In the 16th through 18th centuries chapbooks were peddled on the streets of London for a penny to sixpence. The 16-page (octavo) and 24-page (duo-decimo) versions were illustrated with woodblock art. Contents varied from ballads, fairy tales and nursery rhymes, to romances such as Robinson Crusoe and lives of notorious criminals. These led to literary journals, reviews and magazines.

The oldest surviving magazine in America is The Transylvanian or Lexington Literary Journal published in 1829 at Transylvania College in Lexington, Mass., according to Quill & Scroll Society.

Visit these lessons and activities for use with your magazine staff.