Olive Beaupre Miller

Olive Beaupre Miller (née Olive Kennon Beaupré) (September 11, 1883 – March 25, 1968) was an American author, publisher and editor of children's literature.

She received her B.A. from Smith College in 1904.

The Book House for Children publishing company was founded in 1919 printing popular children’s literature edited by Miller to meet her standards:

• "First,--To be well equipped for life, to have ideas and the ability to express them, the child needs a broad background of familiarity with the best in literature.

• "Second,--His stories and rhymes must be selected with care that he may absorb no distorted view of life and its actual values, but may grow up to be mentally clear about values and emotionally impelled to seek what is truly desirable and worthwhile in human living.

• "Third,--The stories and rhymes selected must be graded to the child's understanding at different periods of his growth, graded as to vocabulary, as to subject matter and as to complexity of structure and plot." [1]

Earlier versions of The Book House contained some short stories (such as Little Black Sambo) which were later recognized to be racist and were removed from the set, and replaced with newer stories of, e.g. The U.S. Space Program.

The company was also remarkable for its large female staff when most women did not work outside the home.

Bibliography

• My Book House (6 volumes)
  • Volume 1, In the Nursery (1920)
  • Volume 2, Up One Pair of Stairs (1920)
  • Volume 3, Through Fairy Halls (1920)
  • Volume 4, The Treasure Chest (1920)
  • Volume 5, From The Tower Window (1921)
  • Volume 6, The Latch Key (1922)
• My Travelship (3 volumes)
  • Little Pictures of Japan (1925)
  • Tales Told in Holland (1926)
  • Nursery Friends From France (1927)
• My Book House (12 volumes) (1932 & 1937)

Each of the original thicker volumes were divided and made more picture-book-like and easier for a child to handle. The style of illustration and text were changed as well from the original 1920s edition.

• • Volume 1, In the Nursery
  • Volume 2, Story Time
  • Volume 3, Up One Pair of Stairs
  • Volume 4, Through the Gate
  • Volume 5, Over The Hills
  • Volume 6, Through Fairy Halls
  • Volume 7, The Magic Garden
  • Volume 8, Flying Sails
  • Volume 9, The Treasure Chest
  • Volume 10, From the Tower Window
  • Volume 11, In Shining Armor
  • Volume 12, Halls of Fame

• Engines and Brass Bands (1933)
• Heroes, Outlaws and Funny Fellows of American Popular Tales (1939)
• Heroes of the Bible (1940) ISBN 978-1417991471

External links

• Smith College - Olive Beaupré Miller Papers, 1864-1992
• Olive Beaupre Miller at the Winnetka Historical Society
• My Book House review of the 12 volume set
• My Book House cover illustrations from Childscapes.com
• My Book House Blog