It all probably started with oral tradition of tales and stories of different cultures that parents were telling their children, to teach them, sometimes to scare them and definitely to entertain them.
If we go back in time to the first printing of Children story, many classic were not that much for children. In fact, books were generally for an adult audience, even so it was tales. Later on, they’ve been adapted for kids, with religious message to inculcate a moral.
But it was not until the end of the 19th century and 20th century books for children started their golden age. Still nowadays, the classic main stories
for kids are dated back to this time.
In that respect, Cuba followed the movement. The island nation got his best author and Cuban national Hero, José Martí (Jan 28, 1853 – May 19, 1895), give a try at kids’ reading. Among many titles, he wrote “Bebe y el señor Pomposo” (Bebé and the distinguished Mr. Pompous) and “Stories about elephants”.