Caldecott Honor-winning illustrator Susan Jeffers died January 22 at the age of 77.
Her book Three Jovial Huntsmen (Bradbury, 1973) received Caldecott Honors in 1974.
Jeffers studied art at the Pratt Institute, then worked in the children’s art department at three different publishing houses.
Working on other illustrators’
Andrew Clements, beloved and prolific author, died Nov. 28 in West Baldwin, Maine. He was 70.
Obituary: Andrew Clements by Shannon Maughan from Publishers Weekly. Peek: “Clements shared…that he credited his parents, both avid readers, with instilling a love of books and reading in him and his siblings,
Richard “Dick” Jackson, legendary children’s editor, publisher, and author, died Oct. 2, 2019. He was 84.
Richard Jackson, Who Had an Ear for Children’s Books, Dies at 84 by Neil Genzlinger from The New York Times. Peek: “[I]t was his work as an editor beginning in the 1960s that changed…literature for young people.
Mordicai Gerstein, Caldecott winning author and illustrator, died Sept. 24. He was 83.
Remembering Caldecott Winner Mordicai Gerstein by Kara Yorio from School Library Journal. Peek:
“‘Mordicai Gerstein was a genius, a master of both art and text,’ said Grace Maccarone,
Lee Bennett Hopkins, celebrated and renowned poet, educator, and anthologist, died Aug. 8 in Cape Coral, Florida. He was 81.
Obituary: Lee Bennett Hopkins from The New York Times. Peek:
“Mr. Hopkins was famed in the children’s book world for championing poetry as well as for the sheer volume of his output.
Judith Kerr, beloved and inspirational author and illustrator, died May 22 at home after a brief illness. She was 95.
Obituary: Judith Kerr from BBC News. Peek:
“She was still producing stories and illustrations well into her 90s.
Best known for The Tiger Who Came to Tea and a series of picture books about Mog the cat,
Marjorie Weinman Sharmat, the author of more than 130 books for children and young adults, died on March 12 in Munster, Indiana. She was 90 years old.
She is best known for creating the young sleuth, Nate the Great (Putnam, 1972). According to a Washington Post article by Emily Langer,
Paul B. Janeczko, celebrated poet and dedicated teacher, died Feb. 19. He was 73.
Obituary: Paul B. Janeczko by Shannon Maughan from Publishers Weekly. Peek:
“Liz Bicknell, executive v-p and editorial director at Candlewick…paid tribute to the author: ‘Paul Janeczko—or PBJ,