Olson, Kay Melchisedech 1948-

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Olson, Kay Melchisedech 1948-

Personal

Born November 16, 1948, in Minneapolis, MN; children: Jennifer M., Nathan J. Education: University of Minnesota, B.A., 1971.

Addresses

Office—151 Good Cousel Dr., Mankato, MN 56001.

Career

Writer and editor. Capstone Press, Mankato, MN, editorial director.

Writings

Gas-saving Getaways Less than Two Hours from Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul, Harper & Row (New York, NY), 1982.

Norwegian, Swedish, and Danish Immigrants, 1820-1920, Blue Earth Books (Mankato, MN), 2002.

Chinese Immigrants, 1850-1900, Blue Earth Books (Mankato, MN), 2002.

French Immigrants, 1840-1940, Blue Earth Books (Mankato, MN), 2003.

England, Blue Earth Books (Mankato, MN), 2003.

China, Blue Earth Books (Mankato, MN), 2003.

Africans in America, 1619-1865, Blue Earth Books (Mankato, MN), 2003.

Canada, Blue Earth Books (Mankato, MN), 2004.

Ireland, Blue Earth Books (Mankato, MN), 2004.

The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln, illustrated by Otha Zackariah Edward Lohse, Capstone Press (Mankato, MN), 2005.

Betsy Ross and the American Flag, illustrated by Anna Maria Cool, Sam Delarosa, and Charles Barnett III, Capstone Press (Mankato, MN), 2006.

Benjamin Franklin: An American Genius, illustrated by Barabara Schulz and Gordon Purcell, Capstone Press (Mankato, MN), 2006.

The Great Chicago Fire of 1871, illustrated by Phil Miller and Charles Barnett II, Capstone Press (Mankato, MN), 2006.

Beginning Knitting: Stitches with Style, Capstone Press (Mankato, MN), 2007.

Johann Gutenberg and the Printing Press, Capstone Press (Mankato, MN), 2007.

Author's works have been translated into Spanish.

Sidelights

Kay Melchisedech Olson is a writer of nonfiction children's books that focus on history, cultures, and geography. Some of Olson's more traditional titles include China; Norwegian, Swedish, and Danish Immigrants, 1820-1920; and The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln, while The Great Chicago Fire of 1871, features a text integrated into a heavily illustrated, graphic-novel format guaranteed to attract reluctant readers. The majority of Olson's titles are part of Minnesota-based publisher Capstone Press's educational series, and are grouped by subject area.

Focusing on the world's countries, Olson has produced several basic overviews. Ireland, England, and China—all part of Capstone's "Many Countries, One World"

series—include fact boxes, maps, and recipes from the country under scrutiny, as well as a discussion of customs, lifestyle, and history. Olson's text is supplemented by full-color photos that capture the region's unique landscape.

Her contributions to books in the "Coming to America" series detail the history of immigration within the United States between the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. All of the titles in the series describe the countries from which the majority of immigrants relocated. In addition to discussing why each group immigrated, Olson devotes attention to how these new Americans have adjusted to U.S. society. Each book in the series also includes historical photos associated with the relevant immigrant group as well as informational maps and recipes and crafts reflective of each country. Hazel Rochman, in a review of Norwegian, Swedish, and Danish Immigrants, 1820-1920 for Booklist, noted that "families from Germany and Scandinavia will find this a good place to start researching family history." Other titles in the "Coming to America" series that have been penned by Olson include Africans in America, 1619-1865, Chinese Immigrants, 1850-1900, and French Immigrants, 1840-1940.

Somewhat of a departure for Olson, The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln and The Great Chicago Fire of 1871, are part of a "graphic history" series that presents important historical events in a heavily illustrated format. School Library Journal reviewer Peg Glisson regarded the high-action books as "historically accurate" and noted that the series "work as hooks to lead [readers to search for] … more in-depth information."