Middle Ages Children's Literature

In Britain during the Middle Ages the oldest forms of oral literature, shared by young and old over generations, were simple folk tales, usually of Celtic or Anglo Saxon origin. These children's literature stories included the hearty folk ballads, among then Robbin Hood, and the narratives sung by wandering bards about King Arthur and his knights as well as other stories about heroes of chivalry.

The first stories of the Middle Ages intended for children were Latin collections of the 7Th and 8Th centuries. The best known books, written by such outstanding ecclesiastic scholars as Aldhelm, Alcuin, and Bede, were used as children's literature books in the monastery schools.