The brothers Samuel and William Calvert established a series of children’s books in the 1870s called Calvert’s Australian Picture Books, bringing wood block printing techniques developed by the English master printer Edmund Evans to Australia.
News:
State Library Victoria today awarded the 2017 Dromkeen Medal to esteemed editor and publisher Erica Wagner.
Randolph Caldecott (1846-1886) broke late 19th century conventions of children’s book illustration by interpreting stories rather than decorating them, peopling them with cheeky caricatures involved in chaotic escapades.
Walter Crane (1845-1915) is today best known for his ornately illustrated 19th century children’s books. He designed artwork for the British master printer Edmund Evans in a variety of capacities for ten years, before Randolph Caldecott and Kate Greenaway joined him as Evans’ triumvirate of children’s Toy Book illustrators.
![Mother Goose: or old nursery rhymes, illustrated by Kate Greenaway, engraved and printed by Edmund Evans, Frederick Warne and Co., London, [190?].](https://blogs.slv.vic.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Mother-Goose-title-page-1-120x120.jpg)
Kate Greenaway (1846–1901) was an English children’s book illustrator. She was a remarkable success during her lifetime, pleasing audiences with her form and originality.
Today, Indigenous Literacy Day, we celebrate Indigenous authored and illustrated children’s books on a range of topics.
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As part of Children’s Week, State Library Victoria and Public Libraries Victoria Network launches 1000 Books Before School, the first statewide program in Australia designed to work with families to promote early literacy skills, and to combat the scourge of adult illiteracy in our communities.
This week we celebrate the 150th anniversary of beloved author and illustrator Beatrix Potter. From Jemima Puddle-duck to Tom Kitten, we reveal some rare Potter treasures held in the Library’s Children’s Literature Collection.
The Legends of Moonie Jarl (1964) was the first Indigenous children’s book published in Australia. Here, Juliet O’Conor explores this extraordinary book and the contemporary diversity of Indigenous children’s literature.
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There are just two weeks to go until the inaugural Kids’ big book spectacular at the Library, a day of free family fun to celebrate the wonderful world of children’s literature and illustration.
