author
Lydia L. A. (Lydia Louisa Anna) Very
1823–1901
A 19th-century American writer, teacher, and illustrator, she is best remembered for creating some of the earliest shape books published in the United States. Her work joined poetry, storytelling, and inventive book design in a way that still feels fresh.
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About the author
Born in Salem, Massachusetts, in 1823, Lydia Louisa Anna Very built a long career as both a writer and an educator. She taught for decades, much of that time in Salem’s public schools, while also publishing poetry and prose.
She is especially noted for her children’s books and for pioneering American shape books—volumes cut into distinctive forms that turned reading into a more visual, playful experience. Alongside writing, she also illustrated her work, making her books feel personal and carefully crafted.
Very died in 1901, but her reputation has lasted because of that unusual mix of literary, artistic, and educational work. She stands out as a figure who helped expand what a children’s book could be in 19th-century America.