Author and illustrator Anne Rockwell died on April 10 in Stamford, Connecticut. She was 85.
Obituary: Anne Rockwell by Shannon Maughan from Publishers Weekly. Peek:
“Christy Ottaviano… worked with Rockwell on four books….describing her as ‘…a visionary in her ability to reach young children through her thoughtful,
Author, illustrator, and educator Jean Marzollo died April 10, 2018.
SCBWI Remembers Jean Marzollo 1942- 2018 from their website. Peek:
“…Marzollo served for 20 years as editor of Scholastic’s magazine for kindergartners, Let’s Find Out. …she wrote nearly 150 books,
Russell Freedman, 88, Writer of History for Young Readers, Dies by Neil Genzlinger from The New York Times. Peek:
“Russell Freedman, who brought readable, relatable history to young readers in dozens of well-researched, generously illustrated books, died on March 16 in Manhattan.”
“The prolific nonfiction author — winner of the 1988 Newbery Medal for Lincoln: A Photobiography (Clarion,
Authors William Alexander and Ursula K. Le Guin
Author Ursula K. Le Guin died while Cynsations was on winter hiatus.
Ursula K. Le Guin (1929 – 2018) from The Horn Book. Peek:
“Author Ursula K. Le Guin, who challenged the male-dominated fantasy and science fiction fields starting in the 1960s,
Author Julius Lester died Jan. 18 while Cynsations was on winter hiatus.
Julius Lester, whose literature explored African American life, dies at 78 by Emily Langer from The Washington Post. Peek:
“He once wrote that ‘the need to know more about my individual past led me to begin studying slavery.’
Photo courtesy of Heather Camlot; used with permission.
On the 21st of November, the Canadian Children’s Book Centre held its annual Canadian Children’s Book Awards, an evening devoted to awarding the best in children’s literature. Among the always decadent dishes and clinking glasses, there was feeling that something was missing—or someone.
Author Dianne de Las Casas died Aug. 21 while Cynsations was on summer hiatus.
A ‘Magnetic Personality’: Author, Storyteller Killed in Harvey House Fire by Jonathan Bullington from The Times-Picayune. Peek: “An award-winning author, Casas published more than two dozen books. She founded Picture Book Month,
Author and storyteller Jan Andrews died Sept. 2, while Cynsations was on summer hiatus.
Obituary Note: Jan Andrews from Shelf Awareness. Peek: “British-born storyteller and children’s author Jan Andrews, who immigrated to Canada in her 20s and ‘wrote books for children of all ages, often inspired by the people and landscape of her adopted home,’
Teacher and picture book expert Robin Smith died in June while Cynsations was on summer hiatus.
Robin Smith (1959-2017) from The Horn Book. Peek: “A second-grade teacher at Ensworth School in Nashville for the last twenty-four years, she was a longtime Horn Book contributor and reviewer and a founding co-author of the Calling Caldecott blog.
Author and illustrator Geoffrey Hayes died in June while Cynsations was on summer hiatus.
Obituary: Geoffrey Hayes by Shannon Maughan from Publishers Weekly. Peek: “…Hayes, best known for the comics-style artwork and expressive animal characters in his many titles for emerging readers, died suddenly on June 2, of apparent natural causes,
