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Ellen Raskin
Born March 13, 1928 (1928-03-13)
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
Died August 8, 1984(1984-08-08) (aged 56)
New York City, New York
Occupation Writer, illustrator
Nationality American
Education University of Wisconsin–Madison
Genre Children's novels, picture books
Notable works
Notable awards Newbery Medal
1979 The Westing Game
Spouse Dennis Flanagan (m. 1965, second husband)

Ellen Raskin (born March 13, 1928 – died August 8, 1984) was a talented American writer and illustrator. She is best known for her exciting mystery novels for young readers.

In 1979, she won the prestigious Newbery Medal for her book The Westing Game. Another one of her mystery novels, Figgs & Phantoms, was recognized as a Newbery Honor Book in 1975. The Westing Game was even ranked among the top children's novels of all time in a 2012 survey by School Library Journal.

About Ellen Raskin

Ellen Raskin was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She grew up during the Great Depression, a time when many people faced tough economic challenges. She attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where she studied fine art.

After college, Ellen Raskin moved to New York City. She worked as a commercial artist for about 15 years. During this time, she designed more than 1,000 book covers! One of her most famous designs was for the first edition of Madeleine L'Engle's classic book, A Wrinkle in Time. This book also won the Newbery Medal in 1963.

In 1960, she married Dennis Flanagan, who was the editor of Scientific American magazine. Ellen Raskin passed away in New York City in 1984, at the age of 56.

Ellen Raskin's Books

Ellen Raskin was both a writer and an artist. She created many wonderful books for children, both writing the stories and drawing the pictures.

Picture Books

Ellen Raskin wrote and illustrated twelve picture books. These books are usually for younger children, combining words and pictures to tell a story.

  • Nothing Ever Happens on My Block, 1967
  • Silly Songs and Sad, 1967
  • Spectacles, 1968
  • Ghost in a Four-Room Apartment, 1969
  • And It Rained, 1969
  • A & The, or, William T. C. Baumgarten Comes to Town, 1970
  • The World's Greatest Freak Show, 1971
  • Franklin Stein, 1972
  • Moe Q. McGlutch, He Smoked Too Much, 1973
  • Who, Said Sue, Said Whoo?, 1973
  • Moose, Goose & Little Nobody, 1976
  • Twenty-Two, Twenty-Three, 1976

Children's Novels

Ellen Raskin wrote four popular novels for children. These longer stories are known for their mysteries and clever plots.

Illustrations for Other Authors

Besides writing her own books, Ellen Raskin also illustrated more than twenty books by other writers. This means she drew the pictures for their stories. Some of the books she illustrated include:

She also illustrated several mathematics books for children, helping to make learning about numbers fun and visual.

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