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Born in Norfolk, Virginia in 1915, Charlotte Zolotow did not have an easy
life. Constant moves, new schools, and physical ailments contributed to
her difficulties and her ever-present shyness- which helped to lead
Charlotte to writing. She is known as a champion of honest,
non-sugarcoated literature for young readers. She attended the University
of Wisconsin in 1929. She studied the writings of Piaget, art, and
writing, all of which were united when she began to write children's
books. After marrying Maurice Zolotow, a fellow writer, in 1938 the two
moved to New York. She had been working in the adult trade department of
Harper & Brothers publishing when children's book editor Ursula
Nordstrom offered her a job. Both women shared the idea that
children's books should be faithful to the difficulties of childhood, and
these views were evident in their writings where their respect for
children's feelings and intelligence was made visible. Charlotte Zolotow
also admired the writings of Margaret Wise
Brown. In fact, it was Charlotte's suggestion to Ursula Nordstrom that
Margaret Wise Brown be asked to write a story about a day in a park that
resulted in Charlotte's own first book for children. The Park Book,
written in 1944 and illustrated by H.A. Rey, was the first of more
than ninety children's books.
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