author
Ellen Eddy Shaw
1874–1960
A lively early-20th-century writer and educator, she helped make gardening feel practical, playful, and full of discovery for young readers. Her work grew out of real teaching experience and a deep belief that children learn best by doing.
1 Audiobook
The Library of Work and Play: Gardening and Farming.
by Ellen Eddy Shaw
About the author
Born in Massachusetts in 1874, Ellen Eddy Shaw became an American writer, editor, and teacher whose work centered on gardening, farming, and nature study. She is especially remembered for connecting everyday growing skills with children’s education, turning subjects like soil, seeds, and seasons into something active and approachable.
Shaw spent much of her career at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, where she served as Curator of Elementary Instruction from 1913 to 1945. She was closely associated with the garden’s early children’s programs and helped shape a hands-on style of learning that let young people work directly with plants rather than only read about them.
Her books reflect that same spirit. In The Library of Work and Play: Gardening and Farming and other works, she wrote in a clear, practical way that invited readers to experiment, observe, and enjoy the outdoors. She died in 1960, but her blend of education and everyday gardening still gives her writing a fresh, welcoming charm.