Jacqueline Briggs Martin facts for kids

Jacqueline Briggs Martin is an American author who writes books for children. She also teaches creative writing. Her books have won many important awards. These include the Caldecott Medal in 1999, the Golden Kite Award, and the Green Earth Award in 2018.

About Jacqueline Briggs Martin

Jacqueline Briggs Martin was born in Lewiston, Maine, on April 15, 1945. She grew up on a dairy farm in Maine. She went to Wellesley College and later studied child development at the University of Minnesota.

How She Started Writing

Jacqueline was inspired to write children's books after reading with her own two kids. She wanted to create stories that both children and their older family members would enjoy reading together.

Finding Story Ideas

Jacqueline gets ideas for her stories from many places. Sometimes, she uses parts of her own family history or childhood memories. Other times, she learns about interesting people and decides to write about them.

She spends a lot of time researching and checking facts for her books. This helps make sure all the historical details are correct. For example, in her book Snowflake Bentley, she had to make the story shorter to fit the picture book style. She saved some extra historical facts for special sections on the pages. This way, older readers could learn even more. Jacqueline believes that writers are always getting better at their craft. She also considers herself a slow writer, taking her time to make each book just right.

Popular Books by Jacqueline Briggs Martin

Farmer Will Allen and the Growing Table was chosen for a special reading event in 2015.

Here are some of the books Jacqueline Briggs Martin has written:

• Creekfinding: A True Story
• Chef Roy Choi and the Street Food Remix
• Alice Waters and the Trip to Delicious
• Farmer Will Allen and the Growing Table
• The Chiru of High Tibet
• Chicken Joy on Redbean Road
• Banjo Granny
• On Sand Island
• The Finest Horse in Town
• The Water Gift and The Pig of the Pig
• The Lamp, the Ice, and the Boat Called Fish: Based on a True Story
• Snowflake Bentley
• Grandmother Bryant's Pocket
• Good Times on Grandfather Mountain
• Button, Bucket, Sky
• Washing the Willow Tree Loon

Her Life Today

Jacqueline Briggs Martin lives in Mount Vernon, Iowa. She married Richard Martin in 1967. They have two children, named Sarah and Justin.