James Otis Kaler

James Otis Kaler (March 19, 1848 — December 11, 1912) was an American journalist and author of children’s literature.

He attended public schools, then got a job with the Boston Journal at 13, and three years later was providing coverage of the American Civil War.

Later, he went on to work as a journalist or editor for various newspapers, superintendent at schools, and a publicity man at a circus.

(Some scholars believe that the latter books, which were aimed at a younger audience than most of his works, were in fact penned by his wife.

)[citation needed] After spending several years in the southeastern states, he returned to Maine in 1898 to become the first superintendent of schools in South Portland.