Born July 28, 1932Born July 28, 1932

Natalie BabbittNatalie Babbitt

I was born and raised in Ohio. I was born and raised in Ohio.

My mother, an amateur landscape and My mother, an amateur landscape and portrait painter, gave me art lessons. She portrait painter, gave me art lessons. She

always made sure I had enough paper, paint, always made sure I had enough paper, paint, pencils, and encouragement. pencils, and encouragement.

During my childhood, I spent most of During my childhood, I spent most of my time drawing and reading fairy my time drawing and reading fairy

tales and myths.tales and myths.

I grew up wanting I grew up wanting only to be an only to be an illustrator. I illustrator. I

studied art at studied art at Laurel School in Laurel School in Cleveland and at Cleveland and at Smith College.Smith College.

Right after graduation, I married Right after graduation, I married Samuel Fisher Babbitt, an academic Samuel Fisher Babbitt, an academic

administrator.administrator.

I spent the next ten years in I spent the next ten years in Connecticut, Tennessee, and Connecticut, Tennessee, and

Washington, D.C., raising our children, Washington, D.C., raising our children, Christopher, Tom, and Lucy. Christopher, Tom, and Lucy.

My husband took time My husband took time out from his academic out from his academic career to write a novel career to write a novel and discovered that he and discovered that he didn't enjoy the long, didn't enjoy the long,

lonely hours that lonely hours that writing demanded. My writing demanded. My

sister produced a sister produced a comic novel, which comic novel, which

required substantial required substantial rewriting. I learned rewriting. I learned

three valuable things three valuable things from observing my from observing my

husband's and sister's husband's and sister's forays into the writer's forays into the writer's

world: world:

You have to give writing your full attention. You You have to give writing your full attention. You have to like the revision process. And you have have to like the revision process. And you have to like to be alone. But it was years before I put to like to be alone. But it was years before I put

any of this to good use.any of this to good use.

In 1966, my husband and I collaborated on a In 1966, my husband and I collaborated on a children's book called children's book called The Forty-ninth The Forty-ninth

Magician — Magician — he wrote it and I illustrated it. he wrote it and I illustrated it. With encouragement from our editor at With encouragement from our editor at

Farrar, Straus & Giroux, I continued producing Farrar, Straus & Giroux, I continued producing children's books even after my husband children's books even after my husband

becamebecame too busy to write the stories. too busy to write the stories.

I write for children because I am I write for children because I am interested in fantasy and the interested in fantasy and the

possibilities for experience of all kinds possibilities for experience of all kinds before the time of compromise. before the time of compromise.

I believe that children are far more I believe that children are far more perceptive and wise than American perceptive and wise than American books give them credit for being.books give them credit for being.