Publisher's Synopsis
This is the story of childrenÆs books and the people who have made them in the second half of the twentieth century. A æCinderellaÆ story, it plots changes in the perception of childrenÆs 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 childrenÆs 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 childrenÆs 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.
