Crescent Dragonwagon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
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| Born | Ellen Zolotow November 25, 1952 New York City, US |
| Occupation | Author |
| Genre | Cookbooks Children's literature |
| Spouse | Mark Graff (2019–present) Ned Shank (1978–2000, until his death) Mark Parsons (1970–1975) |
| Partner | David R. Koff (until his death in 2014) |
| Relatives | Charlotte Zolotow (mother) Maurice Zolotow (father) Steve Zolotow (brother) |
Crescent Dragonwagon, whose birth name was Ellen Zolotow, was born on November 25, 1952, in New York City. She is a very creative writer who has written many different types of books. She has published fifty books in total. These include novels, cookbooks, and more than twenty children's books. She has also written a biography and a collection of poems.
Besides books, Crescent Dragonwagon has written for popular magazines. Some of these include The New York Times Book Review and Cosmopolitan. Her parents, Charlotte Zolotow and Maurice Zolotow, were also writers. Her brother, Steve Zolotow, is a professional poker player. Crescent Dragonwagon has been a vegetarian since she was 22 years old.
Crescent Dragonwagon and her late husband, Ned Shank, used to own a country inn. It was called Dairy Hollow House and was located in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Later, Dragonwagon helped start the Writers' Colony at Dairy Hollow. This is a non-profit place where writers can go to work. She was very involved in the arts and writing community in Arkansas for 31 years.
Awards for Her Books
Crescent Dragonwagon has won several awards for her writing. Her tenth children's book, Half a Moon and One Whole Star, was published in 1986. It was illustrated by Jerry Pinkney. This book won a special honor called the Coretta Scott King Award. It was also chosen as a Reading Rainbow Selection. In 1991, she received the Porter Prize from Arkansas.
She has also been recognized for her cookbooks. The James Beard Foundation Award is a very important award for food writers and chefs.
| Year | Award Won or Nominated For | Book |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Won: James Beard Foundation Award for Vegetarian/Healthy Focus | Passionate Vegetarian (2002) |
| 1993 | Nominated: James Beard Foundation Award for Americana | The Dairy Hollow House Soup & Bread: A Country Inn Cookbook (1992) |
Books by Crescent Dragonwagon
Crescent Dragonwagon has written many books for different ages and interests.
Cookbooks
Her cookbooks often share delicious recipes and stories.
- Putting Up Stuff for the Cold Time: Canning, Preserving & Pickling for Those New to the Art or Not (1973)
- The Dairy Hollow House Cookbook (1986)
- Passionate Vegetarian (2002)
- The Cornbread Gospels (2007)
- Bean by Bean: A Cookbook (2011)
Children's Books
She has written over twenty books for young readers. Many of these are picture books with beautiful illustrations.
- Rainy Day Together (1971)
- When Light Turns into Night (1975)
- Wind Rose (1976)
- Will It Be Okay? (1977)
- Your Owl Friend (1977)
- If You Call My Name (1981)
- "Katie in the Morning" (1983)
- I Hate My Brother Harry (1983)
- Always, Always (1984)
- Coconut (1984)
- Alligator Arrived With Apples: A Potluck Alphabet Feast (1985)
- Half a Moon and One Whole Star (1986)
- This Is the Bread I Baked for Ned (1989)
- Home Place (1990)
- Winter Holding Spring (1990)
- Alligators and Others All Year Long (1993)
- Annie Flies the Birthday Bike (1993)
- Brass Button (1997)
- Bat in the Dining Room (1997)
- And Then It Rained / And Then the Sun Came Out (2002)
- Sack of Potatoes (2002)
- All the Awake Animals Are Almost Asleep (2012)
Novels
Crescent Dragonwagon has also written novels for older readers.
- The Year It Rained (1985)
- To Take A Dare (1982) (co-written with Paul Zindel)
