Many children's books today discuss difficult problems that face individuals and society. For example, many books examine such subjects as racial conflict, sex education, drug addiction, child abuse, and the treatment of old people. Some children's books satisfy the reader's curiosity about life in other lands, or about the lives of famous men and women. Some fine poetry is written just for children. Children's literature also introduces readers to the wonders of science and the beauty of art.
Illustrations are a special feature of children's literature.
In general, children's books emphasize illustrations much more than do books for adult readers. Books written for young children have more pictures than do books for older children. Illustrations frequently contribute as much to the reader's enjoyment as does the text of the book. The history of children's literature in English dates back to the A.D. 600's. But for about 1,200 years, this branch of literature grew slowly.