Jean Carolyn Craighead George (July 2, 1919 – May 15, 2012) was an
American writer of more than one hundred
books for children and
young adults
A young adult is generally a person in the years following adolescence. Definitions and opinions on what qualifies as a young adult vary, with works such as Erik Erikson's stages of human development significantly influencing the definition of ...
, including the Newbery Medal-winning ''
Julie of the Wolves'' and Newbery runner-up ''
My Side of the Mountain
''My Side of the Mountain'' is a middle-grade adventure novel written and illustrated by American writer Jean Craighead George published by E. P. Dutton in 1959. It features a boy who learns courage, independence, and the need for companionshi ...
''.
[ Common themes in George's works are the environment and the natural world. Beside children's fiction, she wrote at least two guides to cooking with wild foods and one autobiography published 30 years before her death, ''Journey Inward''.
For her lifetime contribution as a children's writer she was U.S. nominee for the biennial, international Hans Christian Andersen Award in 1964.][
]
Biography
Jean Carolyn Craighead was born on July 2, 1919, in Washington DC. She was raised in a family of naturalists. Her mother, father ( Frank Craighead Sr.), brothers ( Frank and John), aunts, and uncles were students of nature. On weekends they camped in the woods near Washington, climbed trees to study owls, gathered edible plants, and made fish hooks from twigs. Her first pet was a turkey vulture
The turkey vulture (''Cathartes aura'') is the most widespread of the New World vultures. One of three species in the genus '' Cathartes'' of the family Cathartidae, the turkey vulture ranges from southern Canada to the southernmost tip of Sout ...
. George centered her life around writing and nature.
George graduated in 1940 from Pennsylvania State University with degrees in both English and science. In the 1940s she was a member of the White House Press Corps
The White House press corps is the group of journalists, correspondents, and members of the media usually assigned to the White House in Washington, D.C., to cover the president of the United States, White House events, and news briefings. Its o ...
and a reporter for ''The Washington Post
''The Washington Post'' (also known as the ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'') is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C. It is the most widely circulated newspaper within the Washington metropolitan area and has a large nati ...
''. From 1969 to 1982 she was a writer and editor at ''Reader's Digest
''Reader's Digest'' is an American general-interest family magazine, published ten times a year. Formerly based in Chappaqua, New York, it is now headquartered in midtown Manhattan. The magazine was founded in 1922 by DeWitt Wallace and his wif ...
''. She married John Lothar George in 1944, and they divorced in 1963.[ Her first novels were written in collaboration with him, and she provided the illustrations for them, done in black and white watercolors or inks. A later editor encouraged her to use other illustrators for her books.
Two of George's novels for children were ''My Side of the Mountain'', a 1960 Newbery Medal runner-up,][ and its 1990 sequel ''On the Far Side of the Mountain''. In 1991, George became the first winner of the Knickerbocker Award for Juvenile Literature from the School Library Media Section of the ]New York Library Association
The New York Library Association (NYLA) is a group that promotes libraries in New York. It was founded in 1890 and was the first statewide organization of librarians in the United States. One of its founders was Melvil Dewey, who has had a last ...
, which was presented to her for the "consistent superior quality" of her literary works.
The inspiration for '' Julie of the Wolves'' evolved from two specific events during a summer she spent studying wolves
The wolf (''Canis lupus''; : wolves), also known as the gray wolf or grey wolf, is a large canine native to Eurasia and North America. More than thirty subspecies of ''Canis lupus'' have been recognized, and gray wolves, as popularly un ...
and tundra
In physical geography, tundra () is a type of biome where tree growth is hindered by frigid temperatures and short growing seasons. The term ''tundra'' comes through Russian (') from the Kildin Sámi word (') meaning "uplands", "treeless mou ...
at the Arctic Research Laboratory of Barrow, Alaska. She explained, "One was a small girl walking the vast and lonesome tundra outside of Barrow; the other was a magnificent alpha male
In biology, a dominance hierarchy (formerly and colloquially called a pecking order) is a type of social hierarchy that arises when members of animal social groups interact, creating a ranking system. A dominant higher-ranking individual is so ...
wolf, leader of a pack in Denali National Park
Denali National Park and Preserve, formerly known as Mount McKinley National Park, is an American national park and preserve located in Interior Alaska, centered on Denali, the highest mountain in North America. The park and contiguous preserve ...
