Events Calendar

Children's Lit is Serious Business

Children's books have a storied history.  In the past, children were taught to read the Bible and texts that illustrated the importance of leading virtuous lives; today, publishing for children is big business, as the blockbuster success of Harry Potter and other titles show.  

The path from the Puritans’ hornbooks and the Sunday School literature of the 19th century to recent best-sellers illuminates the changing status of children and the books written for them. The current dynamic, multimedia reading environment means children's books are, quite literally, big business.  Children's books emerge as serious business in other ways, as reflected by book awards, book banning, and the rare and collectible children’s books in  UI Special Collections. 

Join Dr. Jennifer Burek Pierce as she explores how books for young readers represent interesting and pivotal moments in the history of Anglophone children's literature. 

Join us for our VIRTUAL Iowa Bibliophiles event. Everyone is welcome to attend this free online event. Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all University of Iowa–sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this program, please contact Elizabeth Riordan in advance at 319.384.2802 or elizabeth-riordan@uiowa.edu