ABSTRACT
This chapter provides some insights into the history of Australian children's literature and the way it has developed in response to changing social conditions. Trends are explored thematically and in relation to notable authors as publishing for children in Australia grew away from its British roots and became an established homegrown phenomenon. The chapter situates the Australian children's books within the international book market and discusses the influence of genre in the commercial process. Enrichment of the Australian population has a spin-off in making Australia known in the countries from which people migrate, and can in fact lead to the translation of Australian literature into these languages with no previous pattern of translation of Australian books. The selections of Australian literature by foreign cultures show a consistent preference for classic titles and for works by popular and successful Australian authors as measured by sales figures, in-print status and national and international awards granted.
