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My Book House #1
In the Nursery
Stories and poems a child hears and reads are a most important part of the foundation upon which his life is being built. My Book House was definitely and consciously prepared to help educate children from the very earliest possible moment to meet life by calling out in them those qualities which make for the richest and fullest living.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1920
21 people are currently reading
152 people want to read
About the author
Olive Beaupré Miller
96 books33 followersOlive Kennon Beaupré was born in Aurora, IL on September 11, 1883. She received her B.A. from Smith College in 1904 and returned to Aurora to work as an English teacher for two years. Olive and Harry Edward Miller were married October 2, 1907.
Olive began writing rhymes and stories to entertain her daughter Virginia, and was encouraged by Harry to publish some of her writings. In 1919 Olive founded The Bookhouse for Children publishing company with Harry. Olive assumed the title of Editor and published all of her subsequent material either solely through The Bookhouse or through other publishing companies in conjunction with The Bookhouse.
Olive published the first volume of the My Bookhouse series in 1920 and set to work on the next five volumes. My Bookhouse became the first collection of children's literature which was graded to meet the developing needs and abilities of children at different ages.
Olive began publishing the nine volume series A Picturesque Tale of Progress in 1929. In 1934 Olive revised My Bookhouse, expanding the series from six volumes to twelve.
When Olive and Harry were divorced in May 1935, he resigned his position as President of The Book House. In addition to being Editor, Olive was elected Vice-President by the Board of Directors, who hoped that this post would keep her from pursuing a more managerial role in the company. Olive achieved the position of Chairman of the Board in 1939 and held it until 1954.
The Book House for Children was sold to United Educators in 1954. Olive remained Chairman of the Board in an advisory capacity until she retired in 1962. She moved to Tucson, AZ where she lived with her daughter Virginia (Miller) Read and family until her death on March 25, 1968.
Olive began writing rhymes and stories to entertain her daughter Virginia, and was encouraged by Harry to publish some of her writings. In 1919 Olive founded The Bookhouse for Children publishing company with Harry. Olive assumed the title of Editor and published all of her subsequent material either solely through The Bookhouse or through other publishing companies in conjunction with The Bookhouse.
Olive published the first volume of the My Bookhouse series in 1920 and set to work on the next five volumes. My Bookhouse became the first collection of children's literature which was graded to meet the developing needs and abilities of children at different ages.
Olive began publishing the nine volume series A Picturesque Tale of Progress in 1929. In 1934 Olive revised My Bookhouse, expanding the series from six volumes to twelve.
When Olive and Harry were divorced in May 1935, he resigned his position as President of The Book House. In addition to being Editor, Olive was elected Vice-President by the Board of Directors, who hoped that this post would keep her from pursuing a more managerial role in the company. Olive achieved the position of Chairman of the Board in 1939 and held it until 1954.
The Book House for Children was sold to United Educators in 1954. Olive remained Chairman of the Board in an advisory capacity until she retired in 1962. She moved to Tucson, AZ where she lived with her daughter Virginia (Miller) Read and family until her death on March 25, 1968.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
February 16, 2024
A wonderful collection! Read aloud to my daughter.
July 25, 2023
The illustrations in this book are so beautiful, they truly do not make them like this today. There are many rhymes from different places.
All the places are depicted with people dressed in their traditional garbs, no one is wearing a t-shirt and jeans.
I'm originally from Cuba, my four grandparents from Europe, they moved to that fairly new country, Cuba. I learned from dna tests, that I have ancestry from the four corners of Europe. And so it is very entertaining to see all the countries depicted in their traditional garb. It'd be pretty bland if every country were wearing the same thing, as that was not the case not too long ago. It is very interesting to learn about places I'm from; Spain, London, Scotland, The Baltics, etc.
There are also many picture books like this one in Cuba.
You should know that they reference and depict mammy's.
The book references Spanish influence in the states, the Spanish colonizers, which I think is pretty cool since we used to own a lot of the land before we sold it.
It's interesting to note, there are still many countries all over the world who love to dress in their traditional garbs...pretty much all of them.
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All the places are depicted with people dressed in their traditional garbs, no one is wearing a t-shirt and jeans.
I'm originally from Cuba, my four grandparents from Europe, they moved to that fairly new country, Cuba. I learned from dna tests, that I have ancestry from the four corners of Europe. And so it is very entertaining to see all the countries depicted in their traditional garb. It'd be pretty bland if every country were wearing the same thing, as that was not the case not too long ago. It is very interesting to learn about places I'm from; Spain, London, Scotland, The Baltics, etc.
There are also many picture books like this one in Cuba.
You should know that they reference and depict mammy's.
The book references Spanish influence in the states, the Spanish colonizers, which I think is pretty cool since we used to own a lot of the land before we sold it.
It's interesting to note, there are still many countries all over the world who love to dress in their traditional garbs...pretty much all of them.
