Children's Literature in Special Collections
Highlights of Children's Literature
The Children's Literature genre can be hard to define, but the general consensus is that "Children's Literature" is literature that appeals to or is specifically created for children.
The following section is not a detailed history of the genre, but rather, an exploration of the types of literature children have been exposed to throughout the centuries.
Emblem Books
Emblem books, popular in Europe in the 16th and 17th century, are illustrated monographs with accompanying text that attempt to convey a moral message to the reader. Although emblem books were not specifically designed for children, they were often popular with children fortunate enough to have access to them.
![Emblemata Inside.jpeg Emblemata Inside.jpeg](https://library.missouri.edu/specialcollections/files/square_thumbnails/aaee0bb020ef7f61a25e6c9b01c1aea9.jpg)
Emblemata Florentii Schoonhovii I.C. Goudani
by Florentius Schoonhovius.
N7740 .S3 1648
![Devises Inside.jpeg Devises Inside.jpeg](https://library.missouri.edu/specialcollections/files/square_thumbnails/ef204cdc05db68688bcf676d3b2fdbcd.jpg)
Devises Panegyriqves povr Anne d'Avstriche, Reine de France
by Leonard de Chaumelz.
DC124 .C43 1667
![Collection Emblems Example.jpeg Collection Emblems Example.jpeg](https://library.missouri.edu/specialcollections/files/square_thumbnails/69b06f3510c957f99196c559c3578cc6.jpg)
A Collection of Emblemes, Ancient and Moderne
by George Wirther.
PR2392 .E5 1635
Horn books
Horn books were widely used by children from the 15th-18th century. These "books" were often made of wood covered with a printed alphabet page. A very fine, transparent slice of a cow's horn was nailed over the page to preserve the paper, making horn books a practical and sturdy tool. On these Horn Book reproductions, note that there are only 24 letters in the alphabet instead of the 26 we use today. In Tudor times, the letters "i" and "j" were the same as well as "u" and "v". Many horn books also included the Lord's Prayer, as religion was a significant part of a child's life.
![Leather Lord's Prayer Front.jpeg Leather Lord's Prayer Front.jpeg](https://library.missouri.edu/specialcollections/files/square_thumbnails/c578901afc7855a65e4ded0524ea173a.jpg)
History of the Horn-Book
by Andrew Tuer.
099 T81
![Leather Lord's Prayer Back.JPG Leather Lord's Prayer Back.JPG](https://library.missouri.edu/specialcollections/files/square_thumbnails/7a90fa2a34b6a2306e0f632bc151b38d.jpg)
History of the Horn-Book
by Andrew Tuer.
099 T81
![Ivory Hornbook.png Ivory Hornbook.png](https://library.missouri.edu/specialcollections/files/square_thumbnails/e21db327086ac7e8608821595192a21e.jpg)
History of the Horn-Book
by Andrew Tuer.
099 T81
![Wooden Lord's Prayer.jpeg Wooden Lord's Prayer.jpeg](https://library.missouri.edu/specialcollections/files/square_thumbnails/990c039d59255129c9870203e2e39c53.jpg)
Landmarks In the Early History and Development of Books for Children
by Charles Welsh.
028.5 W465l
Battledores
Battledores superseded the use of hornbooks as a popular reading tool for children and were widely in use by the mid to late-eighteenth century. Although Battledores had an emphasis on the alphabet and some maintained a "paddle-like" appearance, they differed from hornbooks in several ways. Battledores were not as sturdy as hornbooks because they were often made of cheap wood or a stiff, folded piece of cardboard. They generally lacked the presence of the Lord's Prayer and other religious material and tended to have a larger printing size. The success of the Battledore was due in part to the addition of illustrations and more entertaining material for children.
![Read and Be Wise.jpeg Read and Be Wise.jpeg](https://library.missouri.edu/specialcollections/files/square_thumbnails/c9caf60cd51a3bcfc7fcd3dd57068cdb.jpg)
The Uncle's Present, A New Battledoor.
PZ5 .E2 2
![Read and be wise inside.jpeg Read and be wise inside.jpeg](https://library.missouri.edu/specialcollections/files/square_thumbnails/12a0f112ec479d4bf6a1c8a4f642c059.jpg)
The Uncle's Present, A New Battledoor.
PZ5 .E2 2
![Royal Battledore.jpeg Royal Battledore.jpeg](https://library.missouri.edu/specialcollections/files/square_thumbnails/6302b6e31c86558e0ff84a958fe04a44.jpg)
Landmarks in the Early History and Development of Books for Children
by Charles Welsh.
028.5 W465l