Biography

Millicent Ellis Selsam was born in New York City on May 30, 1912. She became interested in biology during her high school years, and went on to study biology at Brooklyn College. She was then offered a fellowship teaching at Columbia University while completing an M.A. in botany. After she received her M.A., she taught high school science. In 1946 she left teaching to write science discovery books for children. Her first published book was Egg to Chick (1946), which started a science series of "I Can Read" books for Harper. Over the course of her career she wrote approximately 130 children’s books. Her books received many awards, including the Thomas Alva Edison Award for the best juvenile science book, ''Biography of an Atom'' (1965).

Books by Millicent E. Selsam

Don't throw it, grow it!
Don't throw it, grow it!
2008
Doubleday's First Guide to Wil
Doubleday's First Guide to Wild Flowers
2000
Como Crecen Los Gatitos (Mariposa)
Como Crecen Los Gatitos (Mariposa)
1993
A first look at bats
A first look at bats
1991
A first look at ducks, geese, and swans
A first look at ducks, geese, and swans
1990
A first look at animals that eat other animals
A first look at animals that eat other animals
1989
A first look at animals with horns
A first look at animals with horns
1989
A first look at seals, sea lions, and walruses
A first look at seals, sea lions, and walruses
1988
A first look at caterpillars
A first look at caterpillars
1987
A first look at poisonous snakes
A first look at poisonous snakes
1987
Egg to Chick
Egg to Chick
1987
Strange Creatures That Really Lived
Strange Creatures That Really Lived
1987
A first look at owls, eagles, and other hunters of the sky
A first look at owls, eagles, and other hunters of the sky
1986
A first look at kangaroos, koalas, and other animals with pouches
A first look at kangaroos, koalas, and other animals with pouches
1985
A first look at bird nests
A first look at bird nests
1984
A first look at rocks
A first look at rocks
1984
Tree flowers
Tree flowers
1984
A first look at seashells
A first look at seashells
1983
A first look at spiders
A first look at spiders
1983
A first look at cats
A first look at cats
1981
A first look at dogs
A first look at dogs
1981
A first look at horses
A first look at horses
1981
A first look at whales
A first look at whales
1980
Eat the fruit, plant the seed
Eat the fruit, plant the seed
1980
1st Look at Dinosaurs
1st Look at Dinosaurs
1979
A first look at monkeys and apes
A first look at monkeys and apes
1979
A first look at sharks
A first look at sharks
1979
A first look at animals with b
A first look at animals with backbones
1978
A first look at the world of plants
A first look at the world of plants
1978
Mimosa, the sensitive plant
Mimosa, the sensitive plant
1978
Land of the giant tortoise
Land of the giant tortoise
1977
Sea monsters of long ago
Sea monsters of long ago
1977
The amazing dandelion
The amazing dandelion
1977
A first look at animals without backbones
A first look at animals without backbones
1976
A first look at flowers
A first look at flowers
1976
A first look at frogs, toads, and salamanders
A first look at frogs, toads, and salamanders
1976
A First Look at Mammals
A First Look at Mammals
1976
A first look at snakes, lizards, and other reptiles
A first look at snakes, lizards, and other reptiles
1975
The harlequin moth
The harlequin moth
1975
A first look at insects
A first look at insects
1974
Bulbs, corms, and such
Bulbs, corms, and such
1974
A first look at birds
A first look at birds
1973
Questions and Answers About Horses
Questions and Answers About Horses
1973
The Apple and Other Fruits
The Apple and Other Fruits
1973
A first look at fish
A first look at fish
1972
A First Look at Leaves
A First Look at Leaves
1972
More Potatoes!
More Potatoes!
1972
Vegetables from Stems and Leaves
Vegetables from Stems and Leaves
1972
Is this a Baby Dinosaur? And Other Science Picture-Puzzles
Is this a Baby Dinosaur? And Other Science Picture-Puzzles
1971
The carrot and other root vegetables
The carrot and other root vegetables
1971
The Tomato and Other Fruit Vegetables
The Tomato and Other Fruit Vegetables
1970
Terry and the Caterpillars
Terry and the Caterpillars
1969
Bug That Laid the Golden Eggs
Bug That Laid the Golden Eggs
1967
How animals tell time
How animals tell time
1967
Questions and answers about ants
Questions and answers about ants
1967
Benny's Animals
Benny's Animals
1966
When an animal grows
When an animal grows
1966
Animals as parents
Animals as parents
1965
biography of an atom
biography of an atom
1965
Let's Get Turtles
Let's Get Turtles
1965
Birth of a forest
Birth of a forest
1964
Greg's Microscope
Greg's Microscope
1963
How animals live together
How animals live together
1963
You and the world around you
You and the world around you
1963
How Animals Sleep By Millicent Selsam (A Time for Sleep)
How Animals Sleep By Millicent Selsam (A Time for Sleep)
1962
Quest of Captain Cook
Quest of Captain Cook
1962
Stars, Mosquitoes and Crocodiles
Stars, Mosquitoes and Crocodiles
1962
See along the shore
See along the shore
1961
Underwater zoos
Underwater zoos
1961
Best in Children's Books Volume 40
Best in Children's Books Volume 40
1960
Birth of an island
Birth of an island
1959
Seeds and more seeds
Seeds and more seeds
1959
Things to do with seeds
Things to do with seeds
1959
See through the lake
See through the lake
1958
Exploring the animal kingdom
Exploring the animal kingdom
1957
Play with seeds
Play with seeds
1957
See Through the Jungle
See Through the Jungle
1957
See through the forest
See through the forest
1956
Things to Do with Trees
Things to Do with Trees
1956
How the animals eat
How the animals eat
1955
See through the sea
See through the sea
1955
All about eggs and how they change into animals
All about eggs and how they change into animals
1952
Play with leaves and flowers
Play with leaves and flowers
1952
Play with leaves and flowers (
Play with leaves and flowers (Morrow junior books)
1952
All Kinds of Babies
All Kinds of Babies
1951
Play with vines
Play with vines
1951
Play with trees
Play with trees
1950
Play with plants
Play with plants
1949