ALA COMBINED BOOK EXHIBIT: Look for SETTLEMENT HOUSE GIRL!

This year the annual American Library Association convention is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and, as usual, the exhibit hall will be filled with publishers' booths promoting all their latest books. You can find my memoir SETTLEMENT HOUSE GIRL: Growing Up in the 1950s at Northeast Neighborhood House in the Combined Book Exhibit, Booth #1838, which features independently published books. Although my book is for adults, I think it will be of interest to teachers and librarians who know me as a children's book writer. The roots of my career can be found in my childhood.

Click HERE for a map of the exhibit floor and Booth #1838. You can find both the paperback and ebook of SETTLEMENT HOUSE GIRL in the Combined Book Exhibit booth. For an ebook preview of the first chapter of the book click on the link on the Combined Book Exhibit webpage for the book.

Book Description

A chronicle of children's book author Caroline Arnold's childhood living at a settlement house--from nursery school and after school clubs to summers at camp. A window into life at mid-century and Caroline's future as a writer and illustrator.

Book Review 

"The narrative presents a wealth of historical information as well as an insider's view of an uncommon subject matter." BookLife Prize review

TOOTLE—Learning to STAY ON THE TRACKS, NO MATTER WHAT! Memories of Childhood

TOOTLE was a favorite Golden Book of my childhood. Tootle is a baby train, who along with other young train engines goes to train school to learn skills such as pulling the dining car without spilling the soup, and, most importantly, to STAY ON THE TRACKS NO MATTER WHAT—even when playing in the meadow is more fun.

A week ago, I was at a street fair in Pennsylvania that featured vintage wares, and one of the booths had a box of old children’s books. And what should I see at the front of the pile—a copy of TOOTLE! Of course, I bought it.

Listening to TOOTLE being read by Fran Guzie at NENH, 1950.

TOOTLE brings back memories of my life at North East Neighborhood House in Minneapolis where I lived with my family until I was ten years old. From the windows of our apartment on the third floor we saw freight trains huffing and puffing along the tracks across the street on the other side of Bottineau Park. In my memoir SETTLEMENT HOUSE GIRL: Growing Up in the 1950sat North East Neighborhood House I write about my brother Steve’s fascination with trains and our exciting train trip across the river to St. Paul.

Steve’s favorite book was TOOTLE. In the photo at the beginning of my chapter about the train trip you can see Steve and a neighbor child listening raptly to Fran Guzie (one of the NENH residents) reading TOOTLE. (I appear to be engrossed in another book and only half listening. Perhaps, I had heard the story of Tootle too many times before.)

In any case, I was delighted to find TOOTLE once again and its reminder of the importance of STAYING ON THE TRACKS NO MATTER WHAT.

TOOTLE is written by Gertrude Crampton and illustrated by Tibor Gergely. It was first published in 1946 by Western Publishing Company. The copy I found at the street fair was the 24^th printing in 1969. The book is still available on Amazon.

READERS' COMMENTS ABOUT SETTLEMENT HOUSE GIRL

Nothing makes an author happier than to hear from readers how much they liked their book. I am gratified by the good response I continue to get from readers of my book SETTLEMENT HOUSE GIRL: Growing Up in the 1950s at North East Neighborhood House, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Some of the comments are from friends and classmates, but many are from people I have never met. Some grew up in Northeast Minneapolis like I did, but many grew up elsewhere but share similar experiences. Here are just a few of the comments:

North East Neighborhood House

Your book allowed me to relive precious moments of my childhood. I loved every word and didn’t want it to end.

Your early life experiences, although unique from the Settlement House aspect, mirror many of our own--a stamp collection, a Schwinn bike, a Brownie camera, June Allyson paper dolls, the corner store for sweet treats and the freedom we had to just hop on our bikes and go anywhere.

I loved all the photos!

Another glowing facet of the book is that her parents' dedication as social workers is beyond admirable.

Throughout the book I was struck by the riches to be discovered in the memories of a modest life.

I learned so much about you—but also about the Settlement House!

I can relate to playing outside until the streetlights came on, shopping at a small neighborhood grocery store, ice skating on an outdoor rink in the park…

As I read, there were many eureka moments…. And of course the skating—all day long—entirely on our own—no parents hovering to make sure we didn’t fall.

