author
Adelia B. (Adelia Belle) Beard
1857–1920
An author, illustrator, and champion of hands-on learning, Adelia Belle Beard filled her books with crafts, games, outdoor skills, and imaginative projects for young readers. Her lively collaborations with her sister Lina helped generations of girls explore the natural world with confidence and creativity.
8 Audiobooks
Indoor and Outdoor Recreations for Girls
by Lina Beard, Adelia B. (Adelia Belle) Beard
New Ideas for Work and Play: What a Girl Can Make and Do
by Lina Beard, Adelia B. (Adelia Belle) Beard
Things Worth Doing and How To Do Them
by Lina Beard, Adelia B. (Adelia Belle) Beard
Little Folks' Handy Book
by Lina Beard, Adelia B. (Adelia Belle) Beard
Mother Nature's Toy-Shop
by Lina Beard, Adelia B. (Adelia Belle) Beard
On the Trail: An Outdoor Book for Girls
by Lina Beard, Adelia B. (Adelia Belle) Beard
How to amuse yourself and others : the American girl's handy book
by Lina Beard, Adelia B. (Adelia Belle) Beard
The children's kraft shop
by Adelia B. (Adelia Belle) Beard
About the author
Adelia Belle Beard (1857–1920) was an American author and illustrator best known for her practical books for children and young women. Working closely with her sister, Mary Caroline “Lina” Beard, she created activity guides that encouraged readers to make, explore, play, and learn with materials close at hand.
The sisters’ books included The American Girl’s Handy Book, Mother Nature’s Toy-Shop, Little Folks’ Handy Book, On the Trail: An Outdoor Book for Girls, and The Children’s Kraft Shop. Adelia contributed both writing and illustrations, giving the books a distinctly visual, energetic style.
Her work also connected with the early girls’ outdoor and scouting movement in the United States. Through cheerful instructions on camping, handicrafts, nature study, and creative play, Beard promoted an independent, adventurous ideal for young readers.