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Lois Lenski

Born

in Springfield, Ohio, The United States

October 14, 1893

Died

September 11, 1974

Website

http://www.loislenskicovey.org/

Genre

Children's Books

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Lois Lenore Lenski Covey was an influential American author and illustrator whose work reshaped twentieth-century children’s literature through its combination of artistic skill, documentary realism, and deep empathy for childhood experience. Beginning her publishing career in the late 1920s, she went on to write and illustrate nearly one hundred books, ranging from picture books and historical novels to regional fiction, poetry, songbooks, and literary essays. She is best known for the Mr. Small picture book series, her meticulously researched historical novels, and her groundbreaking Regional books, which portrayed the everyday lives of children across diverse American communities.
Born in Ohio and trained formally as both an educator and Lois Lenore Lenski Covey was an influential American author and illustrator whose work reshaped twentieth-century children’s literature through its combination of artistic skill, documentary realism, and deep empathy for childhood experience. Beginning her publishing career in the late 1920s, she went on to write and illustrate nearly one hundred books, ranging from picture books and historical novels to regional fiction, poetry, songbooks, and literary essays. She is best known for the Mr. Small picture book series, her meticulously researched historical novels, and her groundbreaking Regional books, which portrayed the everyday lives of children across diverse American communities.
Born in Ohio and trained formally as both an educator and an artist, Lenski studied at Ohio State University, the Art Students League of New York, and the Westminster School of Art in London. Although she initially aspired to be a painter, exhibiting work in New York galleries, she gradually turned to illustration and then to writing, encouraged by pioneering children’s editor Helen Dean Fish. Her early books drew heavily on her Midwestern childhood, while later works reflected extensive travel, field research, and close observation of family and community life.
Lenski achieved major critical recognition with her historical novels Phebe Fairchild: Her Book and Indian Captive, and with her Regional novel Strawberry Girl, which won the Newbery Medal. These works were notable for their commitment to authenticity, incorporating dialect, material culture, and social realities often avoided in children’s books of the era. She believed that literature for young readers should neither sentimentalize nor sanitize life, but instead foster understanding, tolerance, and empathy.
Alongside her own writing, Lenski illustrated works by other major authors, including Watty Piper’s The Little Engine That Could and the early volumes of Maud Hart Lovelace’s Betsy-Tacy series. Her influence extended beyond publishing through lectures, teaching, and advocacy. In 1967 she established the Lois Lenski Covey Foundation, dedicated to providing books to children facing social and economic disadvantage.
In her later years, Lenski continued writing while living in Florida, publishing her autobiography Journey into Childhood shortly before her death. Her legacy endures through her books, her educational philosophy, and ongoing efforts to expand access to literature for children. ...more

Combine Editions
Lois Lenski’s books

Average rating: 4.06 · 84,550 ratings · 4,767 reviews · 187 distinct works • Similar authors

	Strawberry Girl 3.88 avg rating — 14,048 ratings — published 1945 — 68 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Indian Captive: The Story of Mary Jemison 3.86 avg rating — 10,589 ratings — published 1941 — 41 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Cowboy Small (Lois Lenski Books) 4.01 avg rating — 479 ratings — published 1949 — 33 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Prairie School 4.01 avg rating — 473 ratings — published 1951 — 27 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Little Train (Mr. Small, #4) 3.83 avg rating — 430 ratings — published 1940 — 27 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Cotton in My Sack 4.13 avg rating — 390 ratings — published 1949 — 16 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Judy's Journey 4.28 avg rating — 313 ratings — published 1947 — 25 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Shoo Fly Girl 4.13 avg rating — 284 ratings — published 1963 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Little Airplane (Mr. Small, #3) 3.74 avg rating — 309 ratings — published 1938 — 23 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Houseboat Girl 4.11 avg rating — 269 ratings — published 1957 — 16 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Lois Lenski…

Series by Lois Lenski

American Regional (16 books)
by

Lois Lenski

3.91 avg rating — 16,950 ratings

Mr. Small (9 books)
by

Lois Lenski

3.86 avg rating — 2,347 ratings

Seasons (4 books)
by

Lois Lenski

3.65 avg rating — 278 ratings

Roundabout America (11 books)
by

Lois Lenski

3.90 avg rating — 239 ratings

Debbie Books (6 books)
by

Lois Lenski

4.34 avg rating — 29 ratings

More series by Lois Lenski…

Quotes by Lois Lenski (?)

“It don't matter what happens, if you're only srong and have great courage.”
― Lois Lenski, Indian Captive: The Story of Mary Jemison

tags: courage, strength

16 likes

“A hard lesson had been learned--that man himself suffers most when his hand despoils the earth and robs it of its legitimate fruits.”
― Lois Lenski, Texas Tomboy

tags: environmental, lesson-for-life

7 likes

“A new respect for Nature had been learned, a new kinship with sun and water and soil....They had learned that while Nature is often beautiful and kind, her laws must be respected, for they are ruthless and inexorable as well. Man must accept these laws and adjust his way of living to them. Then only can he prosper.”
― Lois Lenski, Texas Tomboy

tags: environmental, lesson-for-life

4 likes

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Topics Mentioning This Author

topics	posts	views	last activity
What's the Name o...: SOLVED. Children's Chapter-Book About a Little Cowboy & His Life on the Prairie [s]	8	69	Jan 10, 2011 08:52AM
Historical Fictio...: Challenge #7 - REPORT POINTS HERE	279	156	Sep 02, 2011 11:34AM
Book Club/Troubles: Scavenger Hunt	46	59	Nov 04, 2011 09:23AM
You'll love this ...: August's GTR - a little different! 1940s Newbery winners.	23	77	Aug 01, 2012 07:32AM
The Lost Challenges: Quarterly Back to School Challenge	101	134	Nov 21, 2012 02:13PM
Bookworm Bitches : Misty's Ongoing Reading Challenges	8	111	Jan 01, 2013 06:07AM
You'll love this ...: Debra T's Rainbow's Pot of Gold	409	93	Jan 04, 2013 02:26AM
Children's Books: October 2012: Discuss Our "Harvest-Time and Pumpkins" Club Reads HERE	77	103	Jan 14, 2013 09:43AM

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Lois Lenski’s Followers (197)

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Lois Lenski

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