Julia Darrow Cowles

Born in Norwalk, Ohio, in 1862, Julia Darrow Cowles became an American children's writer and storyteller. She was educated at Central High School in Buffalo, New York, and later married Francis Dana Cowles in Minneapolis in 1883.

She wrote books for young readers as well as practical works about storytelling. Her titles include The Art of Story-Telling and several entries in the "Our Little Cousin of Long Ago" series, such as Our Little Athenian Cousin of Long Ago, Our Little Roman Cousin of Long Ago, and Our Little Spartan Cousin of Long Ago. She also contributed to children's publications including The Youth's Companion and St. Nicholas.

Cowles died in 1919. Her books reflect an early-20th-century love of history, folklore, and classroom storytelling, and they still offer a clear sense of her enthusiasm for sharing stories with children.