Alexandra Day facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alexandra Day
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| Born | Sandra Louise Woodward Darling April 27, 1941 Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S. |
| Occupation | Writer/illustrator |
| Genre | Children's picture books |
| Notable works | Good Dog, Carl |
Alexandra Day, born in 1941, is an American author who writes and illustrates books for children. Her real name is Sandra Louise Woodward Darling, but she uses "Alexandra Day" as her pen name. She is most famous for her book Good Dog, Carl, which was first published in 1985.
The story of Good Dog, Carl is about a kind Rottweiler named Carl who takes care of a baby girl named Madeleine. This book became very popular and led to a whole series of "Carl" books. These books are loved by many young readers and their families.
Early Life and Passions
Sandra Louise Woodward Darling was born in 1941 in Cincinnati, Ohio. She grew up in a big family that loved spending time together. A favorite family activity was painting, and they often brought easels and art supplies on their trips.
For four years, Sandra's family lived on a large farm in Kentucky. During this time, she developed a special love for horses, learning to ride and train them. It was also on the farm that she got her first dog. Living in the countryside gave her lots of time to read, which has been a passion throughout her life.
A Career in Books
Alexandra Day, along with her husband Harold Darling, started a publishing company called Green Tiger Press in 1970. This company focused on creating beautiful books.
Day also began her career as an illustrator. Her first illustrated book was The Teddy Bears' Picnic in 1983, based on a well-known children's song. In 1986, Green Tiger Press was sold. The Darlings then started another company called Blue Lantern Publishing. Later, in 1993, they moved to Seattle and founded a new publishing company called Laughing Elephant. After Harold passed away in 2016, Alexandra Day and her children, Benjamin and Sacheverell, continued to run Laughing Elephant.
The Carl Book Series
The idea for Good Dog, Carl came to Alexandra Day during a trip to Zurich, Switzerland, in 1983. She and her husband saw an old German picture in a bookshop window. It showed a poodle playing with a baby who was supposed to be napping. This image inspired her to create the story of Carl.
Day's own Rottweiler, named Toby, was the model for the main character, Carl. Over the years, five other family Rottweilers have also posed for the books. These dogs had names like Arambarri, Zabala, Zubiaga, Zulaica, and Abelard. The baby in the original Carl book, Madeleine, was inspired by Day's own granddaughter.
One of the books in the series, Carl's Christmas, became a New York Times bestseller, showing how popular the series is.
Other Works
Besides the "Carl" series, Alexandra Day also created the "Frank and Ernest" books. These stories feature a bear and an elephant who use fun and colorful language, like what you might hear from people who work in diners, use CB radios, or play baseball.
