Marcus Crouch facts for kids
Marcus Crouch (born February 12, 1913 – died April 24, 1996) was an English librarian. He was also a very important person who wrote about and reviewed children's books. He helped many people discover great stories for young readers.
About Marcus Crouch
Marcus Crouch was born in a place called Tottenham in Middlesex, England. He went to the Grammar School there. Later, he studied at London University. This is where he trained to become a professional librarian.
He worked as a librarian in several places. These included libraries in Middlesex, Lancashire, and Kent counties. He also held important roles in groups that supported libraries. For example, he was a leader in the Youth Libraries Group. This group is part of the Library Association. He also led the Kent Branch of the School Library Association. He was even the Deputy County Librarian for Kent.
His Books and Writings
Marcus Crouch is best known for his books about children's literature. These books helped people understand the history of children's stories in Britain.
- Treasure Seekers and Borrowers: Children's Books in Britain 1900-1960: This book looked at children's books published between 1900 and 1960.
- The Nesbit Tradition: The Children's Novel 1945-1970: This book focused on children's novels from 1945 to 1970.
He also wrote a special book for the Library Association. It was called Chosen for Children. This book talked about all the books that won the Carnegie Medal. The Carnegie Medal is a famous award for children's books. His book covered the winners from 1936 to 1965.
Marcus Crouch also wrote a book about the famous author Beatrix Potter. She is known for her Peter Rabbit stories. This book was published by Bodley Head.
He also put together and edited several collections of folk tales for children. These were traditional stories from different cultures.
Besides children's books, he wrote non-fiction books about southeastern England. Some of these books even had his own photographs inside them.
Reviews and Legacy
Marcus Crouch wrote many reviews of children's books. His reviews appeared in magazines like Junior Bookshelf and School Librarian. He also wrote for the Times Literary Supplement.
He passed away at his home in North Wales when he was 83 years old. Today, his work is remembered through the "Marcus Crouch Collection." This special collection is kept by Kent Arts and Libraries. It has about 1,500 children's books. These books were published in the United Kingdom between 1830 and 1930.
