Oliver Butterworth was much more of an educator than a children's author--he taught English at the Hartford (Connecticut) College of Women for 43 years.
He was 40 years old when he wrote his first children’s book, The Enormous Egg. At that time, the tradition in children’s literature was to use much repetition of words to teach children to read (like “Dick and Jane” books). Butterworth thought this was boring for kids. He said, “I thought if I could write a book that sounded like a 12-year-old talking, then children would like it.” He was right! But even he was surprised by the enormous popularity of the book.
His book, "The Enormous Egg," was a huge success and has become a classic in children’s literature. It was first published in 1956 and remains a popular children's book today.
