Tuesdays at Ten | The History of Children's Literature
Learning with Early Children's Books, Toys, and Games
Tuesday, June 09
10:00am - 11:00am
Main Library
Robeson Pavilion Room A & BJoin us at the library for coffee, socializing, and learning something new.
This summer, we'll celebrate our library’s 150th anniversary during Tuesdays at Ten with a dive into library and local history. We have a lineup of experts ready to share stories, old and new.
Learn what the earliest children's publishers displayed in their shops and see examples of instructional books, games, and toys from the time of Jane Austen and the Brontë sisters. Liz Hoiem will share examples of books and games used to teach reading and writing, geography, technology, and science, with a focus on the new kinds of knowledge that families were eager to teach through play and experimentation.
About the Presenter: Elizabeth Massa Hoiem is a teacher and scholar at the University of Illinois School of Information Sciences who writes about the history of children's literature, toys, and games in the context of play, industrialization, child labor, and colonization. In her spare time, she plays games with her two daughters and reads fantasy and adventure books.
Tuesdays at Ten | Summer 2026
- June 2, Libraries: Global reach - Local Touch
- June 9, The History of Children's Literature
- June 16, Women’s Baseball in Illinois and the Midwest
- June 23, Historic Buildings and Businesses of Champaign
- June 30, Learn Your Story: Researching and Resources
- July 7, The Egyptian Trail: Early Roadways in Champaign County
- July 14, History of Libraries in the CU Area
- July 21, From Urbana to Hollywood in the 1920's
- July 28, Historic Buildings and Businesses of Urbana
Main Library
Our beautiful, state-of-the-art Main Library opened on January 6, 2008. You’ll find a wide variety of books, movies, and music, as well as free events for all ages. Looking for tech options? We offer free Wifi, dozens of public computers with internet access, and public meeting rooms.