ABSTRACT
The children’s book club is an international phenomenon with a long history. This chapter analyzes two examples: the Junior Literary Guild, which operated in the United States, and L’École des Loisirs’ Max, which is still active in France. This examination addresses a gap in institutional studies of children’s literature by investigating book production, selection, and distribution. Despite differences in period and national context, both book clubs emphasize their provision of expertise as they mediate among parents, children, and schools and libraries, navigating between the demands of commerce and the desire to be seen as forces for social and educational uplift.
