Meindert De Jong, sometimes spelled de Jong, DeJong or Dejong (4 March 1906 – 16 July 1991) was a Dutch-born American writer of

children's books A child () is a human being between the stages of birth and puberty, or between the developmental period of infancy and puberty. The term may also refer to an unborn human being. In English-speaking countries, the legal definition of ''chi ...

. He won the international

Hans Christian Andersen Award The Hans Christian Andersen Awards are two literary awards given by the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY), recognising one living author and one living illustrator for their "lasting contribution to children's literature". Th ...

in 1962 for his contributions as a children's writer.

Life

De Jong was born in the village of Wierum in the province of

Friesland Friesland ( ; ; official ), historically and traditionally known as Frisia (), named after the Frisians, is a Provinces of the Netherlands, province of the Netherlands located in the country's northern part. It is situated west of Groningen (p ...

, Netherlands. (The correct Dutch and Frisian spelling of his surname is 'de Jong' when preceded by his first name or initials, and 'De Jong' when not.) The family emigrated to the United States in 1914. De Jong attended Dutch Calvinist secondary schools and

Calvin College Calvin University, formerly Calvin College, is a private Christian university in Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1876, Calvin University is an educational institution of the Christian Reformed Church and stands in the Reforme ...

Grand Rapids, Michigan Grand Rapids is the largest city and county seat of Kent County, Michigan, United States. With a population of 198,917 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census and estimated at 200,117 in 2024, Grand Rapids is the List of municipalities ...

, and entered the

University of Chicago The University of Chicago (UChicago, Chicago, or UChi) is a Private university, private research university in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Its main campus is in the Hyde Park, Chicago, Hyde Park neighborhood on Chicago's South Side, Chic ...

, but left without graduating. De Jong held various jobs during the

Great Depression The Great Depression was a severe global economic downturn from 1929 to 1939. The period was characterized by high rates of unemployment and poverty, drastic reductions in industrial production and international trade, and widespread bank and ...

and began writing children's books at the suggestion of a local librarian. His first book, ''The Big Goose and the Little White Duck'', was published in 1938. He wrote several more books before joining the

US Army Air Corps The United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) was the aerial warfare service component of the United States Army between 1926 and 1941. After World War I, as early aviation became an increasingly important part of modern warfare, a philosophical ri ...

during World War II, serving in China. After the war, De Jong resumed writing, and for several years resided in Mexico. He returned for a time to Michigan. After settling in

North Carolina North Carolina ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, South Carolina to the south, Georgia (U.S. stat ...

, he returned to Michigan for the final years of his life. Six of De Jong's books were illustrated by

Maurice Sendak Maurice Bernard Sendak (; June 10, 1928 – May 8, 2012) was an American author and illustrator of children's books. Born to Polish-Jewish parents, his childhood was impacted by the death of many of his family members during the Holocaust. Send ...

Awards

In 1962 De Jong won the biennial, international

for his lasting contribution to literature for young people. He was the first American recipient of the honor, the highest international recognition for a creator of children's books (later, for a writer or illustrator). He was also recognized many times for particular works. * '' Shadrach'' and '' Hurry Home, Candy'' were both runners-up for the

Newbery Medal The John Newbery Medal, frequently shortened to the Newbery, is a literary award given by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), to the author of "the most distinguished contr ...

in 1954. * '' The Wheel on the School'' won the U.S.

in 1955 and the second annual Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis in 1957 (in its German translation, ''Das Rad auf der Schule'', with new illustrations by Marianne Richter). It was named to the Lewis Carroll Shelf Award list in 1963. Award List. "Lewis Carroll Shelf Award Winners", Lewis Carroll Shelf Award Collection, Living Arts Corporation, Loveland, Colorado. * '' 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 a Newbery runner-up in 1957. * '' Along Came a Dog'' was a Newbery runner-up in 1959. * '' Journey from Peppermint Street'' won the inaugural National Book Award in category Children's Books in 1969."National Book Awards – 1969"

National Book Foundation The National Book Foundation (NBF) is an American nonprofit organization established with the goal "to raise the cultural appreciation of great writing in America." Established in 1989 by National Book Awards, Inc.,Edwin McDowell. "Book Notes: ...

. Retrieved 2012-02-27.

References

External links

Meindert De Jong
at Harper Collins * {{DEFAULTSORT:De Jong, Meindert 1906 births 1991 deaths American children's writers Jong, Meindert de Hans Christian Andersen Award for Writing winners National Book Award for Young People's Literature winners Newbery Medal winners Newbery Honor winners Jong, Meindert de Calvin University alumni United States Army Air Forces soldiers Place of death missing 20th-century American novelists United States Army Air Forces personnel of World War II

Life

Awards

References

Further reading

External links