author
Ruth Sawyer
1880–1970
A gifted storyteller who helped bring the warmth of spoken tales into children’s literature, she is best remembered for Roller Skates, winner of the 1937 Newbery Medal. Her books often draw on memory, folklore, and the everyday wonder of city and country life.
4 Audiobooks
The Primrose Ring
by Ruth Sawyer
Seven Miles to Arden
by Ruth Sawyer
This Way to Christmas
by Ruth Sawyer
Leerie
by Ruth Sawyer
About the author
Born in Boston on August 5, 1880, and raised in New York City, Ruth Sawyer became one of the best-known American storytellers and writers for young readers of her time. She studied at Columbia University and built a career that joined education, folklore, and the art of telling stories aloud.
Her most famous book, Roller Skates, won the Newbery Medal in 1937. She wrote for both children and adults, but her children’s books are especially remembered for their lively sense of place, affection for family and neighborhood life, and deep respect for traditional tales.
Sawyer’s long contribution to children’s literature was recognized again in 1965, when she received the Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal for her lasting impact in the field. She died on June 3, 1970, leaving behind work that still feels welcoming, humane, and full of the pleasures of story.