by Laura Elizabeth Howe Richards

1901. Prolific writer of children's books, she is credited with pioneering American writing of nonsense verses for children, but she received the Pulitzer Prize for a biography of her mother, Julia Ward Howe, a social reformer who wrote the words to the Battle Hymn of the Republic. The book begins: Well, there! said Miss Vesta. The child has a wonderful gift, that is certain. Just listen to her, Rejoice! You never heard our canary sing like that! Miss Vesta put back the shutters as she spoke, and let a flood of light into the room where Miss Rejoice lay. The window was open, and Melody's voice came in like a wave of sound, filling the room with sweetness and life and joy. See other titles by this author available from Kessinger Publishing.