Kate Seredy
Encyclopedia
Kate Seredy was a Hungarian
-born writer and illustrator of children's books, written in the English language
.
In 1935, she published her first book as author and illustrator, The Good Master
, about two children growing up in pre-World War I Hungary, which was named a Newbery Honor book in 1936. Her 1937 novel, The White Stag
was awarded the 1938 Newbery Medal
for excellence in children's literature
and the Lewis Carroll Shelf Award
in 1959. The sequel to The Good Master
, The Singing Tree
was named a Newbery Honor book in 1940. When the Caldecott Honor list was created in 1971, Seredy was retroactively named a recipient for the year 1945 for her illustrations for The Christmas Anna Angel by Ruth Sawyer
.
Many more were to follow, although she always considered herself an illustrator before an author. She illustrated her work in her own unique style and her books were "an excuse for making pictures".
While Seredy worked with many authors and publishers as an illustrator (including the Newbery award-winning Caddie Woodlawn
by Carol Ryrie Brink
in 1935), her own books were published exclusively by Viking Press
, which reprinted and re-issued many of her titles in paperback via their Puffin Books
imprint.
She lived at Montgomery, New York
.
Her hobbies included "woodcarving, sculpture, making pottery, painting children's portraits, and designing and sewing".
She died of heart failure on March 7, 1975 at the age of 78.
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
-born writer and illustrator of children's books, written in the English language
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
.
Life
Born in 1896 (note: some sources say 1899), in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, she served as a nurse during World War I. Kate Seredy's father, Louis Peter, was a teacher. She moved from Budapest to the United States in 1922, with an art teacher's diploma from Academy of Arts, Budapest.In 1935, she published her first book as author and illustrator, The Good Master
The Good Master
The Good Master is a children's novel written and illustrated by Kate Seredy, set in the Hungarian countryside before World War I. It is a Newbery Honor book of 1936....
, about two children growing up in pre-World War I Hungary, which was named a Newbery Honor book in 1936. Her 1937 novel, The White Stag
The White Stag
The White Stag is a children's book, written and illustrated by Kate Seredy, that won the Newbery Medal for excellence in American children's literature in 1938...
was awarded the 1938 Newbery Medal
Newbery Medal
The John Newbery Medal is a literary award given by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association . The award is given to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children. The award has been given since 1922. ...
for excellence in children's literature
Children's literature
Children's literature is for readers and listeners up to about age twelve; it is often defined in four different ways: books written by children, books written for children, books chosen by children, or books chosen for children. It is often illustrated. The term is used in senses which sometimes...
and the Lewis Carroll Shelf Award
Lewis Carroll Shelf Award
The Lewis Carroll Shelf Award was started in 1958 by Dr. David C. Davis with the assistance of Prof. Lola Pierstorff, Director Instructional Materials Center, Univ. of Wisconsin and Madeline Allen Davis, WHA Wisconsin Public Radio. Awards were presented annually at the Wisconsin Book Conference...
in 1959. The sequel to The Good Master
The Good Master
The Good Master is a children's novel written and illustrated by Kate Seredy, set in the Hungarian countryside before World War I. It is a Newbery Honor book of 1936....
, The Singing Tree
The Singing Tree
The Singing Tree is a children's novel by Kate Seredy, the sequel to The Good Master. Set on a farm in Hungary during World War I, it continues the story of Kate and Jancsi four years after the end of the first book. As well as running the farm while the menfolk are away at war, they have...
was named a Newbery Honor book in 1940. When the Caldecott Honor list was created in 1971, Seredy was retroactively named a recipient for the year 1945 for her illustrations for The Christmas Anna Angel by Ruth Sawyer
Ruth Sawyer
Ruth Sawyer was the professional name of Ruth Sawyer Durand , an American children's writer.- Biography :She was raised in New York City with an affluent family...
.
Many more were to follow, although she always considered herself an illustrator before an author. She illustrated her work in her own unique style and her books were "an excuse for making pictures".
