Children's Book Publishing in Britain Since 1945

This is the story of children's books and the people who have made them in the second half of the twentieth century. A 'Cinderella' story, it plots changes in the perception of children's books, and the editors, writers and illustrators who make them, from non-entities to valued assets. Whether or not this is a happy ending remains to be seen, but the story is one that needs to be told. This original study meets an urgent need to locate and preserve fast-disappearing information about...
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This is the story of children's books and the people who have made them in the second half of the twentieth century. A 'Cinderella' story, it plots changes in the perception of children's books, and the editors, writers and illustrators who make them, from non-entities to valued assets. Whether or not this is a happy ending remains to be seen, but the story is one that needs to be told. This original study meets an urgent need to locate and preserve fast-disappearing information about children's book publishing. Much of it makes use of the words and memories of the people who have been bringing children and books together for nearly half a century. Some surprising facts and trends come to light - for instance, the opportunities for women this field afforded and the substantial profits it generated for the publishing houses which have rarely given their children's lists public recognition or status.This entertaining book recalls anecdotes, personalities and attitudes from the last fifty years, and relates them to key events and changes in perceptions of childhood - from the post-war days of CND and fears that there would be no future for children to equally apocalyptic responses to AIDS and the changing environment.