Byrd Baylor (March 28, 1924 – June 16, 2021) was an American novelist, essayist, and author of picture books for children. Four of her books have achieved Caldecott Honor status.

Background

Byrd Baylor was born in March 1924 in San Antonio, Texas. She was related to Robert Emmett Bledsoe Baylor, the namesake of Baylor University, and to

Admiral Richard E. Byrd Richard Evelyn Byrd Jr. (October 25, 1888 – March 11, 1957) was an American naval officer and explorer. He was a recipient of the Medal of Honor, the highest honor for valor given by the United States, and was a pioneering American aviator, ...

. Her first name, Byrd, is taken from her mother's maiden name. Baylor attended the University of Arizona.

Writing

Baylor's work presents images of the Southwest and an intense connection between the land and the Native American people. Her prose illustrates vividly the value of simplicity, the natural world, and the balance of life within it. She wrote an essay entitled Good Women Who Love Bad Trucks which she read aloud for radio station KXCI. Byrd contributed essays to Tucson's City Magazine in the late 1980s.

Personal life

Baylor latterly lived in Arivaca, Arizona, in an adobe house that did not have electricity. She worked with three manual typewriters. She died in June 2021 at the age of 97.

Caldecott Honors

Baylor was awarded Caldecott Honors for her books ''When Clay Sings'' (1973) with illustrator Tom Bahti, and ''The Desert is Theirs'' (1976), ''Hawk, I'm Your Brother'' (1977), and ''The Way to Start a Day'' (1979) with illustrator

Peter Parnall Peter Kommer Parnall (born May 23, 1936) is an American artist and writer, best known for his work on books for younger readers. His work has earned him high praise and a number of awards. Some of his books have become collector items. Biograp ...

Bibliography

*'' Amigo'' (1963, illustrated by Garth Williams)) *'' One Small Blue Bead'' (1965; illustrated by

Symeon Shimin Symeon Shimin (1902 in Astrakhan, Russia-1984 in New York City) was a Russian born American artist and illustrator of Russian Jewish descent. He was principally known as an artist of Hollywood Film Posters and as an award-winning illustrator of ...

) *'' Before You Came This Way'' (1969, illustrated by Tom Bahti) *''

Coyote Cry The coyote (''Canis latrans'') is a species of canis, canine native to North America. It is smaller than its close relative, the wolf, and slightly smaller than the closely related eastern wolf and red wolf. It fills much of the same ecologica ...

'' (1972, drawings by

) *''

When Clay Sings When may refer to: * When?, one of the Five Ws, questions used in journalism * WHEN (AM), an Urban Adult Contemporary radio station in Syracuse, New York * WHEN-TV, the former call letters of TV station WTVH in Syracuse, New York Music * When ( ...

'' (1972, illustrated by Tom Bahti) *''

Sometimes I Dance Mountains Sometimes may refer to: Music Albums * ''Sometimes'' (Bill Anderson and Mary Lou Turner album) or the title song (see below), 1976 * ''Sometimes'' (City and Colour album) or the title song, "Sometimes (I Wish)", 2005 * ''Sometimes'' (Facts of ...

'' (1973, photographs by

Bill Sears Bill(s) may refer to: Common meanings * Banknote, paper cash (especially in the United States) * Bill (law), a proposed law put before a legislature * Invoice, commercial document issued by a seller to a buyer * Bill, a bird or animal's beak Pla ...

, drawings by

Ken Longtemps Ken or KEN may refer to: Entertainment * ''Ken'' (album), a 2017 album by Canadian indie rock band Destroyer. * ''Ken'' (film), 1964 Japanese film. * ''Ken'' (magazine), a large-format political magazine. * Ken Masters, a main character in t ...

) *''

Everybody Needs a Rock Everybody may refer to: Music Albums * ''Everybody'' (Chris Janson album) or the title song, 2017 * ''Everybody'' (Gods Child album), 1994 * ''Everybody'' (Hear'Say album), 2001 * ''Everybody'' (Ingrid Michaelson album) or the title song, 2009 * ...

'' (1974; illustrated by

) Baylor, B.
Everybody Needs a Rock
accessed 3 August 2023 *''

The Desert is Theirs ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in E ...

'' (1975; illustrated by

) ( Caldecott Honor) *'' Hawk, I’m Your Brother'' (1976; illustrated by

) ( Caldecott Honor) *''

Yes Is Better than No Yes or YES may refer to: * An affirmative particle in the English language; see yes and no Education * YES Prep Public Schools, Houston, Texas, US * YES (Your Extraordinary Saturday), a learning program from the Minnesota Institute for Talente ...

'' (1977; with illustrations by

Leonard Chana Leonard or ''Leo'' is a common English language, English masculine given name and a surname. The given name and surname originate from the Old High German ''Leonhard'' containing the prefix ''levon'' ("lion") from the Greek wikiwikiweb:Λέων, � ...

, 1990) *'' The Way to Start a Day'' (1978; illustrated by

) ( Caldecott Honor) *'' The Other Way to Listen'' (1978; illustrated by

) *'' Your Own Best Secret Place'' (1979; illustrated by

) *'' If You Are a Hunter of Fossils'' (1980; illustrated by

) *'' Desert Voices'' (1981; illustrated by

) *'' I'm In Charge of Celebrations'' (1986; illustrated by

) *'' The Table Where Rich People Sit'' (1994; illustrated by

)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Baylor, Byrd 1924 births 2021 deaths American children's writers University of Arizona alumni Writers from San Antonio