John Martin's Book facts for kids
January 1921 issue
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| Editor | "John Martin" |
|---|---|
| Categories | Children's magazine |
| Circulation | 40,000 in 1925 23,000 in 1932 |
| First issue | 1912 |
| Final issue | 1933 |
| Company | John Martin's House |
| OCLC | 10593178 |
John Martin's Book was a special magazine for kids. It was made for children aged five to eight years old. Many people thought it was a very important and fun magazine. It was one of the best magazines for young kids in the United States.
The magazine was published from 1912 to 1933. It cost between 10 and 50 cents. Because of its price, it was mostly bought by families with more money.
Contents
Who Was John Martin?
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"John Martin" was not his real name. It was a pen name for Morgan van Roorbach Shepard. He was born in Brooklyn, New York on April 8, 1865. He grew up on a farm in Maryland. He chose the name "Martin" because of the many martins (a type of bird) that lived there.
When he was nine, his mother passed away. This was a very sad time for him. He then went to different boarding schools. He often had a tough time there.
As an adult, he worked many different jobs. He was a streetcar conductor in California. He even got fired for giving free rides to children! He also worked as a newspaper reporter and a bank clerk.
He later started a business making greeting cards. His office was in the Crocker Building in San Francisco, California. But in 1906, a big earthquake destroyed the building. Morgan Shepard was hurt while trying to get things from his office safe.
How the Magazine Started
While he was recovering from his injury, he had to stay in bed. During this time, he began writing stories and poems for children. He started by writing long, illustrated letters to kids.
In 1908, these letters became a small publication. It was called John Martin's Letters. He sent these letters to about 2,000 children every month. In 1912, his letters grew into the magazine we know as John Martin's Book.
What Was Inside John Martin's Book?
The magazine was full of fun things for kids. It had exciting stories and beautiful pictures. There were also many puzzles for children to solve.
John Martin's House, the company behind the magazine, also made special books. These were called John Martin Big Books. They collected and reprinted favorite stories and art from the magazine.
One popular part of the magazine was its puzzles. A character named Peter Puzzlemaker presented them. A collection of these puzzles was published as a book in 1922. It was also called Peter Puzzlemaker.
Who Helped Create It?
Morgan Shepard had a lot of help with the magazine. Helen Jane Waldo was the associate editor. She worked on the magazine for its entire run.
Many talented writers and artists contributed to John Martin's Book. Some famous names include Thornton Burgess and Conrad Richter. Other contributors were Grace Adele Pierce, Johnny Gruelle, and Justin Gruelle. Artists like Jack Yeats, William Wallace Denslow, Frank Verbeck, and Wanda Gág also shared their work.
The most important artist was George L. Carlson. He drew over fifty covers for the magazine. He also created most of the puzzles, riddles, and activities.
After John Martin's Book ended in 1933, Morgan Shepard continued working with children. He became a director for children's programs at the National Broadcasting Company (NBC).