For me, Camp Bovey provided father figures, learning to appreciate nature, camping, canoeing, and swimming…

I too am a Hodagger!

The Hodag, mascot of Camp Bovey (formerly Camp Hodag).

HAPPY HOLIDAYS from CAROLINE ARNOLD ART AND BOOKS

Scheaffer family Christmas in apartment at NENH, 1950.

"On Christmas Eve, after my brothers and I are asleep, my parents arrange “Santa’s” gifts under the tree. On Christmas morning, after everyone is awake, my father turns on the tree lights and gives the signal to enter. We rush in, each going straight to our own pile. Santa’s gifts are unwrapped and it is obvious who they are for—a doll for me, a train for Steve, stacking blocks for Peter, a stuffed toy for Tom."  

From Chapter 7: Family Christmas at NENH, SETTLEMENT HOUSE GIRL: Growing Up in the 1950s at North East Neighborhood House, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

 I have fond memories of celebrating Christmas when I was a child growing up in Minneapolis. Now, many years later, from my home in California, I send best wishes to you and all my faithful readers.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

2024

 

 

CHECK IT OUT! Read SETTLEMENT HOUSE GIRL at your Library

Little by little, my memoir,  SETTLEMENT HOUSE GIRL: Growing Up in the 1950s at North East Neighborhood House, Minneapolis, Minnesota is being added to library collections across the country. See list below. If any of these are libraries where you live, you can now check out my book now.  If your local library does not yet have the book, please put in a request for it. Thank you!

Libraries where you can find SETTLEMENT HOUSE GIRL

Los Angeles Public Library, Los Angeles, CA

Hennepin County Library, Minneapolis, MN

Plum Creek Library system, Worthington, MN

Duluth Public Library, Duluth, MN

Anoka County Library, Blaine, MN

University of Minnesota, Anderson Library, Minneapolis, MN

Grinnell College, Burling Library, Grinnell, IA

Drake Community Library, Grinnell, IA

West Des Moines Public Library, Des Moines, IA

Wisconsin Valley Library Service (WVLS), Wausau, WI

Milwaukee Public Library, Milwaukee, WI

Superior Public Library, Superior, WI

Legion Memorial Library, Mellen, WI

Rhinelander Public Library, Rhinelander, WI

Kenosha Public Library, Kenosha, WI

Wisconsin Historical Society Library, Madison, WI

Chicago Public Library, Chicago, IL

The Indianapolis Public Library, Indianapolis, IN

Humboldt County Library, Eureka, CA

Chapel Hill Public Library, Chapel Hill, NC

If your library is not on this list and has the book, please let me know and I will add it. I will continue to add libraries as they get and process my book.

Settlement House Girl is engaging, tracing Arnold’s growth from a young girl to an adult journeying into being a writer in her later life, but it’s also a valuable contribution to the social history of 20th-century America, offering urban history enthusiasts a wealth of information about the daily lives of families living in mid-century cities. The detailed accounts of Arnold's experiences provide a unique glimpse into the fabric of community life during this era, highlighting the interactions and shared experiences that defined the settlement house environment. BookLife (Publisher’s Weekly)

My visit to the Northeast branch of the Hennepin County Library in 1915.

CAMP BOVEY 75 YEARS: Poster and Cards

"Ho,ho,ho, ho, I'm a Hodagger--rowing, fishing, swimming in the sun..." Camp Bovey, the ESNS camp in northern Wisconsin founded by my father is celebrating its 75th year! My brother Thomas Scheaffer created a wonderful painting, now available as a poster and as greeting cards. You can order them at the Camp Bovey Canteen Zazzle site. Every item you buy at the Camp Bovey Canteen helps to support Camp Bovey!

Cards are also available at the Zazzle site of Tom's beautiful painting of a moonrise over the lake at Camp Bovey.

This Saturday from 4-8 pm, Beats4Bovey is a free family party celebrating Camp Bovey's anniversary at ESNS in Minneapolis. I wish I could go. If you live in Minneapolis, come help celebrate! For more info go to the Camp Bovey Facebook page.

