James Otis Kaler

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

James Otis Kaler (1848 — 1912) was an American journalist and author of children’s literature. He used the pen name James Otis.

Contents

[edit] Life and career

Kaler was born on March 19, 1848, in Winterport, Maine. He attended public schools during his childhood. Kaler got a job with the Boston Journal when he was in his teens. Later, he went on to work as a journalist or editor for various newspapers, superintendent at schools, and a publicity man at a circus.[1]

In 1880, under the pen name James Otis, he authored his first children’s book, Toby Tyler, a story about an orphan who runs away to join the circus. Following the book's success he went on to author numerous other children’s books.

After spending several years in the southeastern states, he returned to Maine to become the first superintendent in South Portland.[2] Kaler married Amy L. Scamman on March 19, 1898, and, together, they had two children named Stephen and Otis. Kaler died of uremia on December 11, 1912 in Portland, Maine.[1]

A more complete biography, and a comprehensive bibliography, can be found by clicking [1], a web site devoted to James Otis Kaler.

[edit] Books

  • Toby Tyler, or Ten Weeks with a Circus (1880)
  • Tim and Tip (1880)
  • Left Behind (1882)
  • Raising the Pearl (1883)
  • Mr. Stubb’s Brother (1883; sequel to Toby Tyler)
  • Silent Pete (1885)
  • The Boy Spies at the Defense of Fort Henry
  • The Boy Spies at the Battle of Bunker Hill
  • The Boy Spies at the Siege of Detroit
  • The Boy Spies With Lafayette
  • The Boy Spies on the Chesapeake Bay
  • The Boy Spies With the Regulators (1901)
  • The Boy Spies With the Swamp Fox
  • The Boy Spies at Yorktown
  • The Boy Spies of Philadelphia
  • The Boy Spies of Old New York

[edit] Footnotes

  1. ^ a b Lost Classic Books Author Bio Page, James Otis (last accessed 1 September 2007)
  2. ^ South Portland Public, James Otis Kaler Collection. (last accessed 1 September 2007)

[edit] External links