The Boys' and girls' companion [formerly The Sunday scholar's companion].

The Boys' and Girls' Companion emerged from a tradition of nineteenth-century pedagogical periodicals designed for moral and religious instruction in British Sunday schools. Originally titled The Sunday Scholar's Companion, the publication shifted its branding as the focus of youth literature moved toward a broader, albeit still didactic, engagement with juvenile readers during the Victorian era.

The publication was produced during a period when the Church of England and affiliated organizations sought to standardize religious education for children. The design and editorial direction favored a conservative, instructive aesthetic, prioritizing short stories, biblical commentary, and earnest moral lessons that reflected the prevailing societal expectations of proper child development during that period.