Journey into Childhood: The Autobiography of Lois Lenski

by Lois Lenski

1972: by Lois Lenski- An Autobiography.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Memoir

208 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1972

About the author

Lois Lenore Lenski Covey was an influential American author and illustrator whose work reshaped twentieth-century children’s literature through its combination of artistic skill, documentary realism, and deep empathy for childhood experience. Beginning her publishing career in the late 1920s, she went on to write and illustrate nearly one hundred books, ranging from picture books and historical novels to regional fiction, poetry, songbooks, and literary essays. She is best known for the Mr. Small picture book series, her meticulously researched historical novels, and her groundbreaking Regional books, which portrayed the everyday lives of children across diverse American communities.
Born in Ohio and trained formally as both an educator and an artist, Lenski studied at Ohio State University, the Art Students League of New York, and the Westminster School of Art in London. Although she initially aspired to be a painter, exhibiting work in New York galleries, she gradually turned to illustration and then to writing, encouraged by pioneering children’s editor Helen Dean Fish. Her early books drew heavily on her Midwestern childhood, while later works reflected extensive travel, field research, and close observation of family and community life.
Lenski achieved major critical recognition with her historical novels Phebe Fairchild: Her Book and Indian Captive, and with her Regional novel Strawberry Girl, which won the Newbery Medal. These works were notable for their commitment to authenticity, incorporating dialect, material culture, and social realities often avoided in children’s books of the era. She believed that literature for young readers should neither sentimentalize nor sanitize life, but instead foster understanding, tolerance, and empathy.
Alongside her own writing, Lenski illustrated works by other major authors, including Watty Piper’s The Little Engine That Could and the early volumes of Maud Hart Lovelace’s Betsy-Tacy series. Her influence extended beyond publishing through lectures, teaching, and advocacy. In 1967 she established the Lois Lenski Covey Foundation, dedicated to providing books to children facing social and economic disadvantage.
In her later years, Lenski continued writing while living in Florida, publishing her autobiography Journey into Childhood shortly before her death. Her legacy endures through her books, her educational philosophy, and ongoing efforts to expand access to literature for children.

Reviews

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was an absolute pleasure to read. I remember reading her books as a child. I had no idea that Lois Lenski spent so much effort on research for her books. I am adding this book to my personal library.

[Ginnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite childhood authors and one of the reasons I love historical fiction so much. The story of Lois Lenski's is life is interesting and I love the part about when she was discovering that she was a writer instead of an artist.

[Lillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a charming delightful book!This well know author/illustrator of children's books writes of her life in a format of small parcels; personal, art student, changes, teamwork, husband and wife, professional, even as she divides her chapters into decades. The most captivating part of this book is her reflection and memories of her childhood from 1893 -1911. Told with such love and affection for her family and of her childhood experiences, it is easy to see how she developed into such a seemingly kind and loving personality. I loved her descriptions of such warm and idyllic times.

She writes of her concerns about children, and her philosophy of kindness and discipline.Her feelings about children and writing seem to be in contrast to her husband's, whom she only refers to as Mr. Covey thru out the book. I have only read the Strawberry Girl , for which she received the Newberry award and her books about the Small Family. I think now, I will revisit the past and read them all, I look forward to reading her other regional stories and contrasting them with our world today. I wonder what kind of books she would write for children now.She seemed so instinctively in tune to them. In this autobiography much is left out, but one still gets a sense of the author and how she approached her work.,

[Kameron · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved finding out more about an author/illustrator I love. There is something so sweet about a life story told with precious reminisces of life at the turn of the century - dear memories and stories without sordid details or huge character flaws to get in the way.

[Linda Spear · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since seeing the Lenski collection in the Springfield OH library, I've wanted to read this book but couldn't find a convenient library copy. SO I bought it and it was worth every penny of the $25+. She is such an excellent storyteller especially about her OWN life. I certainly did not warm up to her husband, however. I think it was very telling that she referred to him either as Arthur Covey or Mr. Covey and never in any particularly affectionate way. But hey, she was a success and apparently, so was he. Go figure.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Lois Lenski's work, so I would have enjoyed this book no matter what she said. The writing is simple and matter-of-fact; she didn't try to make this into a literary venture, but rather, a simple document chronicling her life as an author and artist. Considering how biographies are written these days, the style was starkly refreshing. The only thing I missed was her feelings about her private life, particularly with her husband. One could read between the lines in some areas to guess at what she really felt about certain events, but it was clear that she was going to put her best foot forward on this topic, and made nary a complaint. Admirable, really, but it left me longing for girl talk.