Jean Craighead George

Born in Washington, D.C., in 1919, she grew up in a family of naturalists, and that early closeness to the outdoors shaped both her life and her writing. She went on to write more than 100 books for children and young adults, often blending adventure with careful observation of animals and the natural world.

Her best-known works include My Side of the Mountain, a Newbery Honor Book, and Julie of the Wolves, which won the 1973 Newbery Medal. Again and again, her stories invited readers into forests, mountains, and Arctic landscapes, while keeping a strong sense of wonder, resilience, and respect for wildlife.

She remained a cherished presence in children's literature for decades, and her books have continued to find new readers long after her death in 2012. For many people, her work is where a love of reading meets a love of the natural world.