When I start teaching standards to my private students, I make sure to give a brief overview of the history of fake books and The Real Book. It gives a good perspective on the history of this art form, and is a perfect lead-in to a conversation about jazz singing being an oral tradition.
Here;s a great video I recently found about the history, advantages, and drawbacks of The Real Book, from the excellent music education Youtube channel from Adam Neely. It’s worth your time.