Newbery Authors

Field, Rachel (1894-1942), American writer of children's books, poetry, plays, and novels, born in New York City. She is best known for her children's books, including and Calico Bush and HITTY, HER FIRST HUNDRED YEARS which won the 1930 Newbery Medal. Her adult novel, ALL THIS AND HEAVEN TOO was made into a motion picture in 1940.

Lofting, Hugh (1886-1947), Anglo-American writer and illustrator of books for children, born in Maidenhead, England, and educated as a civil engineer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Polytechnic Institute of London. Lofting settled in the U.S. in 1912, but served in the British army during World War I. THE VOYAGES OF DOCTOR DOLITTLE about a delightful country doctor who learned how to talk with animals, began as letters to his children during the war. He was the 1923 recipient of the Newbery Medal. The Dolittle books were the basis for the 1967 musical film.

Van Loon, American writer, born in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and educated at Harvard and Cornell universities and at the University of Munich. He immigrated to the United States in 1902 and became a U.S. citizen in 1919. During World War I (1914-1918), Van Loon served as an Associated Press correspondent in Europe. He taught history at Cornell University from 1915 to 1916 and at Antioch College from 1922 to 1923.

As a writer Van Loon defined his aim as "the humanization and popularization of history." His works, written primarily for young people and often illustrated with his own drawings, include The Story of Mankind (1921); The Story of the Bible (1923); R.V.R., Life and Times of Rembrandt van Rijn (1927); Van Loon's Geography (1932); and Van Loon's Lives (1942).

"Van Loon, Hendrik Willem," Microsoft(R) Encarta(R) 98 Encyclopedia. (c) 1993-1997 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.