Author of one of my favorite children’s books of my childhood, The Pushcart War, Jean Merrill has died at age 89.  The Pushcart War was a breakfast-table book for my family.  I believe we read it at least twice during breakfast, as my mother’s strategy to keep us from fighting while waiting for the bus. 

Merrill wrote more than 30 books for children, though this is the only one that I’ve read.  I’d recommend it as a great book to share with the generation of Occupy Wall Street.

What a tragic year it has been for deaths of children’s literature greats. 

Mahy died at age 76 after a short illness.  She was the author of over 200 books ranging from the silliest of picture books to some of the darkest of teen reads.  Her books have been translated into a dozen languages.  From New Zealand, Mahy did not get published until an American editor launched her career. 

When I was in graduate school for Library Science, Mahy’s novel, The Changeover, was one of the first books I read for a children’s literature class.  It was eye-opening for me to read a book as an adult that was written for teens.  I found them just as captivating, wondrous and magical as I had as a teen.  Part of that, I know, is that it was Mahy.

Then I discovered the lighter side of Mahy’s writing with her silly pirates and zany antics.  That she could span such very different ages and subjects with such skill was astounding to me.  Both were risks, some may have seemed too dark and others too silly and wild.  But for me, they were both wonderful and just right.

If you haven’t read any Mahy, I’d encourage you start where I did, with The Changeover.   Make sure to follow it up with one of her silly picture books for dessert.

Ray Bradbury has died at age 91 in Los Angeles.  I have vivid memories of discovering and devouring Bradbury short stories over the summer as a young teen.  I read every book I could get my hands on by Bradbury, starting first with Fahrenheit 451 and Something Wicked This Way Comes, and then moving into his short stories, which I enjoyed far more than his novels.  Each story was a world in itself, a place to visit briefly, to immerse oneself in and be transported.  They were stories that were meant to dazzle, amaze and shock.

I can’t think of a better way to spend a hot summer day than some shade, a cool drink and a new Bradbury short story.

It seems to be a season for losses in the children’s book field.  Author Ellen Levine has died at the age of 73 from lung cancer.  Her children’s books focused on historical fiction about immigrants and minorities. 

Her Henry’s Freedom Box from 2007 received a Caldecott Honor for Kadir Nelson’s artwork. 

Tor.com is carrying the sad news of the death of Leo Dillon, half of the duo of Leo and Diane Dillon, the amazing husband and wife artists that create such detailed, emotive works.  Their work celebrates diversity, dreams and design.  They are magical, haunting and powerful. 

The pair won two consecutive Caldecott Medals for Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears and Ashanti to Zulu: African Traditions.  They also work on book covers as well as children’s picture books.  If you read science fiction and fantasy, you will recognize their art.

Thomas Locker, an author and children’s book illustrator, died on March 9th at the age of 74.  He began his career as a landscape painter in the 60s.  He didn’t start working on children’s books until the early 80s. 

Those familiar with his work will see the continued influence of his landscape painting in his books.

Co-creator of The Berenstain Bears series, Jan Berenstain has died on February 24th at age 88.  The first Berenstain Bears book was published in 1962 and since that time more than 330 books have been published!   They have sold more than 260 million copies!

I know that I’ve checked out armloads myself for my sons who each went through a stage where they loved the familiarity of the stories and the fact that there were so many titles in the series.  It is a life well-led that has touched so many children.

Francesca Simon, author of the popular Horrid Henry series, will be participating in Authors Live on World Book Day.  She will be speaking on her life as an author and her character, Henry. 

The event will be streamed live to audiences in the UK on March 1st at 11:00 am.  Those of us in other parts of the world will gain access to a canned version of her presentation a week later on March 8th.  The program will be appropriate for ages 5-12. 

The program is presented by the Scottish Book Trust.  It’s a great way to celebrate World Book Day, even if you have to wait until the following week.

John Christopher has died at age 89.  Best known for his Tripods trilogy, his science fiction for young adults, Christopher also wrote for adults.

The Tripods trilogy was first published in the late 1960s and when I was a youth librarian in the early 90s was still considered one of the top reads for teens looking for pure science fiction.  Happily, there are newer options out there for science fiction fans now, yet I wouldn’t hesitate to hand a reader the Tripods.