While Seredy worked with many authors and publishers as an illustrator (including the Newbery award-winning Caddie Woodlawn
Caddie Woodlawn
Caddie Woodlawn is a popular children's novel by Carol Ryrie Brink which won the John Newbery Medal in 1936 and the Lewis Carroll Shelf Award in 1958. The original edition was illustrated by Newbery-award winning author and illustrator Kate Seredy...
by Carol Ryrie Brink
Carol Ryrie Brink
Carol Ryrie Brink was an American author of over thirty juvenile and adult books. Her novel Caddie Woodlawn won the 1936 Newbery Medal...
in 1935), her own books were published exclusively by Viking Press
Viking Press
Viking Press is an American publishing company owned by the Penguin Group, which has owned the company since 1975. It was founded in New York City on March 1, 1925, by Harold K. Guinzburg and George S. Oppenheim...
, which reprinted and re-issued many of her titles in paperback via their Puffin Books
Puffin Books
Puffin Books is the children's imprint of British publishers Penguin Books. Since the 1960s it has been the largest publisher of children's books in the UK and much of the English-speaking world.-Early history:...
imprint.
She lived at Montgomery, New York
Montgomery, New York
Montgomery, New York may refer to:* Montgomery , New York in Orange County* Montgomery , New York in Orange County* Montgomery County, New York...
.
Her hobbies included "woodcarving, sculpture, making pottery, painting children's portraits, and designing and sewing".
She died of heart failure on March 7, 1975 at the age of 78.
Publications (as author and illustrator)
- The Good MasterThe Good MasterThe Good Master is a children's novel written and illustrated by Kate Seredy, set in the Hungarian countryside before World War I. It is a Newbery Honor book of 1936....
, Viking, 1935 - Listening, Viking, 1936
- The White StagThe White StagThe White Stag is a children's book, written and illustrated by Kate Seredy, that won the Newbery Medal for excellence in American children's literature in 1938...
, Viking, 1937 - The Singing TreeThe Singing TreeThe Singing Tree is a children's novel by Kate Seredy, the sequel to The Good Master. Set on a farm in Hungary during World War I, it continues the story of Kate and Jancsi four years after the end of the first book. As well as running the farm while the menfolk are away at war, they have...
, Viking, 1939 - A Tree for Peter, Viking, 1941
- The Open Gate, Viking, 1943
- The Chestry Oak, Viking, 1948
- Gypsy, Viking, 1951
- Philomena, Viking, 1955
- The Tenement Tree, Viking, 1959
- A Brand New Uncle, Viking, 1961
- Lazy Tinka, Viking, 1962
Publications (as illustrator)
- Friendly stories by Arthur I. Gates and Miriam Blanton Huber, Macmillan, 1930
- The Pathfinder : Readings from modern literature by Lawton B. Evans, Macmillan, 1930
- Dictionary for use with Peter and Peggy by Arthur I. Gates and Miriam Blanton Huber, Macmillan, 1932
- From Hunters to Herdsmen by Elizabeth Forbes O'Hara, Macmillan, 1932
- Taming the wild grasses by Elizabeth Forbes O'Hara, Macmillan, 1932
- Mountain gateways : seventh reader by Wilhelmina Harper and Hollis P. Allen, Macmillan, 1933
- The Broken Song by Sonia Medvedeva Daugherty, T. Nelson and Sons, 1934
- God our Father by Virgil George Michel and Basil Augustine Stegmann, Macmillan, 1934
- Jesus our Savior by Virgil George Michel and Basil Augustine Stegmann, Macmillan, 1934
- The Prince Commands, being sundry adventures of Michael Karl, sometime crown prince & pretender to the throne of Morvania by Andre Norton, D. Appleton-Century Co., 1934
- Caddie WoodlawnCaddie WoodlawnCaddie Woodlawn is a popular children's novel by Carol Ryrie Brink which won the John Newbery Medal in 1936 and the Lewis Carroll Shelf Award in 1958. The original edition was illustrated by Newbery-award winning author and illustrator Kate Seredy...
by Carol Ryrie BrinkCarol Ryrie BrinkCarol Ryrie Brink was an American author of over thirty juvenile and adult books. Her novel Caddie Woodlawn won the 1936 Newbery Medal...
