Meindert DeJong

Meindert De Jong
Born	March 4, 1906(1906-03-04) Wierum, Friesland, Netherlands
Died	July 16, 1991(1991-07-16) (aged 85) Michigan, USA
Occupation	Writer
Nationality	American
Period	1938 - ?
Genres	Children's literature

Meindert De Jong sometimes spelled as Meindert de Jong or Dejong (4 March 1906 – 16 July 1991) was an award winning author of children's books. He was born in the village of Wierum, of the province of Friesland, in the Netherlands.

Life

De Jong emigrated to the United States with his family in 1914. He attended Dutch Calvinist secondary schools and Calvin College, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and entered the University of Chicago, but left without graduating.

He held various jobs during the Great Depression, and it was at the suggestion of a local librarian that he began writing children's books. His first book The Big Goose and the Little White Duck was published in 1938.

He wrote several more books before joining the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II serving in China.^[1] After the war he resumed writing, and for several years resided in Mexico. He returned for a time to Michigan. After settling in North Carolina, he returned to Michigan for the final years of his life.

Six of De Jong's books were illustrated by Maurice Sendak.

Awards

• Shadrach and Hurry Home Candy were both named Newbery Honor Books in 1954.
• The Wheel on the School was awarded the Newbery Medal in 1955 and the Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis in 1957.
• The House of Sixty Fathers received the Josette Frank Award (then named the Children's Book Award of the Child Study Association) in 1956. It was also named a Newbery Honor Book in 1957.
• Along Came A Dog was named a Newbery Honor Book in 1959.
• In 1962 De Jong won the International Hans Christian Andersen Award for his contributions to literature for young people. He was the first American author to be awarded this honor.
• The Wheel on the School was awarded the Lewis Carroll Shelf Award in 1963.^[2]
• Journey from Peppermint Street won the National Book Award in 1969.

References

1. ^ Newbery Medal Books: 1922-1955, eds. Bertha Mahony Miller, Elinor Whitney Field, Horn Book, 1955, LOC 55-13968, p.425-433
2. ^ Award List. “Lewis Carroll Shelf Award Winners”, Lewis Carroll Shelf Award Collection, Living Arts Corporation, Loveland, Colorado.

External links

• Meindert De Jong at Harper Collins

Persondata
Name	De Jong, Meindert
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	4 March 1906
Place of birth	Wierum, Friesland, Netherlands
Date of death	16 July 1991
Place of death	Michigan, USA