Camp Bovey is a small, rustic campground in northwestern Wisconsin that offers nature education in an exciting summer camp setting. We make learning about the environment fun while also helping campers feel confident about their outdoor skills and their ability to learn new things. Since 1949, campers have been calling Camp Bovey their summer home. From fishing in our private lake, to camping across our 200-acre property, to singing songs around campfires, Camp Bovey has helped thousands of youth build lifelong connections with friends and lasting connections to our Hodagger community.

BookLife (PW) Review of SETTLEMENT HOUSE GIRL: "Touching, informative account"

The BookLife review of my memoir, SETTLEMENT HOUSE GIRL: Growing Up in the 1950s at North East Neighborhood House, Minneapolis, Minnesota, has just come in and is everything I hoped for—selected details illustrating the scope and focus of the book, an overview of its place in history, and the recognition that the book is more than just a family document, that it has a wider audience. The reviewer writes:  Settlement House Girl is engaging, tracing Arnold’s growth from a young girl to an adult journeying into being a writer in her later life, but it’s also a valuable contribution to the social history of 20th-century America, offering urban history enthusiasts a wealth of information about the daily lives of families living in mid-century cities.

The full review is below. BookLife is the review service of Publishers Weekly. The review of SETTLEMENT HOUSE GIRL is now available online. It will also be included in the print copy of the July 8, 2024 issue of Publishers Weekly. If you subscribe, be sure to look for it.

Many thanks to the BookLife reviewer for the perceptive comments about my book. I hope that they will help SETTLEMENT HOUSE GIRL reach a wider audience.

Arnold tells the compelling story of a 1950s childhood spent in the North East Neighborhood House (NENH) in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Offering vital services like “child care, job training, medical and dental care,” and classes in English and citizenship, settlement houses, Arnold notes, emerged during the late 19th and early 20th centuries to help recent immigrants transition to American life. Arnold’s social-worker family moved to the NENH in 1948 when her father became its director. Through vivid recollections and much clarifying historical context, the author paints a picture of life among a diverse community. Her memories range from being a flower girl at a neighbor’s wedding, taking her first train ride, making prank phone calls with friends, to first trying that “exotic foreign food,” pizza.

Arnold’s detailed descriptions of NENH life include charming anecdotes, such as going skating with friends in winter, only to later realize that the sweet liquid given to them by a friend’s grandmother to keep them warm was actually brandy. Arnold also pens a touching paean to her stamp collection, and she fondly recalls her summers at Camp Bovey—a northern Wisconsin escape for NENH children—where she progressed from camper to kitchen aide, crafts counselor, and finally cabin counselor. Moreover, her transition from living in a settlement house to moving to her family’s own house offers insight into how challenging it is for children to uproot themselves from a community and start again.

Settlement House Girl is engaging, tracing Arnold’s growth from a young girl to an adult journeying into being a writer in her later life, but it’s also a valuable contribution to the social history of 20th-century America, offering urban history enthusiasts a wealth of information about the daily lives of families living in mid-century cities. The detailed accounts of Arnold's experiences provide a unique glimpse into the fabric of community life during this era, highlighting the interactions and shared experiences that defined the settlement house environment.

Takeaway: Touching, informative account of life in a Minneapolis settlement house in the 1950s.

Comparable Titles: Ellen Snyder-Grenier's The House on Henry Street, Jane Addams’s Twenty Years at Hull House.

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A-

[Note: North East Neighborhood House (NENH) became East Side Neighborhood Services (ESNS) in 1963.]

SETTLEMENT HOUSE GIRL at Hennepin County Libraries in Minneapolis, MN

I was pleased to learn that my book SETTLEMENT HOUSE GIRL: Growing Up in the 1950s at North East Neighborhood House, Minneapolis, MN is on order at the Hennepin County Library in Minneapolis. It will be available at the Minneapolis Central Library in the adult nonfiction area and as an adult reference book in the Minnesota history section. It will also be at the Northeast branch as an adult nonfiction book. The call number is HV4196.M6A762023 . 

I am especially happy to hear that it will be at the Northeast branch on Central Avenue. This is the library where I checked out books when I was growing up in Northeast Minneapolis in the 1950s. The building that I knew has long since been replaced with a modern structure, but it is still at the heart of the community.

Hennepin County Library Northeast, Minneapolis, MN, when I visited in 2015.

Central Avenue Library in the 1950s