. They haunted me for a year or more as did the words of one of the scientists at the lab: 'If there ever was any doubt in my mind that a man could live with the wolves, it is gone now. The wolves are truly gentlemen, highly social and affectionate.'" George won the annual Newbery Medal
The John Newbery Medal, frequently shortened to the Newbery, is a literary award given by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), to the author of "the most distinguished cont ...
from the American Library Association
The American Library Association (ALA) is a nonprofit organization based in the United States that promotes libraries and library education internationally. It is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with 49,727 members ...
for ''Julie'', recognizing the year's "most distinguished contribution to American literature for children".[ She also won the ]Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis
The (German Youth Literature Award) is an annual award established in 1956 by the Federal Ministry of Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth to recognise outstanding works of children's and young adult literature. It is Germany's only ...
in 1975 for its German-language edition ''Julie von den Wölfen'', one of only two such double wins (with Scott O'Dell and ''Island of the Blue Dolphins'').
George was a mother of three and a grandmother. The 2009 Dutton Children's Books ''Pocket Guide to the Outdoors'' is credited to "Jean Craighead George; with Twig C. George, John C. George, and T. Luke George".[ Daughter Twig C. George had previously written a few children's books about animals. Over the years, George kept one hundred and seventy-three pets, not including dogs and cats, in her home in ]Chappaqua, New York
Chappaqua ( ) is a hamlet and census-designated place in the town of New Castle, in northern Westchester County, New York, United States. It is approximately north of New York City. The hamlet is served by the Chappaqua station of the Metro ...
. "Most of these wild animals depart in autumn when the sun changes their behaviour and they feel the urge to migrate or go off alone. While they are with us, however, they become characters in my books, articles, and stories."
Jean died on May 15, 2012, at the age of 92 from complications of congestive heart failure
Heart failure (HF), also known as congestive heart failure (CHF), is a syndrome, a group of signs and symptoms caused by an impairment of the heart's blood pumping function. Symptoms typically include shortness of breath, excessive fatigue, ...
, according to Twig George, at the Westchester Medical Center
Westchester Medical Center University Hospital (WMC), formerly Grasslands Hospital, is an 895-bed Regional Trauma Center providing health services to residents of the Hudson Valley, northern New Jersey, and southern Connecticut. It is known for h ...
in Valhalla
In Norse mythology Valhalla (;) is the anglicised name for non, Valhǫll ("hall of the slain").Orchard (1997:171–172) It is described as a majestic hall located in Asgard and presided over by the god Odin. Half of those who die in combat e ...
.
Works
* 1948 ''Vulpes the Red Fox'' (American Woodland Tales series, with husband John L. George, illustrated by Jean George)
* 1949 ''Vison the Mink'' (American Woodland Tales series, with John L. George, illustrated by Jean George)
* 1950 '' Masked Prowler, The Story of a Raccoon'' (American Woodland Tales series, with John L. George, illustrated by Jean George)
* 1952 ''Meph, the Pet Skunk'' (American Woodland Tales series, with John L. George, illustrated by Jean George)
* 1954 ''Bubo, the Great Horned Owl'' (American Woodland Tales series, with John L. George, illustrated by Jean George)
* 1956 ''Dipper of Copper Creek'' (American Woodland Tales series, with John L. George, illustrated by Jean George)
* 1957 ''The Hole in the Tree'' (as by Jean George, writer and illustrator)
* 1958 ''Snow Tracks'' (as by Jean George, writer and illustrator)
* 1959 ''My Side of the Mountain
''My Side of the Mountain'' is a middle-grade adventure novel written and illustrated by American writer Jean Craighead George published by E. P. Dutton in 1959. It features a boy who learns courage, independence, and the need for companionshi ...
