Of all types of literature, children's literature is perhaps the best loved, most varied, and most subtly influential. This beautifully illustrated volume traces the history of children's literature in Britain, the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, from the earliest printed books to thepresent day. It takes `children's literature' to mean books designed for children, as well as books of childhood, and so embraces everything from religious tracts to multi-media comics, from the `classic' to the unashamedly popular. Associate Editors: Dennis Butts; Ethol Heins; Margaret Kinnell; Tony Watkins Editorial Advisors: Louisa Smith; C. W. Sullivan III Contributors: Gillian Avery; Julia Briggs; Betty Gilderdale; Peter Hollindale; Anne Scott Macleod; Roderick McGillis; Michael Stone; Zena Sutherland