Lydia Louisa Anna Very facts for kids
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Lydia Louisa Anna Very (born November 2, 1823 – died September 10, 1901) was an amazing American writer, teacher, and artist. She is famous for creating the very first "shape books" in America. These were books cut into fun shapes like people or animals!
Contents
About Lydia Very
Lydia Very was born in Salem, Massachusetts. Her parents were Lydia Very and Jones Very. Her father was a captain during the War of 1812. Lydia also had a brother named Jones. He became a famous poet and a clergyman. He was part of a group called the Transcendentalists. This group believed in the importance of nature and individual freedom.
Lydia's Teaching Career
Lydia started teaching when she was just 18 years old. She loved teaching! She spent most of her career, 34 years in total, teaching in public schools. Besides teaching, Lydia was also a talented artist. She created art using oil paints and clay.
The First Shape Books
In 1863, Lydia Very wrote and designed a special book. It was a version of the classic folk tale "Little Red Riding Hood". But this wasn't just any book! It was cut into the actual shape of Little Red Riding Hood. You could see the wolf crouching by her feet.
This book was published by a company called L. Prang & Co. It was the very first book in the United States to be shaped like a person or an animal. These books became known as "Doll books" because of their unique shapes.
Lydia wrote more shape books for Prang & Co. These included "Goody Two Shoes" and a version of Daniel Defoe's "Robinson Crusoe". Lydia believed she came up with the idea for these shaped books. She even tried to get a patent for her design. However, she was not successful. The publisher, Prang, said they thought of the idea first.
Even though there was a disagreement, other publishers quickly started making their own shaped books. Lydia later wrote that she didn't get paid much for these books. But they were very popular and sold really well!
Other Writings
Lydia Very wrote many poems. She published them in magazines and newspapers. She also put her poems into two collections. Lydia could even translate poems from French and German. She wrote a few novels too, like "A Strange Recluse" in 1899.
Books by Lydia Very
- Poems (1856)
- Red Riding Hood (1863)
- Robinson Crusoe (1864)
- Goody Two Shoes (1865)
- Poems and Prose Writings (1890)
- Sayings and Doings Among Insects and Flowers (1897)
- Sylph, Or the Organ-Grinder's Daughter (1898; with illustrations by Very)
- A Strange Disclosure: A Tale of New England Life (1898)
- A Strange Recluse (1899)
- An Old-Fashioned Garden, and Walks and Musings Therein (1900)
