Time PeriodTime Period during the during the EnlightenmentEnlightenment: fresh attitudes of : fresh attitudes of
human aspirations and human capabilities human aspirations and human capabilities =attitudes towards children, reorientation of =attitudes towards children, reorientation of daily life (esp. that of the family), daily life (esp. that of the family), happinesshappiness
Changes in viewing children: Changes in viewing children:
-NOT inherently evil, adult duties and -NOT inherently evil, adult duties and responsibilities to childrenresponsibilities to children
OpportunityOpportunity
BackgroundBackground Born July 9th, 1713Born July 9th, 1713
Lived during the height of the Enlightenment Lived during the height of the Enlightenment
English publisher and bookseller English publisher and bookseller
One of the first, if not the first, to introduce children’s One of the first, if not the first, to introduce children’s books for pleasure as well as instruction books for pleasure as well as instruction
very intelligent and exploitive of the new market very intelligent and exploitive of the new market
determined: advertised his books in every possible waydetermined: advertised his books in every possible way
LifeLife
Established a book-shop Established a book-shop in London in 1743in London in 1743
First book: First book: A Little Pretty A Little Pretty Pocket BookPocket Book
Hired writers to write for Hired writers to write for him (such as Oliver him (such as Oliver Goldsmith) as well as Goldsmith) as well as writing himselfwriting himself
PublicationsPublications
Other works: Other works: Mother Goose’s MelodyMother Goose’s Melody The History of Little Goody Two-ShoesThe History of Little Goody Two-Shoes The Entertaining History of Tommy The Entertaining History of Tommy
Gingerbread a Little Boy who Lived Upon Gingerbread a Little Boy who Lived Upon LearningLearning
The Newtonian System of Philosophy The Newtonian System of Philosophy Adapted to the Capacities of Young Adapted to the Capacities of Young Gentlemen and Ladies: Gentlemen and Ladies: Tom TelescopeTom Telescope
AccomplishmentsAccomplishments
Large profits:Large profits:
-great demands-great demands
-cheap publication: used Dutch floral -cheap publication: used Dutch floral paper as covers and gilt edgespaper as covers and gilt edges
Combined imagination with concrete Combined imagination with concrete knowledge knowledge
First to make children’s literature profitable in First to make children’s literature profitable in the literary realm of the market the literary realm of the market
Tom TelescopeTom Telescope
Series of booksSeries of books Six lectures Six lectures Verified how the Enlightenment was spreading Verified how the Enlightenment was spreading
and its greater publication and its greater publication Very significant because it gives a SIMPLE Very significant because it gives a SIMPLE
outline on some of the most COMPLEX attitudes outline on some of the most COMPLEX attitudes of the universe and man’s place in itof the universe and man’s place in it
LockianLockian philosophy and philosophy and NewtonianNewtonian attitudes of attitudes of the Scientific Revolution: “the 5 senses” the Scientific Revolution: “the 5 senses”
Compassionate humanity Compassionate humanity Huge success: believed to have sold 25,000-Huge success: believed to have sold 25,000-
30,000 copies between 1760-180030,000 copies between 1760-1800
Other works…Other works…
Regarded moral talesRegarded moral tales
Taught moral lessons: early Taught moral lessons: early acts of cruelty hint at an evil acts of cruelty hint at an evil child (such as breaking child (such as breaking eggs, killing birds, ect.)eggs, killing birds, ect.)
Proper acts of charity and Proper acts of charity and kindness will be followed kindness will be followed with social rewards with social rewards
InfluenceInfluence Allowed children to gain a new insight into a Allowed children to gain a new insight into a
developing and changing world developing and changing world
Widening intellect of middle- and lower- class Widening intellect of middle- and lower- class childrenchildren
Self-improvement and amusementSelf-improvement and amusement
Natural philosophy and basic “physics, Natural philosophy and basic “physics, astronomy, geography, natural history and astronomy, geography, natural history and philosophy”: presented/explainedphilosophy”: presented/explained
Mirroring the Mirroring the EnlightenmentEnlightenment
New desire to entertain, delight, nurture, and New desire to entertain, delight, nurture, and love childrenlove children
Compassion and emphasis on educationCompassion and emphasis on education
Liberal towards children Liberal towards children
Publicized science and philosophy (one of the Publicized science and philosophy (one of the main goals of Enlightenment)main goals of Enlightenment)
Search for success (personal achievement) Search for success (personal achievement) and profit and profit
Legacy Legacy
In 1921, Frederic Melcher established the In 1921, Frederic Melcher established the Newbery Medal in honor of John Newbery Medal in honor of John Newbery’s lasting influenceNewbery’s lasting influence
Presented by the American Library Presented by the American Library
Association that recognizes the greatest Association that recognizes the greatest children’s book of the year children’s book of the year
Bibliography Bibliography "John Newbery." "John Newbery." L390 Children's LiteratureL390 Children's Literature. Indiana. Indiana
University. 16 Nov. 2008 University. 16 Nov. 2008 <http://www.iupui.edu/~engwft/newbery.htm>.<http://www.iupui.edu/~engwft/newbery.htm>.
"John Newbery." "John Newbery." WikipediaWikipedia. 26 Oct. 2008. Wikipedia . 26 Oct. 2008. Wikipedia Foundation, Inc. 16 Nov. 2008 Foundation, Inc. 16 Nov. 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/john_newbery>.<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/john_newbery>.
Kishlansky, Mark, Patrick Geary, and Patricia O’Brien.Kishlansky, Mark, Patrick Geary, and Patricia O’Brien. Civilization in the WestCivilization in the West. New York, San Fransisco,. New York, San Fransisco, Boston: Pearson Education, Inc., 2006. Boston: Pearson Education, Inc., 2006.
"Newbery, John." "Newbery, John." InfopleaseInfoplease. 2007. Columbia . 2007. Columbia University Press. 16 Nov. 2008 University Press. 16 Nov. 2008 <http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/people/a0835366.<http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/people/a0835366.html>.html>.
Plumb, J.H. "The Commercialization of Childhood." Plumb, J.H. "The Commercialization of Childhood." HorizonHorizon. 1976. 62-66.. 1976. 62-66.