'' (Mountain series #1, as by Jean Craighead George, writer and illustrator) ()
* 1962 ''The Summer of the Falcon'' (illustrated by George)
* 1963 ''Red Robin, Fly Up!'' (picture book, photos by Ellan Young)
* 1964 ''Gull Number 737'' (illustrated by George)
* 1964 ''Marvels and Mysteries of Our Animal World'' (Jean George editor and contributor)
* 1965 ''Spring Comes to the Ocean'' (illustrated by John Wilson)
* 1966 ''Hold Zero!'' (illustrated by George)
* 1967 ''The Moon of the Owls'' (The Thirteen Moons series #1, picture book illustrated by Jean Zallinger)
* 1967 ''The Moon of the Bears'' (The Thirteen Moons series #2, picture book illustrated by Mac Shepard)
* 1967 ''The Moon of the Salamanders'' (The Thirteen Moons series #3, picture book illustrated by John Kaufmann)
* 1967 ''The Moon of the Monarch Butterflies'' (The Thirteen Moons series #5, picture book illustrated by Murray Tinkelman
Murray Tinkelman (April 2, 1933 – January 30, 2016) was an American science-fiction and fantasy illustrator. He won gold medals from the Society of Illustrators. He provided numerous book covers for paperback reprints of science fiction and f ...
)
* 1968 ''The Moon of the Fox Pups'' (The Thirteen Moons series #6, picture book illustrated by Kiyoaki Komoda)
* 1968 ''The Moon of the Wild Pigs'' (The Thirteen Moons series #7, picture book illustrated by Peter Parnall)
* 1968 ''The Moon of the Mountain Lions'' (The Thirteen Moons series #8, picture book illustrated by Winifred Lubell)
* 1968 ''Coyote in Manhattan'' (illustrated by John Kaufmann)
* 1969 ''The Moon of the Chickarees'' (The Thirteen Moons series #4, picture book illustrated by Don Rodell)
* 1969 ''The Moon of the Deer'' (The Thirteen Moons series #9, picture book illustrated by Jean Zallinger)
* 1969 ''The Moon of the Alligators'' (The Thirteen Moons series #10, picture book illustrated by Adrina Zanazanian)
* 1969 ''The Moon of the Gray Wolves'' (The Thirteen Moons series #11, picture book illustrated by Lorence Bjorklund)
* 1969 ''The Moon of the Winter Bird'' (The Thirteen Moons series #12, picture book illustrated by Kazue Mizumura)
* 1969 ''The Moon of the Moles'' (The Thirteen Moons series #13, picture book illustrated by Robert Levering)
* 1969 ''New York in Maps'' (listed as Toy Lasker and Jean George)
* 1970 ''Beastly Inventions: A Surprising Investigation Into Just How Smart Animals Really Are'' (illustrated by George)
* 1971 ''Who Really Killed Cock Robin?'' (Ecological Mystery #1)
* 1971 ''All Upon a Stone'' (picture book illustrated by Don Bolognese)
* 1972 '' Julie of the Wolves'' (Julie series #1, illustrated by John Schoenherr
John Carl Schoenherr (July 5, 1935 – April 8, 2010) was an American illustrator. He won the 1988 Caldecott Medal for U.S. children's book illustration, recognizing ''Owl Moon'' by Jane Yolen, which recounts the story of the first time a father ...
and Julek Heller in 1976) ()
* 1972 ''Everglades Wildguide'' (Official National Park Handbook #143, illustrated by Betty Fraser) ()
* 1974 ''All Upon a Sidewalk'' (picture book illustrated by Don Bolognese)
* 1975 ''Hook a Fish, Catch a Mountain''
* 1976 ''Going to the Sun''
* 1978 ''The Wentletrap Trap'' (picture book illustrated by Symeon Shimin)
* 1978 ''The Wounded Wolf'' (picture book illustrated by John Schoenherr)
* 1978 ''The American Walk Book''
* 1979 ''River Rats, Inc.''
