Meigs began writing children's books while an English teacher at St. Katherine's School in Davenport, Iowa. Her first book, "The Kingdom of the Winding Road", was published by Macmillan US in 1915. In 1922 she was one runner-up for the inaugural Newbery Medal from the professional librarians, recognizing the previous year's "most distinguished contribution to American literature for children". Members of the American Library Association were asked to nominate a book and "The Windy Hill" by Meigs was the last of six that received at least two votes subsequently designated runners-up. She was one of the runners-up again in 1929 ("Clearing Weather") and 1933 ("Swift Rivers"). Runner-up works are now called Newbery Honor Books, so latter-day editions are authorized to display a silver seal on the cover.