author
Aunt Friendly
Best known for warm, moral stories for children, this 19th-century writer published under the affectionate pen name “Aunt Friendly.” Her books pair gentle storytelling with clear lessons about kindness, family, and faith.
1 Audiobook
Hatty and Marcus or, First Steps in the Better Path
by Aunt Friendly
About the author
Writing as Aunt Friendly, Sarah Schoonmaker Baker was an American author born in 1824 in New Haven, Connecticut. She published widely for young readers and is especially associated with children’s books such as Hatty and Marcus and Aunt Friendly’s Picture Book.
Her work was shaped by a strong religious outlook and a gift for speaking to children in a direct, caring voice. Many of her stories are simple on the surface but built around everyday choices, good habits, and compassion, which helped make them popular with families and Sunday-school readers.
Baker’s books also reached readers beyond the United States, and some were translated into French, Italian, and Swedish. She died in 1906, but her stories still offer a clear window into the values and style of 19th-century children’s literature.