Hilda van Stockum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hilda van Stockum
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Hilda van Stockum, about 1960
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Hilda Gerarda van Stockum
9 February 1908 Rotterdam, Netherlands
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| Died | 1 November 2006 (aged 98) Berkhamsted, United Kingdom
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| Known for | Painting, Illustration, Writing |
| Spouse(s) | Ervin Ross Marlin |
| Awards | Newbery Honor (1935) |
Hilda Gerarda van Stockum (born February 9, 1908 – died November 1, 2006) was a talented writer and artist from the Netherlands. She was especially known for her wonderful children's books. Hilda even won a special award called a Newbery Honor for her writing!
Contents
About Hilda van Stockum
Hilda was born in Rotterdam, a city in the Netherlands. Her father was an officer in the Dutch Royal Navy. She spent her childhood growing up in both the Netherlands and Ireland.
Hilda's books are famous for showing family life in a very real and lively way. Some of the stories, like The Mitchells, were even based on her own experiences!
Her Famous Book: The Winged Watchman
One of Hilda's most well-known books is The Winged Watchman. This book tells a true story from World War II. It shows how traditional windmills in the Netherlands were used by the Dutch resistance. They used the windmills to send secret signals right under the noses of the German soldiers who had taken over their country.
In the story, two brave Dutch boys play a very important role. They carry a warning message to the first windmill. Then, the signal quickly spreads across the countryside. This was done by changing the position of the windmill's arms. The book is based on real letters Hilda received from her family in the Netherlands. People have praised the book for showing what life was truly like when the Nazis occupied the country.
Hilda's Art Style
Hilda was also a talented painter and drawer. She focused on making her art look very realistic. Her paintings often showed everyday objects (still lifes), beautiful outdoor scenes (landscapes), and pictures of people (portraits). She became quite famous for her art in Ireland. In 1983, she was even chosen to be part of the Honorary Council of the Royal Hibernian Academy, which is a big honor for an artist.
Hilda's Family Life
Hilda van Stockum was the granddaughter of Charles Boissevain. He was the editor of an important Dutch newspaper called the Algemeen Handelsblad.
In 1932, Hilda married Ervin Ross Marlin. He was a friend of her brother, Willem Jacob van Stockum, who was a mathematician. Hilda and Ervin had six children. These children often appeared as characters in many of her books! One of her children, Brigid Marlin, also became a famous artist.
By 1935, Hilda and her family were living in Washington, D.C., in the United States. She officially became an American citizen in 1936.
In 1974, the Marlin family moved to Berkhamsted, England. Hilda van Stockum passed away there on November 1, 2006.
