Claire Huchet Bishop facts for kids

Claire Huchet Bishop (born December 30, 1898 – died March 13, 1993) was a talented writer and librarian. She was born in Switzerland but later became an American citizen. Claire Bishop wrote many books for children.

Two of her books, Pancakes-Paris (1947) and All Alone (1953), were honored as runners-up for the Newbery Medal. This is a very important award for children's books. She also won the Josette Frank Award for her book Twenty and Ten (1952).

Her first book written in English, The Five Chinese Brothers, became a classic. It was published in 1938 and had pictures by Kurt Wiese. This book was added to the Lewis Carroll Shelf Award list in 1959.

Claire Bishop's Life Story

Claire Huchet was born in Geneva, Switzerland. She grew up either in France or Geneva. She studied at the Sorbonne, a famous university in Paris. After her studies, she started the very first children's library in France.

Later, she married an American concert pianist named Frank Bishop. She then moved to the United States. From 1932 to 1936, she worked at the New York Public Library. Claire Bishop was a strong supporter of the Roman Catholic faith. She also spoke out against antisemitism, which is hatred or discrimination against Jewish people.

She traveled around the United States, giving talks and telling stories. For some time, she was also an editor for children's books at a magazine called Commonweal.

Claire Bishop was a leader in groups that promoted understanding between different religions. She was the President of the International Council of Christians and Jews from 1975 to 1977. She also led the Jewish-Christian Fellowship of France from 1976 to 1981.

Two of her books were even made into movies!

After living in New York for 50 years, Claire Bishop moved back to France. She passed away in Paris in 1993 when she was 94 years old.

Awards and Honors

Claire Huchet Bishop received many awards for her wonderful books:

• 1947: New York Herald Tribune Spring Book Festival prize
• 1948: Newbery Medal runner-up for Pancakes-Paris
• 1952: Well-Met Children's Book Award from the Child Study Association of America for Twenty and Ten
• 1952: Josette Frank Award for Twenty and Ten
• 1959: Listed on the Lewis Carroll Shelf Award for The Five Chinese Brothers
• 1988: Nicholas and Hedy International Brotherhood award
• Her book All Alone was also a Newbery Medal runner-up. It was chosen as the favorite book by the Boys' Club of America.

Claire Bishop's Books

Claire Huchet Bishop wrote many books for young readers and adults.

Children's Books

• 1938: The Five Chinese Brothers, with pictures by Kurt Wiese
• 1940: The King's Day, illustrated by Doris Spiegel
• 1941: The Ferryman, illustrated by Kurt Wiese
• 1942: The Man Who Lost His Head, illustrated by Robert McCloskey
• 1945: Augustus, illustrated by Grace Paul
• 1947: Pancakes-Paris, illustrated by Georges Schreiber
• 1948: Blue Spring Farm, a novel
• 1950: Christopher The Giant, illustrated by Berkeley Williams, Jr.
• 1952: Bernard and His Dogs, illustrated by Maurice Brevannes – this book is about Saint Bernard de Menthon
• 1952: Twenty and Ten, told by Janet Joly, with pictures by William Pène du Bois (also known as The Secret Cave)
• 1953: All Alone, illustrated by Feodor Rojankovsky
• 1954: Martín de Porres, Hero, illustrated by Jean Charlot – this book is about Saint Martín de Porres
• 1955: The Big Loop, illustrated by Carles Fontserè – about the famous Tour de France bicycle race
• 1956: Happy Christmas: Tales for Boys and Girls, a collection of stories she edited, with pictures by Ellen Raskin
• 1957: Toto's Triumph, illustrated by Claude Ponsot
• 1960: French Roundabout, a book about traveling in France
• 1960: Lafayette: French-American Hero, illustrated by Maurice Brevannes
• 1961: A Present from Petros, illustrated by Dimitris Davis
• 1964: Twenty-Two Bears, illustrated by Kurt Wiese
• 1966: Yeshu, Called Jesus, illustrated by Donald Bolognese
• 1968: Mozart: Music Magician, illustrated by Paul Frame
• 1971: The Truffle Pig, illustrated by Kurt Wiese
• 1972: Johann Sebastian Bach: Music Giant, illustrated by Russell Hoover
• 1973: Georgette, illustrated by Ursula Landshoff

Adult Books

• 1938: French Children's Books for English-speaking Children, a list of books
• 1947: France Alive
• 1950: All Things Common
• 1950: Boimondau: A French Community of Work
• 1971: Jesus and Israel Jules Isaac
• 1974: How Catholics look at Jews: Inquiries into Italian, Spanish, and French Teaching Materials