With a similar approach to The History of the Book in 100 Books, print historian Roderick Cave and art historian Sara Ayad here trace the development of literature for children, from Aesop's Fables and India's Panchatantra through 17th-century Puritan primers and the tales of the Brothers Grimm, up to the phenomenon of Harry Potter. Beautifully reproduced illustrations from artists like Arthur Rackham, Heinrich Hoffman, Ernest Shepard, Beatrix Potter, and Uderzo appear throughout, along with photos that explore these books as cultural artifacts and examples of design.

"As inherently fascinating as it is impressively informed and informative, [this] is an extraordinary literary study.... A uniquely thoughtful and thought-provoking read from beginning to end."—Midwest Book Review