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My Book House
My Bookhouse: The Latch Key
Volume 6 of the 6-volume original version
- GenresChildrens
324 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1920
4 people are currently reading
59 people want to read
About the author
Olive Beaupré Miller
102 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 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 3, 2019
I actually found this beautiful book on the curb being thrown out so I had to snag it. Although it's for kids, and I'm an adult, it's quite interesting. The fact that it was published in the 1920's makes it like a time capsule. I think of my grandparents being young children at the time.
It's filled with biographies of famous figures (mostly authors) such as Shakespeare or Louisa May Alcott. Their childhoods are central to most of the stories, and I'm actually learning a lot. For instance, Leo Tolstoy grew up lavishly wealthy as the son of a Count, yet after he grew up, the inequality of the rich and poor haunted him. Or Hans Christian Anderson based his story "The Ugly Duckling" on himself, as he was bullied and taunted during his childhood and youth, but after he grew up and became famous for his children's literature, he was celebrated.
It's filled with biographies of famous figures (mostly authors) such as Shakespeare or Louisa May Alcott. Their childhoods are central to most of the stories, and I'm actually learning a lot. For instance, Leo Tolstoy grew up lavishly wealthy as the son of a Count, yet after he grew up, the inequality of the rich and poor haunted him. Or Hans Christian Anderson based his story "The Ugly Duckling" on himself, as he was bullied and taunted during his childhood and youth, but after he grew up and became famous for his children's literature, he was celebrated.
August 10, 2014
This book was so excellent! I love the stories from lives of authors and other famous people!
January 11, 2021
This is a fun book to keep around to read in between other books.
Really cool way to get to know historical authors a little better.
Glad I found this.
Really cool way to get to know historical authors a little better.
Glad I found this.
January 25, 2024
I have fond memories of the many stories in this book. I found a water damaged copy in a vacant lot near a hilltop mansion near my house, while exploring the area on my birthday bike.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews