Elizabeth Coatsworth (31 May, 1893 – 31 August, 1986) was an American author known for her children’s stories and poetry for both kids and adults.
- Born in Buffalo, New York, Elizabeth was the daughter of a prosperous grain merchant.
- As a young girl, Coatsworth went to a private girls’ school.
- Her parents took her traveling with them, my age 5 she already visited the Alps and Egypt.
- Coatsworth as a Master of Arts from Columbia University.
- The author’s first published works appeared in poetry magazines and her first book, Fox Footprints, was published in 1923 and was a collection of poetry for adults.
- Coatsworth friend, Louise Seaman, founded the first children’s book publishing dept. at Macmillan. Louise is the one that convinced Elizabeth to write her first children’s book.
- The Cat Who Went to Heaven was published in 1930. The book tells the story of an artist who is painting a picture of Buddha for a group of monks.
- The Cat Who Went to Heavenearned Coatsworth a Newberry Medal for “the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children”. Coatsworth won praises for her adult fiction as well, especially The Incredible Tales.
- Over the span of an incredible career, Coatsworth published over 90 book from 1927 to 1976.
- Coatsworth papers are at the Kerlan Collection at the University of Minnesota and Bowsoin Colleger, Brunswick, Maine
Zohar – Man of la Book
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One Comment
This is one of the few early Newbery books that I have kept, since it’s short and students do occasionally read it. I’ll have to push this one again in the fall!