Natalie Babbitt
Encyclopedia
Natalie Babbitt is an American author and illustrator of children's books. Her novels Tuck Everlasting
and The Eyes of the Amaryllis have been made into films (the former twice). Her novel Knee-Knock Rise
is a Newbery Honor book.
. Now lives in Providence, Rhode Island. She attended Laurel School
, and then Smith College
. She has 3 children and is married to Samuel Fisher Babbitt. She is a grandmother of 3 children, who live in Wisconsin and Connecticut.
Her first book was a collaborative effort; she illustrated and her husband wrote the children's book, The Forty-ninth Magician in 1966. Her editor, Michael di Capua, at Farrar, Straus and Giroux
(renowned for their children's literature publications) encouraged her to keep producing children's books even after her husband became too busy to participate. She has remained with di Capua throughout her career.
She is also a board member of the National Children's Book and Literacy Alliance http://www.thencbla.org a national not-for-profit that actively advocates for literacy, literature, and libraries.
Tuck Everlasting
Tuck Everlasting is a fantasy children's novel by Natalie Babbitt. It was published in 1975. The book explores the concept of immortality and the reasons why it might not be as desirable as it appears to be. It has sold over two million copies and has been called a classic of modern children's...
and The Eyes of the Amaryllis have been made into films (the former twice). Her novel Knee-Knock Rise
Knee-Knock Rise
KneeKnock Rise is a children's book written by Natalie Babbitt and published in 1970. It was awarded the Newbery Honor in 1971. Although the story is intended for children, some of the underlying themes deal with subjects such as the need for invented religion. -Plot synopsis:The story is set in...
is a Newbery Honor book.
Life
Natalie Babbitt was born in Dayton, OhioDayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
. Now lives in Providence, Rhode Island. She attended Laurel School
Laurel School
Located in Shaker Heights, a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio,Laurel School is a school for girls Kindergarten through Grade 12, with a coeducational pre-primary program. Laurel’s mission is to “inspire each girl to fulfill her promise and to better the world". While this is their mission statement,...
, and then Smith College
Smith College
Smith College is a private, independent women's liberal arts college located in Northampton, Massachusetts. It is the largest member of the Seven Sisters...
. She has 3 children and is married to Samuel Fisher Babbitt. She is a grandmother of 3 children, who live in Wisconsin and Connecticut.
Her first book was a collaborative effort; she illustrated and her husband wrote the children's book, The Forty-ninth Magician in 1966. Her editor, Michael di Capua, at Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Farrar, Straus and Giroux is an American book publishing company, founded in 1946 by Roger W. Straus, Jr. and John C. Farrar. Known primarily as Farrar, Straus in its first decade of existence, the company was renamed several times, including Farrar, Straus and Young and Farrar, Straus and Cudahy...
(renowned for their children's literature publications) encouraged her to keep producing children's books even after her husband became too busy to participate. She has remained with di Capua throughout her career.
She is also a board member of the National Children's Book and Literacy Alliance http://www.thencbla.org a national not-for-profit that actively advocates for literacy, literature, and libraries.
Books/Works
- 1967 Dick Foote and the Shark
- 1968 Phoebe's Revolt
- 1969 The Search for Delicious
- 1970 Knee-Knock RiseKnee-Knock RiseKneeKnock Rise is a children's book written by Natalie Babbitt and published in 1970. It was awarded the Newbery Honor in 1971. Although the story is intended for children, some of the underlying themes deal with subjects such as the need for invented religion. -Plot synopsis:The story is set in...
- 1970 The Something
- 1971 Goody Hall
- 1974 The Devil's Storybook
- 1975 Tuck EverlastingTuck EverlastingTuck Everlasting is a fantasy children's novel by Natalie Babbitt. It was published in 1975. The book explores the concept of immortality and the reasons why it might not be as desirable as it appears to be. It has sold over two million copies and has been called a classic of modern children's...
- 1977 The Eyes of the Amaryllis
- 1982 Herbert Rowbarge
- 1987 The Devil's Other Storybook
- 1989 Nellie: A Cat on Her Own
- 1990 The Big Book for Peace (co-written with Lloyd AlexanderLloyd AlexanderLloyd Chudley Alexander was a widely influential American author of more than forty books, mostly fantasy novels for children and adolescents, as well as several adult books...
) - 1994 Bub: Or the Very Best Thing
- 1998 Ouch!: A Tale from Grimm
- 2001 Elsie Times Eight
- 2007 Jack Plank Tells TalesJack Plank Tells TalesJack Plank Tells Tales is a children's book by Newbery Honor recipient Natalie Babbitt. Her first novel in 25 years, it was released by Scholastic, Inc. in 2007...
Illustrations
- 1966 Samuel Babbitt, The Forty-ninth Magician
- 1972 Valerie Worth, Small Poems
- 1976 Valerie Worth, More Small Poems
- 1978 Valerie Worth, Still More Small Poems
- 1980 Valerie Worth, Curlicues, the Fortunes of Two Pug Dogs
- 1985 Valerie Worth, Small Poems Again
- 1986 Valerie Worth, Other Small Poems Again
- 1987 Valerie Worth, All the Small Poems
- 1990 Lloyd Alexander, The Big Book for Peace
- 1994 Valerie Worth, All the Small Poems and Fourteen More
- 2002 Valerie Worth, Peacock and Other Poems