Natalie Savage Carlson
Born: October 3, 1906 in Kernstown, Virginia
Died: September 23, 1997 in Middletown, Rhode Island
Education: At age four, she was sent to a convent boarding school. After three years came home to be tutored by a family friend. She attended parochial high schools in Long Beach, California
Tie to Virginia: It was her birthplace.
A Few Interesting Facts:
Ø She married a naval officer and thus became well traveled; this reflects greatly in her books. Not only are her characters diverse, but so are the settings, and she uses foreign words and phrases to provide authenticity.
Ø She explores racism and culture differences.
Ø At age eight, she published her first story on the children's page of the Baltimore Sunday Sun.
A Few Books Published:
| Spooky and the Witch's Goat, c1989. | Spooky and the Bad Luck Raven, c1988. | Spooky and the Wizard's Bats, c1986. |
| Spooky and the Ghost Cat, c1985. | The Ghost in the Lagoon, c1984. | Surprise in the Mountains, c1983. |
| Spooky Night, c1982 | Marie Louise & Christophe at the Carnival, c1981. | A Grandmother for the Orphelines, c1980. |
| The Night the Scarecrow Walked, c1979. | King of the Cats, and Other Tales, c1980. | Time for the White Egret, c1978. |
| Luvvy and the Girls, 1971. | Marchers for the Dream, 1969. | Jaky or Dodo?, c1978. |
| Runaway Marie Louise, c1977. | The Half Sisters, 1970. | Marie Louise's Heyday, c1975. |
Awards:
ü New York Herald Tribune Children's Spring Book Festival Award in 1952 for The Talking Cat, and 1954 for Alphonse, That Bearded One.
ü Newbery Honor Book in 1959 - The Family Under the Bridge
ü nominee for the Hans Christian Andersen International Children's Book Award in 1966
Websites:
http://www.lib.usm.edu/%7Edegrum/html/research/findaids/carlson.htm
http://falcon.jmu.edu/~ramseyil/carlsonbib.htm