“I
write for children because I am interested in fantasy and the possibilities for
experience of all kinds before the time of compromise. I believe that children
are far more perceptive and wise than American books give them credit for
being.” – Natalie Babbitt
Happy 85th Birthday today
to the author of one of my all-time favorite books, Tuck Everlasting. While
Natalie Babbitt created this tale for young people, it touches each and every
one of us and leaves us with both the “awe” factor and the “I wonder what would
happen if?” factor as it deals with life, aging and death.
If you haven’t read it, go read
it. If you want to hear more about it
and Natalie herself, there’s a wonderful interview with her in the archives of
National Public Radio, done in 2015 on the 40th anniversary of
Tuck’s publication.
Growing up in Ohio where she wanted
to be an artist, and in particular an illustrator, she entered the writing
world because she had things to share with her art and some of it needed words
to accompany those illustrations.
Fortunately, for us all, it is one of those “necessity is the mother of
invention” things that led to a benefit for readers everywhere. 
In 2012, Babbitt was
awarded the inaugural E.B. White Award for achievement in children's literature
by the American Academy of Arts and Letters. In commentary about her writing, New York Times reviewer George Woods
said, “Mrs. Babbitt creates a plausible world and peoples it with believable
humans, but the most satisfaction comes from the pleasure of her company as she
effortlessly takes the reader in velvet-gloved hand to point out life's
coincidences and near misses.”
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