Betty Miles was born Elizabeth Baker in Chicago, Illinois on May 16, 1928. She graduated from Antioch College in 1950. Her work as an assistant kindergarten teacher in a private school in Manhattan inspired her to take a writing course at Bank Street College of Education. She continued to study writing there and later became a distinguished author, editor, and teacher at the institution.
She wrote more than 25 books for children and young adults. Her first picture book, A House for Everyone, was published in 1958. Her first young adult novel, The Real Me, was published in 1974. Her other picture books included What Is the World?, Save the Earth, and The Secret Life of the Underwear Champ. She also wrote about and taught early childhood literacy. She died on July 19, 2018 at the age of 90.
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