William Maxwell Reed
Encyclopedia
William Maxwell Reed a.k.a. W. Maxwell Reed, was a pioneering U.S. author of illustrated science book
s for children.
Reed was born in Bath, Maine
in 1871. After schooling at Harvard, he taught astronomy
at Harvard and Princeton University
.
Reed later went into the steel industry.
Beginning as a series of letters to his nephew, his first book "The Earth for Sam" was first published in 1929. While science has discovered much since then, the book remains popular, having been republished in 2005.
"Earth" was followed by a series of popular children's information books, many published by Harcourt, Brace
, many of which had multiple editions. The series apparently led many children to undertake science careers.
Science book
A science book is a work of nonfiction, usually written by a scientist, researcher, or professor like Stephen Hawking , or sometimes by a non-scientist such as Bill Bryson...
s for children.
Reed was born in Bath, Maine
Bath, Maine
Bath is a city in Sagadahoc County, Maine, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 9,266. It is the county seat of Sagadahoc County. Located on the Kennebec River, Bath is a port of entry with a good harbor. The city is popular with tourists, many drawn by its...
in 1871. After schooling at Harvard, he taught astronomy
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
at Harvard and Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
.
Reed later went into the steel industry.
Beginning as a series of letters to his nephew, his first book "The Earth for Sam" was first published in 1929. While science has discovered much since then, the book remains popular, having been republished in 2005.
"Earth" was followed by a series of popular children's information books, many published by Harcourt, Brace
Harcourt Trade Publishers
Harcourt was a United States publishing firm with a long history of publishing fiction and nonfiction for children and adults. The company was based in San Diego, California, with an Editorial / Sales / Marketing / Rights offices in New York City and Orlando, Florida.In 2007, the U.S...
, many of which had multiple editions. The series apparently led many children to undertake science careers.
Books
- The Earth for Sam; the story of mountains, rivers, dinosaurs and men (1929). Illustrated by biologist/artist James Howard McGregor.
- The Stars for Sam (1931). Illustrated by Karl Moseley.
- And that's why (1932)
- The Sea for Sam (w/ Wilfred S. Bronson)(1935)
- Animals on the March (w/ Jannette May Lucas)(1937)
- America's Treasure (1939)
- The Sky is Blue (w/ James MacDonaldJames MacDonald-Politics:*James David Macdonald , City of Calgary alderman and author of Grand Cayman's tax haven law*James Ramsay MacDonald, British Prime Minister*James MacDonald , Secretary of the London Trades Council...
)(1940) - Patterns In The Sky: The Story Of The Constellations (1951)