author
Lena Barksdale
1887–1964
Best remembered for writing lively history books for young readers, this Virginia author had a gift for making the past feel close and human. Her work often brought early American life and her home state’s story to children in a clear, welcoming way.
1 Audiobook
The Chickens of Fowl Farm
by Lena Barksdale
About the author
Lena Barksdale was an American writer associated with children’s and educational books, and the details that can be confirmed point strongly to Virginia as an important part of her life and work. She is best known for The First Thanksgiving, a historical book for young readers that was illustrated by Lois Lenski and published by Alfred A. Knopf.
Records of her work also connect her to school and regional history writing, including Virginia’s History and Geography and That Country Called Virginia. Taken together, those titles suggest a writer especially interested in helping younger readers understand early America and the history of Virginia through straightforward, engaging storytelling.
Some basic biographical details about her remain hard to verify from the sources I found, so this profile keeps the focus on the work itself. Even with that limited record, her books show a clear commitment to making history accessible to children.