author
Emilie Poulsson
1853–1939
A lively children's writer and early education advocate, she helped popularize kindergarten songs, stories, and finger plays in the United States. Her work was shaped by a deep interest in how very young children learn through rhythm, movement, and play.
2 Audiobooks
Finger plays for nursery and kindergarten
by Emilie Poulsson
The Runaway Donkey, and Other Rhymes for Children
by Emilie Poulsson
About the author
Born in Cedar Grove, New Jersey, in 1853, Emilie Poulsson became known as an American writer for children and a supporter of the kindergarten movement. She wrote at a time when early childhood education was gaining momentum, and her books and teaching materials were designed to make learning warm, musical, and hands-on.
Poulsson is especially remembered for collections of finger plays, songs, and stories for young children. These simple, interactive pieces invited children to listen, move, and join in, which helped make them popular with parents and teachers alike. Her work connected literature with everyday play, giving adults practical ways to engage children through voice, gesture, and imagination.
She continued writing and advocating for children’s education over many years, and her books remained closely tied to kindergarten life and home learning. For listeners discovering her now, she offers a window into an earlier tradition of children’s literature—one centered on participation, gentleness, and the pleasures of learning together.