Who published in English the first children’s book (Other than school-books)?
The first CHILDREN’S BOOK published in English (other than school-books) was A Booke in Englyssh Metre, of the great Marchante Man called Dives Pragmaticus, very preaty for Children to reade, printed by Alexander Lacy, London, 1563. A small quarto of eight pages, it contains a series of rhymes, chiefly about the traders or shopkeepers who were invited to purchase stocks from Dives’s extensive range of wares:
Dripping pans, pot hooks, old cats and kits;
And preaty fine dogs, without fleas or nits.
Axes for butchers, and fine glass for wives:
Medicines for rats to shorten their lives.