Back in 1726 adults got to read all kinds of entertaining books but not children. Back then there certainly weren’t any children’s books as there are today. Children read “preachy poems and fables,” religious books, or manuals that taught them rules. “The New England Primer,” a school text, was an example of a book that children read.

But then John Newbery came along. He enjoyed reading as a child, and when he came of age he went off to work in a printing office.

“Balderdash: John Newbery and the Boisterous Birth of Children’s Books” was written by Michelle Markel and illustrated by Nancy Carpenter. This nonfiction picture book is about John Newbery’s accomplishments as a publisher of children’s literature. He is the man for whom the Newbery Award is named. It is awarded annually to “the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.”

The book covers John’s career from apprentice as a printer to publisher to bookstore owner. He loved everything about the printing world, including the smell of the ink. When he became a publisher he traveled to London where he found a place to open a bookstore. He wanted to publish and sell “delightful, fun” books for children.

Parents did not agree that it was so good to allow children to read “fun” books. They thought the children would turn out to be “as wild as beasts.” But the children and some philosophers of the time didn’t agree.

“Balderdash!” is what they said (according to the story in this book).

So John went about printing little books (about 4×3 inches) that would fit into pockets. “A Little Pretty Pocket-Book” was what the book was called. Each one, sold alone, cost 6 pence or the children could purchase the book for 8 pence, with a ball or pincushion. The books were popular, indeed.

The books probably included the ABCs, proverbs, pictures of children’s games, and more. John may have penned some of the information himself but probably took it from others. The same was true of the novel that he published. “The History of Little Goody Two Shoes” was a hit in England and America. Nobody knows the identity of the author of this novel.

A two-page biography about John Newbery can be found at the end of the book, along with a bibliography.

This is an interesting book. If I were a teacher of middle school children I would probably share the book with them and then challenge them to find books that have received the Newbery Award. Besides that, wouldn’t it be fun to write a little pocket book?

“Balderdash!” is published by Chronicle Books, 2017. It costs $17.99 in hardcover or you can find it in the children’s room at the Craig Moffat County Library.