Elizabeth Winthrop
Elizabeth Winthrop told a rapt audience of kids and their parents at St. Albans School that she had written more than forty books for children and also many for adults. One of the special treats for Elizabeth was to come to St. Albans because three of her brothers went to school there; she however went to Stone Ridge for a Catholic education (her mother was raised as an English Catholic while her father belonged to the American Anglican faith). Elizabeth's grandmother was Eleanor Roosevelt's first cousin. Her Great Uncle was Teddy Roosevelt, yet her book in the "Dear, Mr. President" series was about Franklin Delanor Roosevelt. To undertake the research she made friends with 80-year-olds in the area. She asked lots of questions and recorded interviews on tape. Emma's voice is based on her aunt who was a teacher. Incidents in the book are based on information reported in the newspapers of the day.
Elizabeth always wanted to write and did so in a journal that she kept hidden. She had a teacher who encouraged her to write and to go to a college that would also encourage writing. Elizabeth went to Sarah Lawrence where she was encouraged to write. She comes from a family of writers--both her father and uncle were well known journalists. She, however, prefers fiction because you can change the ending to suit yourself. After graduation she worked at Harper & Row under the legendary Ursula Nordstrom.
Her talk at St. Albans was peppered with the crazy exploits that she and her brothers engaged in as children. Once they began digging a bomb shelter in the front yard. Her brother set up a bucket system and he even charged the neighborhood kids for the privilege of helping with the digging--a bit of Tom Sawyer in that fellow. They ended up digging a fourteen foot hole and even spent the night in it. Her brother Joe who was an electronics whiz, even bugged her room. Their father bet him $50 bucks that he couldn't tape record a dinner party and Dad lost. He even went so far as to run a private phone line through the sewers in DC. He got trapped down there for several hours because his buddy who was supposed to lift the sewer lid had to wait until his dad finished mowing the lawn to help his friend out. Even when he went to Groton, Joe didn't stop, he even taped faculty meetings. Elizabeth felt all of this information was excellent fodder for a possible book--what it would be like to be the child of a spy.
In 1974, her first book Bunk Beds was published. It really was based on a lot of ideas that she had before she was fifteen. In 1983 while Elizabeth was researching a book about hurricanes, her son begged to visit the displays of armor and knights in the museum. She found a damaged knight and it said his name was Parsifal. She hadn't read much about King Arthur but like most great writers started to wonder and asked herself the question "What if the knight came alive?" In twenty minutes she wrote out the story that became Castle in the Attic. It was quite successful and she was asked to write a sequel which is entitled Battle for the Castle, and now she is getting pressure to continue the tale in a third story.
Elizabeth does not lack for ideas. She has written about "ratty music" which was actually the first name for jazz in the old days in New Orleans. She also has an interest in jazz greats and has plans to write books such as, The Day Lewis Hind Came to Town and The Day Count Basie Came to Town. Her diversity in writing is evidenced by her picture books, middle readers, and adult books, but according to Elizabeth, it hasn't served her well financially. Despite, she loves the diversity and is an individual who enjoys having multiple projects underway simultaneously. Among the recent awards and accolades for her work are Children's Book Sense 76 Picks, a School Library Journal Star, and selection as a New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book for her picture book Dumpy La Rue. (I even have a Dumpy La Rue T-shirt which I truly treasure.) The one area where she hasn't had any success yet is writing easy readers. I'm sure that is just around the corner.
Contributor: Marilyn Courtot
For more information visit Elizabeth Winthrop at her own site and a recent feature Counting on Grace.
Reviews
Dumpy La Rue
Elizabeth Winthrop
Illustrated by Betsy Lewin
Dumpy La Rue wants to dance. But as a pig in a barnyard, this is most unusual and his parents try in every way to stifle his dream. Despite all of their attempts, Dumpy La Rue is a pig who cannot be held down. The music in his head gets his feet tappin' and his body shakin' and he just can't help it. Soon, he is dancing up a storm in the barnyard and all the animals, who originally thought dancing was silly, soon begin to cheer him on as they watch him having the time of his life. Before you know it, all the animals begin to discover they hear music of their own. The goats do a two-step, the mules dance a salsa and even Dumpy's parents begin a beautiful waltz. Soon the entire barnyard is having a rockin' stompin' good time and Dumpy is living his dream of being a pig that can dance. Children will thoroughly enjoy this light-hearted tale and will see that it is never impossible to live out your dreams. Betsy Lewin's illustrations are absolutely charming. Perfect for early readers and preschoolers. 2001, Henry Holt, $15.95. Ages 3 to 7. ISBN: 0-80506-385-4 Reviewer: Emily Cook
Promises
Elizabeth Winthrop
Illustrated by Betsy Lewin
With touching text and warm illustrations, this inspirational picture book describes the wide range of emotions one young girl experiences when her mother undergoes treatment for cancer. She's happy when her mother feels better, she's mad when her friend Alan loudly asks why her mother has no hair. She's sad when her mother has to stay in the hospital, she's scared to see how her mother looks during her medical treatments, and she's relieved when her mother's hair grows back. Families who are undergoing a similar situation can use this book to address their children's concerns and assuage their fears. Elizabeth Winthrop does an excellent job of finding a tender way to handle this difficult subject. Bravo! A job well done! 2000, Clarion/Houghton Mifflin Company, $16.00. Ages 5 to 10. ISBN: 0-395-82272-6. Reviewer: Debra Briatico
As the Crow Flies
Elizabeth Winthrop
Illustrated by Joan Sandin
Michael's parents are divorced. Michael lives in Arizona with his mother. His father lives in Delaware. When Michael asks his father, "How far away are you?" his father says, "Seven states as the crow flies, two seconds as the heart beats." So begins this story of Michael and his father, and the loving relationship they share in spite of divorce and distance. When Michael is with his mother, he misses his dad. When he is with his father, he misses his mom. He is tired of missing people he loves. Once a year, Michael's father comes to Arizona to visit. The two of them stay in a motel, eat out at restaurants and share puzzles, games, books and memories. And Michael learns some things about his dad that he never knew before. Told in simple and unsentimental language, this is a deeply touching story that both parents and children will want to read again and again. The illustrations, done in watercolor and pencil, eloquently express the beauty in everyday experiences, when shared with those we love. 1997, Clarion/Houghton Mifflin, $15.00. Ages 4 to 10. ISBN: 0-395-77612-0. Reviewer: Dianne Ochiltree
Best Books:
Adventuring with Books: A Booklist for Pre-K--Grade 6, 12th Edition, 1999 ; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
The Battle for the Castle
Elizabeth Winthrop
The daring and thrills of living in a medieval castle, participating in jousting contests and then trying to rid the countryside of a frightening evil force should be enough to keep all readers glued to their seats. This is a gripping sequel to The Castle in the Attic. The magic token William's former nanny sends him for his 12th birthday allows him to shrink to the size of the toys in his castle. Once their size, he becomes part of their world. He is soon enmeshed in a battle to save Sir Simon's kingdom. Along with his buddy Jason, William learns the true meaning of heroism. 1993, Holiday, $15.95 and $4.50. Ages 8 to 11. ISBN: 0-82341-010-2. Reviewer: Jan Lieberman
Best Books:
Adventuring with Books: A Booklist for Pre-K--Grade 6, 1997 ; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
Added 08/07/02
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