Natalie Babbitt

Natalie Babbitt was born and raised in Ohio. As a child, she spent most of her time drawing and reading fairy tales. Under the guidance and advice of her mother (who painted amateur landscapes and portraits), she grew up with a single desire: to become an illustrator. After completing her studies, she married Samuel Babbitt and spent the next ten years in Connecticut, Tennessee, and Washington, raising their three children, Christopher, Tom, and Lucy. In 1966, she collaborated with her husband on a children's book (The Forty-Ninth Magician) - he wrote it, and she illustrated it. With encouragement from her publishers, she continued to write and illustrate children's books on her own. She writes for children because, as she says: "... I am interested in imagination and the possibilities for all kinds of experiences before the time for compromise comes. I believe that children are much more receptive and wise than American books give them credit for...".