Carolyn Sherwin Bailey

Born in Hoosick Falls, New York, in 1875, Carolyn Sherwin Bailey grew up in nearby Lansingburgh and was educated at home for part of her childhood before studying at Teachers College, Columbia University. She went on to become a prolific American author of children's books, writing across fiction, folklore, history, and activity books for young readers.

Bailey published dozens of books and also wrote for magazines, building a career that connected storytelling with education. She is especially remembered for Miss Hickory, the imaginative novel that won the 1947 Newbery Medal and remains her best-known work.

Her books often show a clear affection for children's everyday curiosity, whether she was retelling old tales or encouraging hands-on play and craft. Bailey died in 1961, but her writing still reflects an inviting, early-twentieth-century vision of reading as both comfort and adventure.