Nancy Willard facts for kids

Nancy Willard (June 26, 1936 – February 19, 2017) was an American writer. She wrote novels, poems, and many children's books. She sometimes even drew the pictures for her books! Nancy Willard won a very important award called the Newbery Medal in 1982 for her book A Visit to William Blake's Inn.

About Nancy Willard

Nancy Willard was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She went to the University of Michigan and earned her bachelor's and Ph.D. degrees there. She also won five Hopwood Awards for her creative writing. Later, she studied at Stanford University and earned her master's degree.

In 1964, Nancy Willard moved to Poughkeepsie, New York, and married Eric Lindbloom. The next year, she started teaching at Vassar College. She later decided to focus more on her writing. She stopped teaching at Vassar in 2013.

Her first novel for adults, Things Invisible to See (1985), takes place in her hometown of Ann Arbor in the 1940s. It tells the story of two brothers and a young woman. The book has a magical, fairy-tale feel.

The Anatole Stories

Nancy Willard wrote a series of three books about a character named Anatole. These books were published by Harcourt Brace Jovanovich. David McPhail drew the illustrations for them.

• Sailing to Cythera, and other Anatole Stories (1974)
• The Island of the Grass King: The Further Adventures of Anatole (1979)
• Uncle Terrible: More Adventures of Anatole (1982)

A Visit to William Blake's Inn

A Visit to William Blake's Inn was published in 1981. It was illustrated by Alice and Martin Provensen. The book is a collection of poems. It tells the story of a child who stays overnight at "William Blake's Inn." The inn is full of amazing creatures and characters.

This book won the Newbery Medal. This award is given to the "most distinguished contribution to American children's literature" each year. The illustrators, Alice and Martin Provensen, were also recognized. They were a runner-up for the Caldecott Medal. This award is for the "most distinguished American picture book for children."

Awards and Recognition

Nancy Willard received several important awards for her writing. Her first two Anatole books were added to the Lewis Carroll Shelf Award list. This list honors books that are considered classics, like Alice in Wonderland.

• Devins Award for Poetry, 1967
• O. Henry Award, 1970
• Newbery Medal, 1982
• National Endowment for the Arts, Literature Fellowship, 1976 and 1987

Selected Children's Books

Nancy Willard wrote many books especially for children. Here are some of them:

• Sailing to Cythera and other Anatole Stories (1974)
• The Merry History of a Christmas Pie: With a Delicious Description of a Christmas Soup (1974)
• The Snow Rabbit (1975)
• All on a May Morning (1975)
• The Well-Mannered Balloon (1976)
• Shoes Without Leather (1976)
• Simple Pictures Are Best (1977)
• Strangers' Bread (1977)
• The Highest Hit (1978)
• The Island of the Grass King: The Further Adventures of Anatole (1979)
• Papa's Panda (1979)
• The Marzipan Moon (1981)
• A Visit to William Blake's Inn: Poems for Innocent and Experienced Travelers (1981)
• Uncle Terrible: More Adventures of Anatole (1982)
• The Nightgown of the Sullen Moon (1983)
• Night Story (1986)
• The Voyage of the Ludgate Hill: Travels with Robert Louis Stevenson (1987)
• The Mountains of Quilt (1987)
• Firebrat (1988)
• East of the Sun and West of the Moon: A Play (1989)
• Ballad of Biddy Early (1989)
• The High Rise Glorious Skittle Skat Roarious Sky Pie Angel Food Cake (1990)
• Pish, Posh Said Hieronymus Bosch (1991)
• Beauty and the Beast (1992)
• The Sorcerer's Apprentice (1993)
• A Starlit Somersault Downhill (1993)
• An Alphabet of Angels (1994)
• Gutenberg's Gift (1995)
• The Good-Night Blessing Book (1996)
• Cracked Corn and Snow Ice Cream: A Family Almanac (1997)
• The Magic Cornfield (1997)
• The Tortilla Cat (1998)
• The Tale I Told Sasha (1999)
• Shadow Story (1999)
• The Moon & Riddles Diner and the Sunnyside Café (2001)
• Cinderella's Dress (2003)
• The Mouse, the Cat, and Grandmother's Hat (2003)
• The Tale of Paradise Lost: Based on the Poem by John Milton (2004)
• Sweep Dreams (2005)
• The Flying Bed (2007)
• A Starlit Snowfall (2011)
• The Three Mouths of Little Tom Drum (2015)
• Gum (2017)