author
Emma Gelders Sterne
1894–1971
A prolific American writer for young readers, she brought history, biography, and questions of justice into clear, engaging stories. Her books often reflected both her Alabama roots and her lifelong interest in social change.
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About the author
Born in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1894, Emma Gelders Sterne became known for children's and young adult books with a strong historical bent. She studied at Smith College and later continued her education at Columbia University and the New School for Social Research.
Sterne wrote widely across biography, history, and fiction for younger readers. She was especially associated with the popular "All About" books, and several of her stories drew on Alabama settings and Southern history.
She was also active in liberal causes, including women's suffrage and racial equality, and those concerns found their way into her writing. She died in 1971, leaving behind a body of work remembered for making history feel lively, human, and accessible to young readers.