An Introduction to Thai Juvenile Literature Virine Hutasangkas, PhD
Thai literature can be difficult to access for non-Thai speakers; Thai juvenile literature, with its narrower readership, can be even more inaccessible. This introduction summarises the history and development of Thai books for young people since its advent as a genre in the 18th century. Before mechanical printing, people in Siam wrote in paper folded books (Samut Khoi). Western-style bound books were introduced to Siam by European diplomats and missionaries, along with printing techniques, during the 17th century. Unfortunately, the invention of typography took a further two centuries. Moveable type for the Thai syllabary was launched in the mid-19th century by an American missionary, Dan Beach Bradley, who published the first monthly periodical in Thai, The Bangkok Recorder (1844—1845; 1865—1867). Bradley also printed the first Thai-language book, Chindamani, in 1879. Written at the end of 18th century, most specialists consider this to be the first juvenile book in Siam/Thailand.
Samut Khoi
The Thai juvenile book industry was established some 30 years after these milestones. The Government and Ministry of Education promulgated laws at the end of the 19th century to encourage the publication of juvenile books through the foundation of a state publishing house. The first publications comprised three series of academic books: Little Wai and Little Feud (1910) Chindamani
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