Lois Lenski's Rare Handwritten Manuscripts and Scrapbooks

Cover of Corn Farm Boy (1954)

In our last blog about Lois Lenski, we come to learn about the author. Now, we are going to talk about one of her most popular books. The name of the book is Corn Farm Boy. This book is from her American Regional Series.

In the Milner Library, you will find the Handwritten Manuscript as well as Scrapbook of this book. This is a rare collection that is preserved in the Milner Library Special Collections. You will also find the first edition of the book there. Today you may buy later editions of this book either online or in store. However, you cannot find the first edition easily.

The Story of Corn Farm Boy

The main character of this story is about a boy named Dick. He was very happy the day the new tractor came, not realizing all the trouble it would bring. His father's farm was a busy place, with rolling fields of tall corn, and field crops to plant and harvest. Dick loved the farm animals; the pigs, the chickens, and the cows, but most of all, the wild animals that needed his help.

When the tractor came! (Corn Farm Boy, 1954)

Every day brought its drama, the cycle of birth and death, the uncertainty of weather, on which the crops depended, a hurt or sick animal to tend, a breakdown of a machinery. Summer brought good times as well as hard work. There were family picnics, days at the swimming hole, trips to town, visits from the relatives. When an accident happened, the neighbors stepped in and brought a warm feeling of friendliness. Dick shares it all fully until he faces a complete change in his whole life, taking all the courage and strength he possesses. Are you interested to know more about the boy? Then you have to read the book the Corn Farm Boy!

Creation of Scrapbook: Background of the story

The Making of a book Corn Farm Boy by Lois Lenski

The author got this story directly from farm children and their families. In addition to drawing an accurate picture of American farm life, she has given us a boy, who out of the rich experience of life close to nature and animal, finds the strength to work out his personal problems.

In the scrapbook, the Author put all her thoughts together to create a whole picture. As the book was written about the state of Iowa, she drew a map of that state at the beginning of the book. With her pictures, the book became alive. The reader can relate each and every scene from the book with the illustrations. She made her stories alive using those pictures.

Planning the plot of Corn Farm Boy

Sketch from the scrapbook of the Corn Farm Boy

Lois Lenski started writing the book by keeping the notes into the scrapbook. She started with the table of contents and later plotted all the stories one after another. Her skillful writing made the book really interesting. With the wonderful sketches and illustrations, the author presented the stories in front of the readers' eyes. The versatile author illustrated those sketches by herself.

Recognition from the book Corn Farm Boy

After the publication of this book in 1954, Ms. Lenski got several recognitions. She regularly got letters from the farm boys of Iowa states. Besides, her regional series books caught eyes of the children and as well as adult readers of other states. Her books received recognition internationally with those books getting translated into different languages. In an article on Midland Magazine at Iowa state, Ms. Lenski mentioned that "Through my books, children of America are getting acquainted with each other. They like to know how other children live, what they do, think and say."

Some illustrations from the book

That is all for today. I'll come back soon with another interesting storybook! Till then, stay tuned..!