read or just learning to read, so the importance of the illustration to explain what’s happening is vital.
Image has to engage the child, conveying the key elements of the text and adding humour, suspense, hidden narrative where appropriate.
It’s also a area where typography can be merged and played with to enhance the story telling or the visual impact.
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