Saturday, October 3, 2009

Zerna Sharp-- Mother of Dick and Jane-- Part 2

From the TagNWag site www.tagnwag.com/dick_jane/#.

Zerna Sharp deserves the credit for Dick and Jane as the series of books are based on her thoughts, beliefs, and skills.

She was born Charlotte E. Sharp in Hillsburg, Indiana (Clinton County), August 12, 1889. She was a reading consultant and elementary teacher and never married. I am not sure why she changed her name to Zerna.

It was her belief that children read and learn easier if they identified with children shown in the illustrations. She presented her ideas to Dr. William S. Gray, who hired her to develop a family.

She joined Scott Foresman Publishing Company in 1924 and worked with them until she retired in 1964.

More to Come. Coot

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