* 1980 ''The Cry of the Crow'' ()
* 1982 ''Journey Inward'' (autobiography)
* 1982 ''The Grizzly Bear With the Golden Ears'' (picture book illustrated by Tom Catania) ()
* 1982 ''The Wild, Wild Cookbook'' (illustrated by Walter Kessell)
* 1983 ''One Day in the Desert'' (One Day series #1)
* 1983 ''The Talking Earth''
* 1984 ''One Day in the Alpine Tundra'' (One Day series #2)
* 1985 ''How to Talk to Your Animals''
* 1986 ''One Day in the Prairie'' (One Day series #3)
* 1986 ''How to Talk to Your Cat'' (chapter book, originally included in 1985's ''How to Talk to Your Animals'', illustrated by George)
* 1986 ''How to Talk to Your Dog'' (chapter book, originally included in 1985's ''How to Talk to Your Animals'', illustrated by George)
* 1987 ''Water Sky'' (illustrated by George)
* 1988 ''One Day in the Woods'' (One Day series #4)
* 1989 ''Shark Beneath the Reef''
* 1990 ''One Day in the Tropical Rainforest'' (One Day series #5)
* 1990 ''On the Far Side of the Mountain'' ( Mountain series #2, illustrated by George) ()
* 1990 '' The Big Book for Peace'' (illustrated by Ted Rand)
* 1991 ''The Moon of the Mountain Lions'' (The Thirteen Moons #8, new edition of picture book illustrated by Ron Parker)
* 1991 ''The Moon of the Alligators'' (The Thirteen Moons #10, new edition of picture book illustrated by Michael Rothman)
* 1991 ''The Moon of the Gray Wolves'' (The Thirteen Moons #11, new edition of picture book illustrated by Sal Catalano)
* 1992 ''The Missing 'Gator of Gumbo Limbo'' (Ecological Mystery #2)
* 1992 ''The Moon of the Salamanders'' (The Thirteen Moons #3, new edition of picture book illustrated by Marlene Hill Werner)
* 1992 ''The Moon of the Chickarees (The Thirteen Moons #4, new edition of picture book illustrated by Don Rodell)
* 1992 ''The Moon of the Fox Pups'' (The Thirteen Moons #6, new edition of picture book illustrated by Norman Adams)
* 1992 ''The Moon of the Wild Pigs'' (The Thirteen Moons #7, new edition of picture book illustrated by Paul Mirocha)
* 1992 ''The Moon of the Deer'' (The Thirteen Moons #9, new edition of picture book illustrated by Sal Catalano)
* 1992 ''The Moon of the Winter Bird'' (The Thirteen Moons #12, new edition of picture book illustrated by Vincent Nasta)
* 1992 ''The Moon of the Moles'' (The Thirteen Moons #13, new edition of picture book illustrated by Michael Rothman)
* 1993 ''The Fire Bug Connection'' (Ecological Mystery #3) ()
* 1993 ''The First Thanksgiving'' (picture book illustrated by Thomas Locker) ()
* 1993 ''The Big Book for Our Planet'' (co-editor and contributor)
* 1993 ''Dear Rebecca, Winter is Here'' (picture book illustrated by Loretta Krupinski) ()
* 1993 ''The Moon of the Owls'' (The Thirteen Moons #1, new edition of picture book illustrated by Wendell Minor)
* 1993 ''The Moon of the Bears'' (The Thirteen Moons #2, new edition of picture book illustrated by Ron Parker)
* 1993 ''The Moon of the Monarch Butterflies'' (The Thirteen Moons #5, new edition of picture book illustrated by Kam Mak)
* 1994 '' Julie'' (Julie series #2) ()
* 1994 ''Animals Who Have Won Our Hearts'' (illustrated by Christine Herman Merrill)
* 1995 ''Everglades'' (picture book illustrated by Wendell Minor) ()
* 1995 ''There's an Owl in the Shower''
* 1995 ''Acorn Pancakes, Dandelion Salad and 38 Other Wild Recipes'' (abridgement of 1982's ''The Wild, Wild Cookbook'', illustrated by Paul Mirocha)
* 1995 ''To Climb a Waterfall'' (picture book illustrated by Thomas Locker)
* 1996 ''The Tarantula in My Purse and 172 Other Wild Pets'' ()
* 1996 ''The Case of the Missing Cutthroats, An Ecological Mystery #4'' (reissue of 1975's "Hook a Fish, Catch a Mountain")
* 1997 '' Julie's Wolf Pack'' (Julie series #3) ()
* 1997 ''Look to the North, A Wolf Pup Diary'' (picture book illustrated by Lucia Washburn) ()
* 1997 ''Arctic Son'' (picture book illustrated by Wendell Minor)
* 1998 ''Dear Katie, the Volcano is a Girl'' (picture book illustrated by Daniel Powers) ()
