Gail E. Haley facts for kids

Gail E. Haley, born on November 4, 1939, is an American writer and artist. She is famous for illustrating children's books. She has won major awards from librarians in both America and Britain for her amazing picture books.

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

About Gail Haley

Gail Einhart was born in Charlotte, North Carolina. Her father was an art director at a newspaper called The Charlotte Observer. Gail remembered spending time in the art and printing rooms. She said she loved the smells and sounds of making art for print. She felt like she had "printer's ink" in her veins ever since! She studied art and painting 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 this book herself. It was a special edition, printed from wood and linoleum blocks. She even helped to put the books together and sell them.

After her marriage ended, she lived with Arnold Arnold starting in 1965. They had two children, Marguerite and Geoffrey. From 1973 to 1980, her family lived in England. This is why she was able to win the British Greenaway Medal for The Post Office Cat, which is set in Britain.

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

For over 30 years, Gail Haley has traveled a lot. She has given workshops, told stories, shown how she creates art, and put on puppet shows. She has done this in schools and libraries across the USA, Canada, England, and Australia.

Gail Haley's Books

Stories for Young Readers

• My kingdom for a dragon (1962): Gail Haley wrote and illustrated this book herself.
• One, two, buckle my shoe (1964): This was a traditional story, illustrated by Gail Haley.
• A story, a story (1970): This is an African tale that Gail Haley retold and illustrated. It won the Caldecott Medal.
• Altogether, one at a time (1971): This book was written by E. L. Konigsburg, and Gail Haley was one of the illustrators.
• The post office cat (1976): Gail Haley wrote and illustrated this book. It won the Kate Greenaway Medal.
• The green man (1979): Gail Haley wrote and illustrated this book. It is based on old English legends of the Green Man.
• Mountain Jack tales (1992): Gail Haley told and illustrated these stories. They feature a hero named Jack and are set in the mountains of North Carolina. The pictures in the book are wood engravings.
• Isabella Propeller and the Magic Beanie (2011): This book was written by Jonathan Graves and illustrated by Gail E. Haley.

Books About Costumes

• Costumes for plays and playing (1978): This book is a guide to making costumes. It gives instructions for accessories and ideas for using old clothes. It also shares tips on how to get into character for plays or dress-up.