Reeve Lindbergh facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Reeve Lindbergh
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Lindbergh signing Two Lives (April 11, 2018) at the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum
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| Born | October 2, 1945 |
| Occupation | Writer |
| Language | English |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Radcliffe College |
| Genre | Children's books |
| Years active | 1968–present |
| Notable works | The Midnight Farm |
| Notable awards | The Redbook Magazine award in 1987 for The Midnight Farm and in 1990 for Benjamin's Barn |
| Spouse |
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| Children | 4 |
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Reeve Morrow Lindbergh (born October 2, 1945) is an American author. She grew up in Darien, Connecticut. Her parents were the famous aviator Charles Lindbergh and writer Anne Morrow Lindbergh. Reeve graduated from Radcliffe College in 1968.
Reeve Lindbergh often writes about her childhood. She shares stories of growing up with a famous father. Her books sometimes mention his historic flight across the Atlantic Ocean. They also touch on the sad event of her oldest brother's kidnapping. These events happened many years before she was born. In her book Two Lives (2018), Lindbergh talks about being part of a very famous family. She also shares how she lives a quiet life in rural Caledonia County, Vermont.
Contents
About Reeve Lindbergh's Life
Reeve Lindbergh's parents, Charles and Anne Morrow Lindbergh, were a well-known couple. Her father, Charles, made history in 1927. He flew solo and non-stop from New York to Paris. This amazing flight happened 18 years before Reeve was born. Charles was seen as a hero. He later married Anne Morrow, whose father was the U.S. Ambassador to Mexico.
In 1932, a sad event happened to the Lindbergh family. Their first child, Charles Lindbergh Jr., was kidnapped from their home. He was later found to have died. This was 13 years before Reeve was born. Reeve's parents never talked about the kidnapping with their children. Reeve has said that it was easier for her as the youngest child. Her older brothers and sister grew up under the shadow of this event.
In her book Under a Wing: A Memoir, Lindbergh shares what it was like growing up. She describes her father as loving but strict. Charles Lindbergh had clear rules for his family. For example, his children were not allowed to drink soda or eat candy. He preferred family discussions over watching television. Reeve noted that there were "only two ways of doing things—Father's way and the wrong way."
Moving to Vermont
Reeve Lindbergh and her first husband, Richard Brown, moved to Vermont. They had lived in Cambridge, Massachusetts before. In Vermont, they both worked as teachers. They also had three children together. In 1983, Reeve published her book Moving to the Country. This book was about her own experiences. Publishers Weekly called it a "comforting, hopeful" story. It showed an honest picture of marriage and making a new home.
Overcoming Sadness
In 1985, Reeve and Richard's son, Jonathan, sadly died from a seizure. He was only twenty months old. Reeve's mother, Anne Morrow Lindbergh, was visiting at the time. She told Reeve that the most important thing was to sit with the baby. Her mother shared that she never got to sit with her own son after his death.
After this great sadness, Reeve's marriage ended. To help herself heal, Reeve started writing children's books. She later said, "I would be lost without writing."
Life on a Farm
Reeve Lindbergh and her second husband live in an old farmhouse. It is in Passumpsic, Vermont. They enjoy raising chickens and sheep there.
Writing Books for Children
Reeve Lindbergh began writing children's books the day her son Jon died in 1985. She once said that she started writing a lullaby for Johnny while waiting for her family.
Her first published children's book was The Midnight Farm. It is a comforting story for children who are afraid of the dark. Lindbergh continued to write about animals in Benjamin's Barn. This book is about a young boy who finds many surprising things in a big red barn. These include jungle animals and even pirate ships!
Lindbergh also wrote about an American folk hero. Her book Johnny Appleseed: A Poem tells the story of John Chapman. He traveled across the country planting apple seeds for future generations.
Reeve Lindbergh is also a talented poet. In North Country Spring, she uses rhyming words to describe spring in New England. Her poems beautifully capture the sights and sounds of the season.
Family Life
Reeve Lindbergh married her second husband, Nathaniel Wardwell Tripp, on February 11, 1987. This was the same day she divorced her first husband, Richard Brown. Reeve and Nathaniel have a son named Ben. They also have two friendly Labrador Retriever dogs named Buster and Lola.
Reeve's aunt founded The Elisabeth Morrow School in Englewood, New Jersey, in 1931. Nearby, Dwight Morrow High School was named after Reeve's grandfather. He was a businessman and served as the U.S. ambassador to Mexico.
Reeve's oldest brother, Charles Augustus Lindbergh Jr., was the first of six children. He died in 1932 in a famous kidnapping. This event was called "the crime of the century" by many people. Reeve's other siblings include aquanaut Jon Lindbergh (1932–2021), Land Morrow Lindbergh (born 1937), writer Anne Spencer Lindbergh (1940–1993), and conservationist Scott Lindbergh (born 1942). Scott raised rare monkeys in France.
Reeve's brother Land Morrow Lindbergh may have inspired a famous book. He is thought to be a model for the main character in The Little Prince. This book was written by French author and pilot Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. The author visited the Lindbergh home in 1939. He was very interested in "Charles's golden-haired boy," Land Lindbergh.
Awards and Recognitions
Reeve Lindbergh has won several awards for her writing. She received the Redbook magazine award in 1987 for The Midnight Farm. She also won it in 1990 for Benjamin's Barn.
She is a board member of the Charles A. and Anne Morrow Lindbergh Foundation. She has served on the board since 1977. Since 2004, she has been the honorary chairman. Before that, she was vice president and president of the foundation. Lindbergh also served on the Vermont Arts Council Board of Trustees Awards Committee.
Public Readings
In December 2021, Lindbergh gave a live reading of her children's book, Nobody Owns the Sky. This book is about Bessie Coleman, an early aviation pioneer. The reading took place at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.
Videos
- The book Johnny Appleseed was made into a videotape in 2000.
