Millicent Selsam facts for kids

Millicent Ellis Selsam (born in 1912, died in 1996) was a fantastic American author who wrote many science books for kids. She helped young readers discover the wonders of nature and science through her exciting and easy-to-understand books.

Early Life and Education

Millicent Selsam was born on May 30, 1912, in New York City. From a young age, she loved learning about living things, especially biology. This passion grew during her high school years.

She continued to study biology at Brooklyn College. Later, she even taught at Columbia University while earning her master's degree in botany, which is the study of plants.

Becoming a Children's Author

After finishing her studies, Millicent Selsam taught science in high schools. She also taught biology at Brooklyn College for several years. In 1946, she decided to combine her love for science with her passion for teaching by writing science discovery books especially for children.

She believed that science could be fun and exciting for young minds. Her books helped kids explore topics like animals, plants, and the natural world around them.

Achievements and Books

Millicent Selsam wrote over one hundred children's books during her career! Her books covered a wide range of science topics, from tiny atoms to giant dinosaurs. She had a special way of making complex ideas simple and interesting for kids.

In 1965, she won a special award called the Thomas Alva Edison Mass Media Award. This was for her book Biography of an Atom, which was recognized as the best children's science book of that year. She worked with Jacob Bronowski on this book.

Some of her popular books include:

• Greg's Microscope
• A First Look at Animals With Horns
• A First Look at Dinosaurs
• Big Tracks, Little Tracks: Following Animal Prints
• Questions and Answers About Horses
• Mushrooms
• Egg to Chick
• Seeds and More Seeds
• How to Be a Nature Detective
• More Potatoes!
• How Puppies Grow
• How Kittens Grow
• Sea Monsters of Long Ago
• Stars, Mosquitoes, and Crocodiles : the American Travels of Alexander von Humboldt
• Birth of an Island
• See Through the Sea
• See Through the Forest
• See Through the Jungle
• See Through the Lake
• Around the World with Darwin
• The Plants We Eat
• Land of the Giant Tortoise: The Story of the Galapagos
• The Tiger: Its Life in the Wild
• Is this a Baby Dinosaur? and Other Science Picture Puzzles
• The Apple and Other Fruits
• Animals as Parents
• The Language of Animals
• Maple Tree
• Microbes at Work
• Milkweed
• Peanut
• Plants that Heal
• Plants that Move
• Play with Plants
• Play with Seeds
• Play with Trees
• Underwater Zoos
• The Amazing Dandelion
• Popcorn

Personal Life

Millicent Selsam was married to a philosopher named Howard Selsam. They had one child together, a son named Robert.

She passed away at the age of 84 on October 12, 1996. Her many books continue to inspire young scientists and nature lovers today.