John Newbery (baptized 9 July 1713 – 22 December 1767) was an English publisher of books who specialized in children's literature. The Newbery Medal was named after him. Jump to: navigation, search July 9 is the 190th day of the year (191st in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 175 days remaining. ... Jump to: navigation, search // Events April 11 - War of the Spanish Succession: Treaty of Utrecht June 23 - French residents of Acadia given one year to declare allegiance to Britain or leave Nova Scotia Canada first Orrery built by George Graham Ongoing events Great Northern War (1700-1721) War of the... Jump to: navigation, search December 22 is the 356th day of the year (357th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... Jump to: navigation, search 1767 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... The John Newbery Medal is a literary award given by the Association for Library Service to Children of the American Library Association (ALA) to the author of the most outstanding American book for children. ...

Newbery has been credited with "inventing" children's literature. Born in Waltham St Lawrence His career started in the nearby Reading, Berkshire where in 1730 William Carnan, printer of the Reading Mercury, employed him. He later inherited part of Carnan's estate and married his widow. By 1740 he started publishing books in Reading and in 1743 he opened a shop in London. His A Little Pretty Pocket-Book published in 1744 is often cited as the first children's book although much of his work was influenced by Puritan children's literature and chapbooks (cheap books for the poor that contained everything from calendars to hagiographies to fairy tales). His firm published, in addition to books for adults, children's stories, ABC books, children's novels and children's magazines; his daughter continued the business after his death. Jump to: navigation, search // Basic Characteristics There is some debate as to what constitutes childrens literature. ... Jump to: navigation, search Waltham St. ... Jump to: navigation, search St Marys Church and market Reading is a town and unitary authority in Berkshire in England, at the confluence of the River Thames and River Kennet, halfway between London and Oxford. ... Events Pope Clement XII elected September 17 - Change of emperor of the Ottoman Empire from Ahmed III (1703-1730) to Mahmud I (1730-1754) Anna Ivanova (Anna I of Russia) became czarina Births May 13 - Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (d. ... Jump to: navigation, search Events May 31 - Friedrich II comes to power in Prussia upon the death of his father, Friedrich Wilhelm I. October 20 - Maria Theresia of Austria inherits the Habsburg hereditary dominions (Austria, Bohemia, Hungary and present-day Belgium). ... Jump to: navigation, search // Events February 14 - Henry Pelham becomes British Prime Minister February 21 - - The premiere in London of George Frideric Handels oratorio, Samson. ... London is the capital city of the United Kingdom and of England. ... Jump to: navigation, search // Events The third French and Indian War, known as King Georges War, breaks out at Port Royal, Nova Scotia The First Saudi State founded by Mohammed Ibn Saud Prague occupied by Prussian armies Ongoing events War of the Austrian Succession (1740-1748) Births January 10... Jump to: navigation, search The Puritans were members of a group of English Protestants seeking further reforms or even separation from the established church during the Reformation. ... A chapbook is an item of popular literature, as would have formed part of the stock of a chapman, i. ... Hagiography is the study of saints. ...

Newbery, it seems, both hired authors to write his books and wrote himself. Scholars have speculated that Oliver Goldsmith wrote one of Newbery's best-selling stories, The History of Little Goody Two-Shoes. Newbery's stories look painfully didactic today but were clearly popular and enjoyed by children of the eighteenth century and nineteenth century. Most of his stories centered around an orphan who slowly, through hard work (what he referred to as "industry") and virtue, prospered. The world of his stories was a meritocratic world in which the child independently rose or fell on his or her own merits. Furthermore, many of his stories showed the entire life of the character, from childhood to adulthood, in order to illustrate the punishments and rewards associated with "good" and "bad" behavior. Oliver Goldsmith Oliver Goldsmith (November 10, 1730(?) – April 4, 1774) was an Irish writer and physician known for his novel The Vicar of Wakefield (1766), his pastoral poem The Deserted Village (1770) (written in memory of his brother), and his plays The Good-naturd Man (1768) and She Stoops...

Newbery also published a series of books written by "Tom Telescope" that were wildly popular. These were based on the emerging science of the day and consisted of a series of lectures given by a boy, Tom Telescope. The most famous is entitled The Newtonian System of Philosophy Adapted to the Capacities of Young Gentlemen and Ladies.

Best-selling Newbery books

• A Little Pretty Pocket-book (1744)
• The Newtonian System of Philosophy (1761) (perhaps written by Oliver Goldsmith or Christopher Smart)
• The Renowned History of Giles Gingerbread (1764)
• The History of Little Goody Two-Shoes (1765) (perhaps written by Oliver Goldsmith)

Jump to: navigation, search // Events The third French and Indian War, known as King Georges War, breaks out at Port Royal, Nova Scotia The First Saudi State founded by Mohammed Ibn Saud Prague occupied by Prussian armies Ongoing events War of the Austrian Succession (1740-1748) Births January 10... 1761 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Oliver Goldsmith Oliver Goldsmith (November 10, 1730(?) – April 4, 1774) was an Irish writer and physician known for his novel The Vicar of Wakefield (1766), his pastoral poem The Deserted Village (1770) (written in memory of his brother), and his plays The Good-naturd Man (1768) and She Stoops... Christopher Smart (April 11, 1722 - May 21, 1771), English poet, son of Peter Smart, of an old north country family, was born at Shipbourne, Kent. ... Jump to: navigation, search 1764 was a leap year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Jump to: navigation, search 1765 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Oliver Goldsmith Oliver Goldsmith (November 10, 1730(?) – April 4, 1774) was an Irish writer and physician known for his novel The Vicar of Wakefield (1766), his pastoral poem The Deserted Village (1770) (written in memory of his brother), and his plays The Good-naturd Man (1768) and She Stoops...

References

Darton, F. J. Harvey. Children's Books in England. 3rd ed. Rev. Brian Alderson. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1982.

Hilton, Mary, Morag Styles and Victor Watson, eds. Opening the Nursery Door: Reading, writing and childhood 1600-1900. London: Routledge, 1997.

Jackson, Mary V. Engines of Instruction, Mischief, and Mag!c: Children’s Literature in England from Its Beginnings to 1839. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1989.

=External links

John Newbery one of the Great People of Reading