Figure 1.--This illustration of the 'The Crusoe Family' is from a young childrens story book titled 'Romp-Time Tales' (British) published 1936. This beautiful illustration seems to have been done in watercolour. Except for the boy's belt (remember belts!), his wear looks quite contemporary as compared to the girl whose fashion and hair looks typical of that era. I'm not sure who the illustrtor is. By the way, notice the tea pot. A similar American illustration would never have a tea pot on the fire.

Single children's books, like all books, come in fiction and non-fiction. There were a wide variety of both types. A perenial favorite for younger children who can not yet read or who are beginning readers, is the story book. There are a wide variety of story books. Older boys turn to books with adventure or youth themes. British books before World War IIoften had imperaialistic themes. Another especially popular theme was life at boarding schools, which interestingly reflected only a small portion of British boys. In fact much of the literature written before World War I seem written for a small part of the English population. This continued until well after World War II, although not in such a clearly observable way There were also a variety of non-fiction books. There was a relatively limited range of these books until well after World War II when non-fictions books on an increasingly wide range of topics began to appear.

Fiction

A perenial favorite for younger children who can not yet read or who are beginning readers, is the story book. There are a wide variety of story books. Older boys turn to books with adventure or youth themes. British books before World War IIoften had imperaialistic themes. Another especially popular theme was life at boarding schools, which interestingly reflected only a small portion of British boys. In fact much of the literature written before World War I seem written for a small part of the English population. This continued until well after World War II, although not in such a clearly observable way.

Non-fiction

There were also a variety of non-fiction books. Our information on these ealy books istill limited. Hopefully our English readers will provide some information to broaden our ssessmn. These non-fiction books first began o appear in numbers after the turn of the century. Early books were published about biographies, geography, and history. Adavances in color lithography make attractic books with color prints inceasinly frasible for childrn's books. After World War I (1914-18) we note books on science and technology and sports. Books on sports were amuch moreloy key approach than is the case for modern sport books. There was a relatively compartively limited range of these books until well after World War II when non-fictions books on an increasingly wide range of topics began to appear.

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Created: September 8, 2002
Last updated: September 24, 2002