Joseph Krumgold facts for kids
Joseph Quincy Krumgold (born April 9, 1908 – died July 10, 1980) was an American writer. He wrote many books and movie scripts. He was very special because he was the first person to win two Newbery Medals. This award is given to the best new American children's book each year.
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Krumgold's Life Story
Joseph Krumgold was born in 1908 in Jersey City, New Jersey. His family was Jewish. He grew up surrounded by movies because his father, Henry, owned movie theaters.
Early Life and Career
Joseph went to New York University. After college, he worked for MGM. He was a scriptwriter there, which means he wrote stories for movies.
In 1947, he married Helen Litwin. They had one son named Adam. The family lived in Greenwich Village and later in Hope Township, New Jersey.
Award-Winning Books
The United States Department of State hired Krumgold to make a film. This movie was about Hispanic workers in rural America. It was made in 1953. The film had the same title as his first Newbery Award-winning book, ...And Now Miguel.
Six years later, Krumgold won the Newbery Medal again. This time it was for his book Onion John. This story is about a unique immigrant living in a small town in New Jersey. In 1960, Onion John was also added to the Lewis Carroll Shelf Award list.
Travels and Later Years
Krumgold traveled a lot around the world. He lived in different places, including California, Paris, and Rome. From 1947 to 1951, he lived and worked in Israel. There, he made movies about the founding of modern-day Israel.
Joseph Krumgold passed away on July 10, 1980. He was 72 years old and died at his home in Hope Township.
Other Works by Krumgold
While Joseph Krumgold is best known for his two Newbery-winning books, he also wrote other novels and movie scripts.
- Seven Miles from Alcatraz, a movie from 1942
- Dream No More, a movie from 1953
- The Autobiography of a Jeep, a film made in 1943 for the United States Office of War Information
- Henry 3, a children's novel published in 1967
- The Most Terrible Turk: A Story of Turkey, a children's novel published in 1969
- Sweeney's Adventure, a children's novel published in 1942
- Thanks to Murder, a novel for adults published in 1935
