Genevieve Foster facts for kids

Genevieve Stump Foster (born April 13, 1893 – died August 30, 1979) was an American writer for children. She was also an artist who drew pictures for most of her own books. Her books were so good that she was a finalist for the important Newbery Medal four times. This award is given to the best children's books each year.

Discovering Genevieve Foster's Life Story

Early Life and School Days

Genevieve Foster was born in Oswego, New York. Her father passed away when she was only one year old. After this, her mother moved with Genevieve to Whitewater, Wisconsin. They lived with her grandparents, and Genevieve spent most of her childhood there.

She often said that her grandmother and her home in Wisconsin were very important to her early life. When she was 13, her drawing teacher suggested she go to art school.

After high school, she studied at Rockford College from 1911 to 1912. She then graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1915. Still wanting to draw, she attended the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts from 1916 to 1917.

Starting Her Writing Career

Genevieve Foster began her career as an artist. She worked as a commercial artist, an illustrator, and in advertising. On June 5, 1922, she married Orrington C. Foster, who was an engineer. After getting married, she worked less.

They lived in the woods for five months before moving to Chicago, Illinois. They had two children: Orrington Jr., known as Tony, born in 1924, and Joanna, born in 1928.

From 1930 to 1938, she started working more, mainly drawing pictures for children's stories. In 1933, her family moved to Evanston, Illinois.

A New Way to Teach History

Genevieve Foster found that history lessons in school were often confusing. She wanted to find a way to write history books that both kids and their parents would enjoy. She said her daughter, Joanna, gave her a great idea.

In 1934, they watched a movie called The Rise of Catherine the Great. Joanna noticed that Catherine's clothes looked like what people wore in America during the time of George Washington.

This made Genevieve think about history differently. Instead of teaching history "vertically" (one country's history at a time), she wanted to teach it "horizontally." This meant showing how events around the world happened at the same time and were connected.

She felt that traditional history lessons were like a play where only one actor was on stage. The other actors would mumble their lines off-stage, out of sight. She wanted to bring all the characters onto the stage together.

Foster was a leader in this new way of writing history. She showed how different events and people across the world were connected. Her goal was to make historical figures "alive for children."

For example, her first history book, George Washington's World, showed how the French Revolution, the American Revolution, and British imperialism all affected George Washington's life. They were all happening around the same time.

During her career, she wrote 19 non-fiction books for children. Genevieve Foster traveled a lot, and many of her books were translated into 12 to 15 languages. The U. S. State Department even helped share her books around the world.

Later Life and Lasting Impact

Genevieve Foster passed away in Westport, Connecticut. Her writings and drawings are kept in special collections at the University of Oregon Libraries and the University of Minnesota Library.

Many of her books are still printed today. Some are even used as textbooks, especially for children who are homeschooling. Her daughter, Joanna, became an editor for children's books. Joanna also wrote two books for young people: Pete's Puddle (1950) and Dogs Working for People (1972).

Genevieve Foster's Published Works

Books Written by Genevieve Foster

• George Washington's World (1941) (Newbery Honor 1942)
• Abraham Lincoln's World 1809-1865 (1944) (Newbery Honor 1945)
• Augustus Caesar's World: A Story of Ideas and Events from B.C. 44 to 14 A.D. (1947)
• George Washington (1949) (Newbery Honor 1950)
• Abraham Lincoln (1950)
• Andrew Jackson (1951)
• Birthdays of Freedom, Vol. 1 (1952) (Newbery Honor 1953)
• Birthdays of Freedom, Vol. 2 (1957) (one volume edition 1973)
• Theodore Roosevelt (1954)
• When and Where in Italy, A Passport to Yesterday for Readers and Travelers of Today (1955)
• The World of Captain John Smith (1959)
• The World of Columbus and Sons (1965)
• Year of the Pilgrims, 1620 (1969)
• Year of Columbus, 1492 (1969)
• Year of Lincoln, 1861 (1970)
• Year of Independence, 1776 (1970)
• The World of William Penn (1973)
• Year of the Horseless Carriage, 1801 (1975)
• Year of the Flying Machine, 1903 (1977)

NH means the book was a runner-up for the annual Newbery Medal. These are now called Newbery Honor Books.

Books Illustrated by Genevieve Foster

• Boyhood Adventures of Our Presidents, by Frances Cavanah
• Children of the White House, by Frances Cavanah
• Pioneer Girl, The Early Life of Frances Willard, by Clara Ingram Judson
• The Strange Pettingill Puzzle, Two Mysteries for Boys and Girls, by Augusta Huiell Seaman