Children's Magazine

difficult childhood gave her an idea to help other children

FAMILY BACKGROUND

MC was born and raised in Germany; her father was an opthalmoloist, her mother was a nurse.

CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCE SHAPES FUTURE CAREER

As a child in Germany during WW2, she was forced to cook food for soldiers while boys her age were forced to dig trenches for the soldiers; thus she later wanted to create a world for children far removed from the fear and worry she had experienced.

MC married and moved with her husband to LaSalle, Illinois, where she commuted to the U of Chicago to study art and German literature while raising their three children.

TAKING A RISK TO START A BUSINESS

While encouraging her own children to read, MC noticed the disparity between the challenging and interesting reading texts used in German schools and what she considered the plodding, condescending reading materials used in America. So she  started “Cricket” magazine, which featured good writing for children by famous children’s authors.

The new magazine started in a small office above a downtown bar and later moved to a repurposed clock factory.

CAREER SATISFACTION

“Cricket” magazine had a large fan base but never made a huge profit, which never bothered MC; “If we wanted to make money, we’d be in comics.” 

(from NYT obit)