Augusta Stevenson facts for kids

Augusta Stevenson (born in 1869, died in 1976) was an American writer and teacher. She was born in Indianapolis, Indiana. Augusta Stevenson wrote many books for young readers. She is best known for her series "Childhood of Famous Americans" and "Children's Classics in Dramatic Form."

About Augusta Stevenson

Augusta Stevenson was not only a writer but also a dedicated teacher. She taught in the public schools of Indianapolis, Indiana. Her love for teaching likely inspired her to write books that would help children learn and grow. She wrote over 400 books during her career.

Childhood of Famous Americans Series

One of Augusta Stevenson's most popular works was the "Childhood of Famous Americans" series. This collection of books told the life stories of important Americans. The series started in 1932 with a book about Abraham Lincoln. These books focused on the childhood of these famous people. They mixed real facts with some made-up stories to make them fun for kids.

The books were very popular and were used in schools across the country. They were even translated into other languages. Augusta Stevenson wrote several titles in this series, including:

• Booker T. Washington, Ambitious Boy
• Ben Franklin, Printer's Boy
• George Carver: Boy Scientist
• Clara Barton: Girl Nurse

These books helped young readers learn about history and important figures in an exciting way.

Children's Classics in Dramatic Form

Augusta Stevenson also wrote "Children's Classics in Dramatic Form." The first book in this series came out in 1908. It was designed to be a textbook for school children. Later, these plays were republished as "Plays for the Home."

These books turned classic stories into short plays. This made it fun for children to read and act out famous tales. The plays included stories from:

• Aesop (known for his fables)
• Hans Christian Andersen (famous for fairy tales)
• The Brothers Grimm (collectors of folk tales)
• The 1001 Arabian Nights (a collection of Middle Eastern folk tales)

Another book in this series, "Harrap's Dramatic Readers, Book III," published in 1911, also used many well-known folk tales. Some of these included "The Ugly Duckling" and "The Crow and the Fox." These plays helped children enjoy classic literature in a new and interactive way.