Dorothy Aldis (March 13, 1896 – July 4, 1966) was a writer of children's literature and poet.

Life

Dorothy Keeley was born in Chicago on March 13, 1896, to

James Keeley James Keeley (October 14, 1867 – June 7, 1934) was an American newspaper editor and publisher. He served as managing editor of the ''Chicago Tribune'' from 1898 to 1914.(8 June 1934)James Keeley, Editor, dies ''Gettysburg Times'' (Associat ...

, managing editor of the ''Chicago Tribune'', and Gertrude Keeley. The youngest of four girls, Aldis was educated privately, and attended the prestigious

Miss Porter's School Miss Porter's School (MPS) is an elite American private college preparatory school for girls founded in 1843, and located in Farmington, Connecticut. The school draws students from 21 states, 31 countries (with dual-citizenship and/or residence) ...

. When she was 17, Aldis attended

Smith College Smith College is a private liberal arts women's college in Northampton, Massachusetts. It was chartered in 1871 by Sophia Smith and opened in 1875. It is the largest member of the historic Seven Sisters colleges, a group of elite women's c ...

for two years before returning to Chicago. Like her mother, who reported for the ''Sunday Tribune'', Aldis began working for the paper, writing columns on decorating, pets, and personals. On June 15, 1922, she married Graham Aldis. The couple lived in Chicago and had four children: Mary, Owen, and twins Peggy and Ruth. Her first publications were books of poetry for children. In 1929, she began writing children's fiction. Unable to find time to write at home with her growing family, Aldis often took her typewriter to a local park to work. In this way, she wrote seven novels and three books of poetry during the 1930s. Several of her best-known poems were published in these early years, such as "Snow", "Little" and "Hiding".

I'm hiding, I'm hiding And no one knows where; For all they can see is my Toes and my hair And I just heard my father Say to my mother - "But, darling, he must be Somewhere or other; Have you looked in the inkwell?..."

She also wrote short stories and poetry for ''

Ladies Home Journal ''Ladies' Home Journal'' was an American magazine last published by the Meredith Corporation. It was first published on February 16, 1883, and eventually became one of the leading women's magazines of the 20th century in the United States. In ...

'', '' Harper's'' and ''

The New Yorker ''The New Yorker'' is an American weekly magazine featuring journalism, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons, and poetry. Founded as a weekly in 1925, the magazine is published 47 times annually, with five of these issue ...

'', among others. Aldis published 29 books, including a Beatrix Potter biography titled ''Nothing is Impossible''. According to Joyce Kinkead in ''American Writers for Children'', Aldis "was recognized as a major contributor to children's literature". After her death in 1966, ''Elementary English'' called her "The Poet Laureate of Young Children." She was a recipient of the Children's Reading Roundtable Award of Chicago.

Selected works

*''Jane's Father'' (1929) *''Time at Her Heels'' (1937) *''Dark Summer'' (1947) *''Everything and Anything'' (illustrated by Helen D. Jameson) *''Here, There and Everywhere'' *''Dumb Stupid David'' (illustrated by

Jane Miller Jane Miller (born 1949) is an American poet. Life Jane Miller was born in New York and lives in Tucson, Arizona. She served as a professor for many years in the Creative Writing Program at The University of Arizona—including a stint as its Dire ...

) *''Hiding'' (illustrated by Heather Collins) *''Cindy'' (1959) *''Best in Children's Books: Volume 31'' (various authors and illustrators: featuring, Windy Wash Day and Other Poems by Dorothy Aldis with illustrations by

Maurice Sendak Maurice Bernard Sendak (; June 10, 1928 – May 8, 2012) was an American author and illustrator of children's books. He became most widely known for his book ''Where the Wild Things Are'', first published in 1963.Turan, Kenneth (October 16, 200 ...

) (1960) *''Nothing is Impossible: The Story of

Beatrix Potter Helen Beatrix Potter (, 28 July 186622 December 1943) was an English writer, illustrator, natural scientist, and conservationist. She is best known for her children's books featuring animals, such as '' The Tale of Peter Rabbit'', which was ...

'' (illustrated by

Richard Cuffari Richard Cuffari (March 2, 1925 – 1978)
de Grummond Collection, McCain Library and Arc ...

) *''Grande Webos en la Boca: A comprehensive story of good writing'' *''Quick as a Wink'' (1960) (illustrated by Peggy Westphal, her daughter in her debut as a professional illustrator) *''Everybody Says''

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Aldis, Dorothy 1896 births 1966 deaths American children's writers Writers from Chicago Smith College alumni American newspaper reporters and correspondents Miss Porter's School alumni Poets from Illinois American women poets American women journalists 20th-century American poets American women children's writers 20th-century American women writers 20th-century American non-fiction writers