Children's Literature, Past and Present: Is There a Future?

Abstract

Factors affecting the development of children's literature in the United States include (a) the stance of our society toward childhood and the resulting role of the child in society, (b) the federal government and its social and educational programs, (c) the nature of the library and publishing groups responsible for developing and promoting this body of literature, (d) commercial interests in the sale of children's trade books and textbooks, (e) the mass media, and (f) the view of our society and positions taken by educators toward reading materials and the teaching of reading. In this article we show how society, government, librarianship, commerce, the media, and education directly influenced the evolution of children's literature in this country. We then predict what part these and other, newer institutions will play in the future of children's literature.