Gail E. Haley facts for kids

Gail E. Haley is an American writer and illustrator. She is famous for creating amazing children's books. She has won top awards for her book illustrations. These awards come from librarians in both America and Britain. She won for two different picture books!

In 1971, Gail Haley won the Caldecott Medal. This was for her book A Story a Story. She retold this story from an old African folktale. In 1976, she won the Kate Greenaway Medal for The Post Office Cat. This book was her own story about a cat in a London post office.

About Gail E. Haley

Gail Einhart was born in Charlotte, North Carolina. Her father was an art director at The Charlotte Observer newspaper. She remembered being around the art department. She loved the smells and sounds of printing. She said she felt like she had "printer's ink" in her veins!

She studied art at Richmond Professional Institute and the University of Virginia. In 1959, she married Joseph A. Haley. Her very first book, My Kingdom for a Dragon, came out in 1962. She wrote and illustrated it herself. She even helped print and sell the book!

Later, she lived with Arnold Arnold. They had two children, Marguerite and Geoffrey. From 1973 to 1980, her family lived in England. This is where she got the idea for The Post Office Cat. Because she lived in England, she could win the British Greenaway Medal for that book.

Gail Haley has also won the Kadai.Tosho Awards in Japan. These awards are for the best picture book of the year. She also received the Parents Choice Award in 1980.

For over 30 years, Gail Haley has visited schools and libraries. She gives workshops, tells stories, and shows how she creates her art. She has done this in the USA, Canada, England, and Australia.

Gail E. Haley's Books and Films

Fiction Books

• My Kingdom for a Dragon (1962); written and illustrated by Haley.
• One, Two, Buckle My Shoe (1964); a traditional story, illustrated by Haley.
• A Story a Story (1970); an African tale, retold and illustrated by Haley.
• Altogether, One at a Time (1971); by E. L. Konigsburg, illustrated by Haley and others.
• The Post Office Cat (1976); written and illustrated by Haley.
• The Green Man (1979); written and illustrated by Haley. This book is based on old English legends about the Green Man.
• Mountain Jack Tales (1992); told and illustrated by Haley. These stories are about a hero named Jack. They are set in the mountains of North Carolina. The pictures are wood engravings.
• Isabella Propeller and the Magic Beanie (2011); written by Jonathan Graves and illustrated by Gail E. Haley.

Nonfiction Books for Kids

• Costumes for Plays and Playing (1978). This book helps you make costumes for plays, Halloween, or just for fun! It gives ideas for accessories and how to use old clothes.

Films About Her Work

• "Printmaking Techniques in Book Illustration" (1977). This film shows how she uses printing methods for her book pictures.
• "Wood and Linoleum Illustration" (1978). This film shows how she creates art using wood and linoleum blocks.