, Macmillan, 1935 - Common sense for mothers on bringing up your children from babyhood to adolescence by Estelle Mulqueen Reilly, Funk & Wagnalls, 1935
- With harp and lute by Blanche Jennings Thompson, Macmillan, 1935
- The Selfish Giant and other stories compiled by Wilhelmina Harper, David McKay, 1935
- The Gunniwolf and other Merry Tales compiled by Wilhelmina Harper, David McKay, 1936
- Happy Days by W. W. Charters, Dean Franklin Smiley and Ruth May Strang, Macmillan, 1936
- Hoot-Owl by Mabel Guinnip La Rue, Macmillan, 1936
- Mademoiselle Misfortune by Carol Ryrie BrinkCarol Ryrie BrinkCarol Ryrie Brink was an American author of over thirty juvenile and adult books. Her novel Caddie Woodlawn won the 1936 Newbery Medal...
, Macmillan, 1936 - Bible children; Stories from the Bible by Blanche Jennings Thompson, Macmillan, Dodd, Mead & Co., 1937
- Smiling Hill Farm by Miriam Evangeline Mason, Junior Literary Guild and Ginn and Co., 1937
- An Ear for Uncle Emil by E.R. Gaggin, Junior Literary Guild and Viking, 1939
- Who is Johnny? by Leopold Gedö, Viking, 1939
- Let's take turns by Lois Gadd Nemec, Macmillan, 1940
- Michel's Island by Mabel Leigh HuntMabel Leigh HuntMabel Leigh Hunt was an American writer.She was born in Coatesville, Indiana. She was raised in Greencastle by Quaker parents there, and from age 10 in Plainfield , until her physician father died...
, Fredrick A. Stokes, 1940 - The Oldest Story; The story of the Bible for young people by Blanche Jennings Thompson, Bruce, 1943
- Living together at home and at school by Prudence Cutright, W.W. Charters, Mae Knight, and others, Macmillan, 1944
- The Christmas Anna Angel by Ruth SawyerRuth SawyerRuth Sawyer was the professional name of Ruth Sawyer Durand , an American children's writer.- Biography :She was raised in New York City with an affluent family...
, Viking, 1944 (Caldecott Honor for Seredy for year 1945) - ... Fun at the playground by Bernice Osler Frissell and Mary Louise Friebele, Macmillan, 1946
- ... Fun in swimming, by Bernice Osler Frissell and Mary Louise Friebele, Macmillan, 1946
- A candle burns for France by Blanche Jennings Thompson, Bruce, 1946
- Sports readers by Bernice Osler Frissell and Mary Louise Friebele, Macmillan, 1946–1951
- The Wonderful Year by Nancy Barnes, Junior Literary Guild and J. Messner, 1946
- Adopted Jane by Helen Fern Daringer, Harcourt, Brace, 1947
- Mary Montgomery, rebel by Helen Fern Daringer, Harcourt, Brace, 1948
- A house for ten... by Miriam Evangeline Mason, Ginn, 1949
- Pilgrim Kate by Helen Fern Daringer, Harcourt, Brace, 1949
- Fun outdoors by Mary Louise Friebele, Bernice Osler Frissell, Frances C. Smith and others, Macmillan, 1951
- Little Vic by Doris Gates, Viking, 1951
- Finnegan II, his nine lives by Carolyn Sherwin BaileyCarolyn Sherwin BaileyCarolyn Sherwin Bailey was an American children's author. She was born in Hoosick Falls, New York and attended Teachers College, Columbia University, from which she graduated in 1896...
, Viking, 1953 - A dog named Penny by Clyde Robert BullaClyde Robert BullaClyde Robert Bulla was the author of over fifty books for children. His first book, The Donkey Cart, was published in 1946. His autobiography, A Grain of Wheat: A Writer Begins, was published in 1985. The book referred to an essay he wrote in 1924 for the St...
, Ginn, 1955