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Historical Background: Most of the stories, rhymes, and verses in early American children's books contained instructions on how children should behave in order to grow up and become a fine, young gentleman or lady. Early 19th-century children's books featured lessons on benevolence, neatness, wickedness, fortitude, and mirthfulness.

Other children's books included A-B-C learning with pictures and words in syllables. Most books from this time period included illustrations, which could be purchased plain for a penny or, with colored illustrations, for a "tup pence." Lettering and page borders were often very ornate. The letter "s" appears to today's reader as an "f" in some places on many pages.

John Newbery, who wrote "A Little Pretty Pocket Book" and "The History of Goody Two-Shoes," advertised his books for "all his little friends who are good, but those who are naughty are to have none." Newbery used Dutch paper, richly embossed with bright colors and gold foil. His appealing little books were the forerunners of the "The Age of Flowery and Gilt," or the "The Golden Age in Children's Books." Newbery's books attracted and held children's attention, and he included enough instruction to please their parents. He was one of the first English publishers who believed that children had a right to good books.

Fun Fact: The Newbery Medal was named for John Newbery and was created in 1922 by Frederic Melcher, publisher of Publishers Weekly. This medal is given to the writer of the most distinguished American children's book of the previous year.

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