author
Sabina Cecil
A little-known early nineteenth-century writer of children’s books, Sabina Cecil created gentle, illustrated stories designed to entertain and teach young readers. Her best-known surviving work, Little Mary; or, The Picture-Book, combines simple rhyming text with scenes of nature, family life, and everyday kindness.
1 Audiobook
Little Mary : or, The picture-book
by Sabina Cecil
About the author
Very little is known about Sabina Cecil’s personal life, but library and bookseller records identify her as an author of children’s books active in the early nineteenth century. Her work was published in both London and Philadelphia, with Little Mary; or, The Picture-Book appearing in editions from 1818 and 1819.
Cecil’s books belong to the tradition of illustrated moral literature for young children. Little Mary uses short, accessible passages and hand-colored pictures to introduce children to household objects, plants, animals, gardens, and lessons in kindness and responsibility. Catalog records also associate her with other titles featuring children, including Little John, Little Jane, Little Charlotte, Little Eliza, Little Fanny, and Little Sophia.