Louey Chisholm

author

Louey Chisholm

1863–1948

A lively early-20th-century guide to children's reading, this Scottish writer and editor helped bring fairy tales, poetry, and nature books to young audiences in clear, inviting language. She is especially remembered for shaping the popular Told to the Children and Shown to the Children series.

1 Audiobook

Celtic Tales, Told to the Children

Celtic Tales, Told to the Children

by Louey Chisholm

About the author

Born Louise Charlotte Steinitz in 1863, she later became known as Louey Chisholm and built a career as a British writer, editor, and publisher of children's books. She was educated in Dollar and Edinburgh, and after marrying publisher Edwin Chisholm Jack in 1894, she became closely involved with the Edinburgh literary world.

Her best-known work was as the editor behind the much-loved Told to the Children and Shown to the Children series, books designed to open up classic stories and the natural world for younger readers. She also edited fairy-tale collections such as In Fairyland and The Enchanted Land, and compiled The Golden Staircase, a poetry anthology for children that remained well known for generations.

Contemporary accounts praised her gift for retelling familiar tales without losing their poetry or charm. She died on October 28, 1948, leaving behind a body of work that helped shape how many young readers first met folklore, verse, and classic literature.