✨✨✨✨✨
April 16, 2024
Sweet anthology of nursery rhymes and poems. Read with my 4 year old
August 23, 2019
Lots of fun for our three-and-a-half year old daughter. I also enjoyed reading the many different rhymes, and it may have helped her figure out what a rhyme means. I imagine we'll read it again to our infant son. There are unfortunately some stereotypical depictions of African Americans with some of the rhymes from the American South.
February 9, 2015
I love these books as a child and now I am reading them as an adult. Wonderful illustrations and collections of nursery rhymes from different countries as well as beginning stories. Children's literature at its best.
February 9, 2023
The boys and I read this in morning time and all really liked the illustrations, the poems, the nursery rhymes and especially those from all around the world and throughout time. When we were done they ran upstairs to get the next one.
January 13, 2008
Rhianwen LOVES this book. She flips through it every day and brings it to us to read many times during the day.
I love it b/c it has so much in it that I don't get bored with it right away.
I love it b/c it has so much in it that I don't get bored with it right away.
July 27, 2021
I really enjoyed every page. This book is an old collection of nursery tales, rhymes and more. The writing is fantastic and I especially liked the story about the crow and the pitcher tale. I thought it had such a sweet message. I recommend this book to an audience of 9+. Nothing in this book is inappropriate or anything, I mean a toddler could read this book; it is more the writing and vocabulary where some kids might get mixed up or confused. I will say that the 448 pages could get pretty hard to get through at times but I read this book on and off everyday along with some others. Anyone who reads this book s most likely to enjoy the entire thing. Wonderful, props to everyone who included a tale or story in this book, I loved them all!
April 7, 2025
This book is so beautiful, the stories, poems, songs, illustrations, we love them all. This series will be one I will hold onto for the day I have grandchildren.
I’ve been reading from this book for years to my kids and they all have always looked forward to it but this is the first time we have read every single story in the book and the moment I finished the last page my 4 year old said “oh man. I guess it’s time to start book two now!”
I’ve been reading from this book for years to my kids and they all have always looked forward to it but this is the first time we have read every single story in the book and the moment I finished the last page my 4 year old said “oh man. I guess it’s time to start book two now!”
May 22, 2021
I grew up with these books. The edition I have was a 1956 printing--the year of my birth. I flatter myself to think that Mom and Dad purchased them in honor of the occasion, but I had a three-year-old sister who was probably more ready for them. Both of us read all twelve volumes. I became custodian of the set and am re-reading them again before handing them to the next generation.
March 3, 2022
Had these books for more than two decades and here I am reading it for the first time.
30 pages in and I think I'm bout to lose my mind with the rhyming and repetitive use of words. You'd think it's basic because it's the nursery rhymes.
Nonetheless, such a great quality book, exciting to show and read to future nieces/nephews/kids!!!!
30 pages in and I think I'm bout to lose my mind with the rhyming and repetitive use of words. You'd think it's basic because it's the nursery rhymes.
Nonetheless, such a great quality book, exciting to show and read to future nieces/nephews/kids!!!!
June 21, 2023
This is the first book in the My Bookhouse Anthology. A delightful collection of nursery rhymes, stories, and poems from around the world. The full color illustrations make this appealing to young children.
September 29, 2023
This book would be perfect for kinder or 1st grade because of the nursery rhymes. It is loaded with all the nursery rhymes I grew up on, and more. Even for kinder and 1st grade there is a lot of advanced vocabulary which might be challenging, but a great way to expand your children's vocab.
May 12, 2017
Great classic poems and stories that both my 7 year old daughter and I enjoyed at bedtime.
February 12, 2021
(with Ben & Mabry)
April 20, 2016
I gave this five stars not just because it's great classic literature, which it is, but also because of its sentimental value to me. With Mother's Day just around the corner, and before I send the set along to the newest member of the family, I decided to revisit it and revel in nostalgia. My parents purchased this set in 1951 (I was one at the time!), and my mother read to my sister and me from it every night at bedtime. This first book has nursery rhymes from all over the world, and as I sat reading through them last night, I could still hear my mother's voice. Once I finish the whole set, I will "bequeath" it to my great-nephew who is looking forward to reading every night to his new little boy. It's nice to have something to pass down through the generations.
January 17, 2017
This book of classic poems, nursery rhymes, and stories is wonderful. It is exemplary for having content from all over the globe.
As a teacher, I was impressed by the treasures of complex phonemic patterns and rich vocabulary.
This is the "book I can read in a day" book for my Reading Challenge 2017.
As a teacher, I was impressed by the treasures of complex phonemic patterns and rich vocabulary.
This is the "book I can read in a day" book for my Reading Challenge 2017.
April 25, 2016
I found this on my grandmother's bookshelves ages ago and she said I could take them. I loved flipping through and seeing the nursery rhymes I knew (and some I didn't). To think at one point other members of my family went through this book and did life with it.
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June 14, 2017.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews