Miriam E. Mason

Miriam Evangeline Mason (1900 – 1973) was an American writer best known for her books for children.

Mason was born on January 23, 1900, in Goshen, Indiana.^[1] Her parents, Benjamin Franklin Mason and Laura Gessaman Mason, were farmers with a family of seven.^[2] Mason was Lutheran.^[3][4]

When she was a student, she lived in Martinsville, Indiana.^[5] She attended Martinsville High School, Indiana University, the University of Missouri, and Ball State University.^[6] She married M.M. Swain in 1924. They divorced. She had one daughter, Kathleen.^[3]

Mason taught for several years and also worked in advertising and publishing.^[3][4]

Her books were published under her maiden name of Miriam E. Mason.^[7] Six of her books received starred reviews from Kirkus Reviews: Matilda and Her Family;^[8] The Middle Sister;^[9] A Lion for Patsy;^[10] Caroline and Her Kettle Named Maud;^[11] A Small Farm for Andy;^[12] and Becky and Her Brave Cat, Bluegrass.^[13] In addition to her books for children, she wrote hundreds of articles, short stories, and plays.^[2]

She made appearances to speak to children and adults throughout her career as an author.^[14][7][5]

She died on February 20, 1973, in Batesville, Indiana, at her home.^{[2][15][16][17][18]} She had lived in Batesville since the early 1940s.^[19]

Her papers are held at Indiana State University.^[20]

• The Little Story House. Illustrated by Elfreda Burns. Beckley-Cardy, 1935.^[21]
• Smiling Hill Farm. Illustrated by Kate Seredy. Junior Literary Guild and Ginn, 1937.
• O Happy Day! Illustrated by Mabel Woodbury. Frederick A. Stokes Company, 1939.
• Home is Fun. Photographs by J.C. Allen and son. Beckley-Cardy, 1939.
• Susannah, the Pioneer Cow. Illustrated by Maud and Miska Petersham. Macmillan, 1941.^[22]
• Matilda and Her Family. Illustrated by Meg Wohlberg. Macmillan, 1942.^[8]
• Timothy Has Ideas. Illustrated by Berta Hader and Elmer Hader. Macmillan, 1943.^[9]
• Little Jonathan. Illustrated by George and Doris Hauman. Macmillan, 1944.
• Happy Jack. Illustrated by George and Doris Hauman. Macmillan, 1945.^[23]
• The Middle Sister. Illustrated by Grace Paull. Macmillan, 1947.^[24]
• A Lion for Patsy. Illustrated by Vera Neville. McKay, 1947.^[10][25]
• Hoppity. Illustrated by Kurt Wiese. Macmillan, 1947.^[26]
• A Pony Called Lightning. Illustrated by Clarence William Anderson. Macmillan, 1948.
• A House for Ten. Illustrated by Kate Seredy. Ginn, 1949.
• This Is Our Valley. With Sister Marguerite McArdle. Illustrated by Charlotte Ware. Ginn, 1949.^[27]
• Herman, the Brave Pig. Illustrated by George and Doris Hauman. Macmillan, 1949.^[28]
• The Gray-Nosed Kitten. Illustrated by Marie C. Nichols. Houghton Mifflin, 1950.^[29][30]
• Hominy and His Blunt-nosed Arrow. Illustrated by George and Doris Hauman. Macmillan, 1950.
• Three Ships Came Sailing in: a Story of John Smith's Jamestown. Illustrated by Charles V. John. Bobbs-Merrill, 1950.^[31]
• Caroline and Her Kettle Named Maud. Illustrated by Kathleen Voute. Macmillan, 1951.^[11] Later edition illustrated by Joseph Escourido.^[32]
• Young Mr. Meeker and His Exciting Journey to Oregon. Illustrated by Sandra James. Bobbs-Merrill, 1952.
• Yours with Love, Kate. Illustrated by Barbara Cooney. Houghton Mifflin, 1952.
• Broomtail, Brother of Lightning. Illustrated by Barbara Cooney. Houghton Mifflin, 1952.^[33]
• The Major and His Camels. Illustrated by Zhenya Gay. Macmillan, 1953.
• The Sugarbush Family. Illustrated by Zhenya Gay. Macmillan, 1954.^[34]
• Miss Posy Longlegs. Illustrated by Maud and Miska Petersham. Macmillan, 1955.^[35]
• Benjamin Lucky. Illustrated by Vee Guthrie. Macmillan, 1956.^[36]
• Freddy. Illustrated by Vee Guthrie. Macmillan, 1957.^[37][38]
• Katie Kittenheart. Illustrated by Charles Geer. Macmillan, 1957.^[39]
• A Small Farm for Andy. Illustrated by Vee Guthrie. Macmillan, 1958.^[12][40]
• John Smith: Man of Adventure. Illustrated by Charles Freeman. Houghton Mifflin, 1958.^[41]
• Mr. Meadowlark. Illustrated by Marie C. Nichols. Hastings House, 1959.^[42][43][44]
• The Baby Jesus. Illustrated by Johannes Troyer. Macmillan, 1959.^[45]
• Becky and Her Brave Cat, Bluegrass. Illustrated by Robert MacLean. Macmillan, 1960.^[13][46]
• Miney and the Blessing. Illustrated by Dorothy Bayley Morse. Macmillan, 1961.^[47]
• Hoppity. [different edition] Illustrated by Cyndy Szekeres. Macmillan, 1962.
• Stevie and His Seven Orphans. Illustrated by John Gretzer. Houghton Mifflin, 1964.^[48]
• Scared Kitten. Illustrated by Adrina Zanazanian. Macmillan, 1967.^[49]
• Caroline and the Seven Little Words. Illustrated by Paul Frame. Macmillan, 1967.
• Sara and the Winter Gift. Illustrated by Paul Frame. Macmillan, 1968.^[50]

• Dan Beard, Boy Scout. Illustrated by Paul Laune. Bobbs-Merrill, 1953.
• Daniel Boone: Wilderness Trailblazer. Illustrated by Harve Stein. Houghton Mifflin, 1961.
• Frances Willard, Girl Crusader. Illustrated by Leslie Goldstein. Bobbs-Merrill, 1961.^[51]
• John Audubon, Young Naturalist. Also published with the title Young Audubon, Boy Naturalist. Illustrated by Cathy Morrison. Bobbs-Merrill, 1943. Patria Press, 2006.^[52]
• Kate Douglas Wiggin, the Little Schoolteacher. Illustrated by Vance Locke. Bobbs-Merrill, 1958.
• Mark Twain, Boy of Old Missouri. Illustrated by Henry S. Gillette. Bobbs-Merrill, 1962.
• Mary Mapes Dodge, Jolly Girl. Illustrated by Sandra James. Bobbs-Merrill, 1962.^[53]
• William Penn, Friendly Boy. Illustrated by Lawrence Dresser. Bobbs-Merrill, 1962.

• Crawford: And Other Stories Long and Short. Prentice-Hall, 1963.
• Little Bunny Little: And Other Stories You Can Read. Prentice-Hall, 1963.
• The Birthday Cake: And Other Stories to Enjoy. Prentice-Hall, 1963.
• The Pink Pig: And Other Stories For You. Prentice-Hall, 1964.

• The Third Little Stocking. 1931. [play]^[54][55]
• The King Eternal; an Easter Service of Readings and Songs. Eldridge Entertainment House, 1932. [play]
• "Jonathan's Lucky Money." Illustrated by George and Doris Hauman. In A, B, C, Go! A Completely New Selection of Outstanding Children's Stories and Poems Compiled for Enrichment Reading by a Distinguished Editorial Board of Children's Librarians. [Edited by] Rosemary E. Livsey. Crowell-Collier, 1962. [poem]