author
William Allen Bixler
1876–1961
Best remembered for writing warm, instructive books for children, this early 20th-century author also worked as an artist and lecturer. His work blends moral teaching, nature, and storytelling in a plain, approachable style.
1 Audiobook
Light On the Child's Path
by William Allen Bixler
About the author
Born in 1876 and died in 1961, William Allen Bixler was an American writer whose surviving books include Light On the Child's Path and Chalk Talk Made Easy. Records from libraries and book catalogs also connect him with children's and educational writing, including nature-themed work for young readers.
Bixler's career seems to have reached beyond writing alone. Catalog and archival sources describe him as the "Riley Artist," a title linked to paintings inspired by James Whitcomb Riley's "Old Swimmin' Hole," and an archival collection preserves material related to his Riley work. That mix of teaching, visual art, and popular presentation helps explain the direct, lively feel of his books.
Although not widely known today, his writing reflects a practical wish to guide and encourage young readers rather than impress them. Readers coming to his work now will find an author interested in faith, character, and the everyday wonder of the world.