* 1998 ''Giraffe Trouble'' (picture book illustrated by Anna Vojtech) ()
* 1998 ''Elephant Walk'' (picture book illustrated by Anna Vojtech)
* 1998 ''Gorilla Gang'' (picture book illustrated by Stacey Schuett)
* 1998 ''Rhino Romp'' (picture book illustrated by Stacey Schuett)
* 1999 ''Frightful's Mountain'' (Mountain series #3, illustrated by George) ()
* 1999 ''Morning, Noon, and Night'' (picture book illustrated by Wendell Minor)
* 1999 ''Incredible Animal Adventures'' (reissue of 1994's ''Animals Who Have Won Our Hearts'', illustrated by Donna Diamond)
* 1999 ''Snow Bear'' (picture book illustrated by Wendell Minor)
* 2000 ''How to Talk to Your Cat'' (picture book illustrated by Paul Meisel, abridged from 1986's chapter book of same title)
* 2000 ''How to Talk to Your Dog'' (picture book illustrated by Paul Meisel, abridged from 1986's chapter book of same title)
* 2001 ''Nutik, the Wolf Pup'' (Julie series #4, picture book illustrated by Ted Rand) )
* 2001 ''Nutik and Amaroq Play Ball'' (Julie series #5, picture book illustrated by Ted Rand) ()
* 2001 ''Autumn Moon'' (Seasons of the Moon #1, compilation of The Thirteen Moons books #9, 10, and 11)
* 2001 ''Winter Moon'' (Seasons of the Moon #2, compilation of The Thirteen Moons books #12, 13, 1, and 2)
* 2002 ''Cliff Hanger'' (Outdoor Adventures series #1, picture book illustrated by Wendell Minor) ()
* 2002 ''Frightful's Daughter'' (Mountain series #4, picture book illustrated by Daniel San Souci)
* 2002 ''Tree Castle Island'' (illustrated by George)
* 2002 ''Spring Moon'' (Seasons of the Moon #3, compilation of The Thirteen Moons books #3, 4, and 5)
* 2002 ''Summer Moon'' (Seasons of the Moon #4, compilation of The Thirteen Moons books #6, 7, and 8)
* 2003 ''Fire Storm'' (Outdoors Adventures series #2, picture book illustrated by Wendell Minor) ()
* 2004 ''Snowboard Twist'' (Outdoors Adventures series #3, picture book illustrated by Wendell Minor)
* 2004 ''Charlie's Raven''
* 2006 ''Luck, the Story of a Sandhill Crane'' (picture book illustrated by Wendell Minor)
* 2007 ''Frightful's Daughter Meets the Baron Weasel'' (Mountain series #5, picture book illustrated by Daniel San Souci)
* 2008 ''Goose and Duck'' (picture book illustrated by Priscilla Lamont)
* 2008 ''The Wolves are Back'' (picture book illustrated by Wendell Minor)
* 2009 ''The Cats of Roxville Station'' (illustrated by Tom Pohrt)
* 2009 ''Pocket Guide to the Outdoors'' (Dutton Children's Books), with Twig C. George, John C. George, and T. Luke George; cover says "Based on ''My Side of the Mountain''"["Pocket guide to the outdoors"]
Library of Congress Catalog Record. Retrieved 2013-07-17.
* 2009 ''The Last Polar Bear'' (picture book illustrated by Wendell Minor)
* 2009 ''The Buffalo Are Back'' (picture book illustrated by Wendell Minor)
* 2010 ''The Eagles Are Back'' (picture book illustrated by Wendell Minor)
* 2010 ''A Special Gift for Grammy'' (picture book illustrated by Steve Johnson)
* 2014 ''Ice Whale''
* 2014 ''Galapagos George'' (picture book illustrated by Wendell Minor)
* 2018 ''Shadow: The Cougar of Flat Creek'' (picture book illustrated by John D. Dawson) - available via Jean's website
* 2021 ''Crowbar: The Smartest Bird in the World'' (picture book illustrated by Wendell Minor)
References
External links
* – "Jean's website will continue to be updated. ..Check back ... new works from Jean are forthcoming!" (retrieved 2015-10-30)
*
Biography
at Pennsylvania State University Center for the Book
Biography
at Educational Paperback Association
2007 radio interview
(audio recording) at ChildrensBookRadio.com
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:George, Jean Craighead
1919 births
2012 deaths
American nature writers
Pennsylvania State University alumni
Newbery Honor winners
Newbery Medal winners
People from Chappaqua, New York
Women science writers
American women non-fiction writers
21st-century American women
People from Nome, Alaska