Alice Hale Burnett
Alice Hale Burnett was an American author of children's books. She is best known for writing books set in a small town called Merryvale. Her books were originally published by The New York Book Company early in the Twentieth century. The Merryvale Books. Boys series. The adventures of "Toad" and "Chuck" Brown, "Fat," "Reddy" are told by Burnett in a series of books called "The Merryvale Boys". According to the description on the books, this series portrays a boy's life in a small town America. Described in the front material of one of the titles  as, quote: "Stories for small boys, each complete in itself, telling about the many interesting doings of 'Toad' and 'Chuck' Brown, and their friends, 'Fat,' 'Reddy,' and others. The books are written so the boy may read and understand them; the action faithfully portrays boy life in a small town." Titles in the series include (Plot descriptions are taken from one of the books in the series.): "'Toad' and 'Reddy', by good fortune, each earn two tickets to the circus, although they find watering elephants a harder task than it at first seemed." "Dad's story is followed by an  unexpected visitor who at first startles then interests all of the little party gathered around the fireside." "School has let out and the six merry friends decide to go fishing and have a picnic to celebrate their freedom from school. They broil the fish they catch over a camp-fire. Even though one of them gets quite wet, a good time is had by all." "Daddy William's Toy shop is the center of interest to 'Toad' and his friends long before Christmas arrives. They plan a surprise that brings joy to a poor family. The boys build snow forts  and have a royal snow-ball battle." "'Toad's' grandmother invites him and 'Reddy' to spend a month in the country. Their experiences at Sunnyside Farm, with its horse, cows, pigs and chickens, are most entertainingly told, and they have the time of their lives boating, swimming and fishing in the creek." "For many days the boys had been looking forward to the party to be held at 'Toad' Brown's house, but the evening finally arrived and a number of new games were played, although a few things happened that were not on the program." Girl series. In the  Merryvale Girl series, Burnett tells the experiences of Beth, Mary and Jerry. Titles of books in the series include: