N'Kosi Oates, Ph.D.
Curator of African American Collections
Stuart A. Rose Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Books Library
Pages of Wonder: A Journey through Literature for Children, explores how young children imagine, learn, and grow through the books they read. Children's literature emerged in the late 18th century and expanded as a diverse and distinct category intended to entertain and instruct young people. This literary genre not only encompasses fairy tales and picture books, but also extends to more whimsical designs such as puzzles and pop-up-books. In the 20th century, children’s literature has broadened and timeless classics like Alice in Wonderland and Robinson Crusoe have given way to popular film adaptations like Harry Potter and The Hate U Give, capturing the hearts of children and adults alike.