Meindert DeJong

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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.

De Jong immigrated 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. After the war he resumed writing, and for several years resided in Mexico. He returned for a time to Michigan before settling in North Carolina.

Illustrator Maurice Sendak did works for six of De Jong's books.

De Jong died 16 July 1991.

[edit] 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.
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.
Journey from Peppermint Street won the National Book Award in 1969.