Children's literature is not just a peripheral literary phenomenon: in the dynamics of the literary field it fulfils a basic role in the establishment of canon(s). History teaches us that this basic role specifically is heavily influenced by translation, since the repertoire of children's books and children's (narrative/literary) discourse are systematically developed on the basis of international traditions. In addition, this article addresses questions such as the status of this international tradition and the role of commercial factors in a globalized world community. Can the import of Western children's literature be a hindrance for the development of native (non-Western) children's literature? The traditions of the Low Countries offer an interesting test case for the historical approach. In addition, this article focuses on the present-day situation and deals with commercialization and the dominance of Westernized books.