It goes way back - children in England and Scotland were taught to read using the Bible until the end of the 18th century.
You could try some of these links, but I suspect what you want will only be available in print.
BBC | British Council teaching English - Literature - Children's literature
Brown - Using Children's Literature with Young Learners (I-TESL-J)
Teaching English - Elements of an English Program
British Library Direct: Order Details



