Rebecca Caudill
Encyclopedia
Rebecca Caudill Ayars was an American author of children's literature
, publishing over twenty books. Caudill's book, Tree of Freedom
(Viking, 1949), was a Newbery Honor Book in 1950. A Pocketful of Cricket (Holt, 1964), illustrated by Evaline Ness, was a Caldecott Honor Book.
Caudill was one of ten children in the family of Susan and George Caudill of Harlan County, Kentucky
. She was born in Poor Fork, now Cumberland, Kentucky
. She graduated from Wesleyan College
in Macon, Georgia
, and then taught English and history from 1920-21 at Sumner County High School, Portland, Tennessee
. In 1922, she received her master's degree in International Relations from Vanderbilt University
. She taught English as a second language in Brazil for two years and then returned to Tennessee where she worked briefly as an editor for the Methodist Publishing House in Nashville. She moved to Chicago for a job in a publishing house, and she married James Sterling Ayars in 1931. They moved to Urbana, Illinois
in 1937 with their two children.
Caudill's first book, Barrie and Daughter (Viking, 1943), came from memories of her childhood in the hill country of Kentucky and Tennessee. Her children's books brought alive the pioneer era of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, evoking the culture of Appalachia she loved. She wrote in her memoir: "Doors in the houses of my Appalachia were never locked against friend or stranger. The people found their pleasures in the simple things of life. They possessed a kind of profound wisdom, characteristic of those who live close to Nature, who walk in step with Nature's rhythm, and who depend on Nature for life itself."
She was the co-founder of the Champaign-Urbana Peace Council; created the hospitality program for international students at Wesleyan College; and served on the board of trustees for [www.urbanafreelibrary.org Urbana Free Library] and the Pine Mountain Settlement School
in Pine Mountain
, Kentucky. She also taught many writing workshops.
vote each year on their favorite of 20 nominees. The winning book is given the Rebecca Caudill Young Reader's Book Award
(RCYRBA) named in honor of Caudill and her contributions to childrens' 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...
, publishing over twenty books. Caudill's book, Tree of Freedom
Tree of Freedom
Tree of Freedom is a children's historical novel by Rebecca Caudill. It is a pioneer story set in Kentucky at the time of the American Revolutionary War...
(Viking, 1949), was a Newbery Honor Book in 1950. A Pocketful of Cricket (Holt, 1964), illustrated by Evaline Ness, was a Caldecott Honor Book.
Caudill was one of ten children in the family of Susan and George Caudill of Harlan County, Kentucky
Harlan County, Kentucky
Harlan County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It was formed in 1819. As of 2000, the population was 33,200. Its county seat is Harlan...
. She was born in Poor Fork, now Cumberland, Kentucky
Cumberland, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,611 people, 1,076 households, and 723 families residing in the city. The population density was 570.5 people per square mile . There were 1,288 housing units at an average density of 281.4 per square mile...
. She graduated from Wesleyan College
Wesleyan College
Wesleyan College is a private, liberal arts women's college located in Macon, Georgia, United States.-History:The school was chartered on December 23, 1836 as the Georgia Female College, and opened its doors to students on January 7, 1839. The school was renamed Wesleyan Female College in 1843...
in Macon, Georgia
Macon, Georgia
Macon is a city located in central Georgia, US. Founded at the fall line of the Ocmulgee River, it is part of the Macon metropolitan area, and the county seat of Bibb County. A small portion of the city extends into Jones County. Macon is the biggest city in central Georgia...
, and then taught English and history from 1920-21 at Sumner County High School, Portland, Tennessee
Portland, Tennessee
Portland is a city in Sumner and Robertson counties in the U.S. state of Tennessee, and is also a part of the Nashville Metropolitan Statistical Area The population was 10,986 according to 2007 estimates by the US census bureau.-History:...
. In 1922, she received her master's degree in International Relations from Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is a private research university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, the university is named for shipping and rail magnate "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided Vanderbilt its initial $1 million endowment despite having never been to the...
. She taught English as a second language in Brazil for two years and then returned to Tennessee where she worked briefly as an editor for the Methodist Publishing House in Nashville. She moved to Chicago for a job in a publishing house, and she married James Sterling Ayars in 1931. They moved to Urbana, Illinois
Urbana, Illinois
Urbana is the county seat of Champaign County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 41,250. Urbana is the tenth-most populous city in Illinois outside of the Chicago metropolitan area....
in 1937 with their two children.
Caudill's first book, Barrie and Daughter (Viking, 1943), came from memories of her childhood in the hill country of Kentucky and Tennessee. Her children's books brought alive the pioneer era of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, evoking the culture of Appalachia she loved. She wrote in her memoir: "Doors in the houses of my Appalachia were never locked against friend or stranger. The people found their pleasures in the simple things of life. They possessed a kind of profound wisdom, characteristic of those who live close to Nature, who walk in step with Nature's rhythm, and who depend on Nature for life itself."
She was the co-founder of the Champaign-Urbana Peace Council; created the hospitality program for international students at Wesleyan College; and served on the board of trustees for [www.urbanafreelibrary.org Urbana Free Library] and the Pine Mountain Settlement School
Pine Mountain Settlement School
Pine Mountain Settlement School is located on Pine Mountain in Harlan County, Kentucky. The settlement school focuses on Appalachian and environmental education.-Founding:...
in Pine Mountain
Pine Mountain (ridge)
Pine Mountain is a ridge in the Appalachian Mountains running through Kentucky, Virginia and Tennessee. It extends about 125 miles from near Jellico, Tennessee, to a location near Elkhorn City, Kentucky. The highest point is 3,273 feet above sea level, east of Whitesburg, Kentucky...
, Kentucky. She also taught many writing workshops.
Rebecca Caudill Young Reader's Book Award
The schoolchildren (grades 4-8) of her adopted state of IllinoisIllinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
vote each year on their favorite of 20 nominees. The winning book is given the Rebecca Caudill Young Reader's Book Award
Rebecca Caudill Young Reader's Book Award
The Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award is a program sponsored by the Illinois Association of Teachers of English, the Illinois Reading Council, and the Illinois School Library Media Association. The award has been granted annually since 1988...
(RCYRBA) named in honor of Caudill and her contributions to childrens' literature.
Other Resources
- Collier, Laurie and Nakamura, Joyce. Major Author and Illustrators for Children and Young Adults. 6 vols. Detroit: Gale Research Inc., 1993.
- AppLit
- RCYRBA
- Meet Rebecca Caudill (Champaign Public Library)
- Meet Caudill's daughter (Champaign Public Library)