Lois Lenski

Lois Lenski (October 14, 1893 Springfield, Ohio - September 11, 1974) was a popular and prolific American writer of children's and young adult fiction.

One of her projects was a collection of regional novels about children across the United States. Titles in this series include her most famous work, Strawberry Girl, about a girl in Florida; Blue Ridge Billy, about a North Carolina youth living in rural Appalachia; Bayou Suzette, etc.

In 1946 she was awarded the Newbery Medal for Strawberry Girl.

For over fifty years Lois Lenski pursued her professional career as an illustrator and author of books for children. During that time she illustrated some fifty books for other authors, and wrote and illustrated nearly 100 of her own books. Lenski's writing included picture books and stories for very young children as well as intermediate works for older children and young adults. Although she wrote primarily prose, Lenski also published books of poetry, songs and plays for children. Lois Lenski's life is a unique balance of family and career. Her close family and small town upbringing provided a personal foundation and served as a strong influence in her writing and career.