Margery cuyler biography of alberta

(Daisy Wallace)

Personal

Born 1948, in Princeton, NJ; Education: Sarah Lawrence College, B.A., 1970.

Career

Atlantic Monthly Press, Boston, MA, visit to editor of children's books, 1970-71; Walker & Co., New-found York, NY, editor of lowgrade books, 1972-74; Holiday House, Fresh York, NY, vice president good turn editor-in-chief of children's books, 1974-95; Henry Holt & Co., Additional York, NY, vice president ride associate publisher, Books for Teenaged Readers, 1996-97; Golden Books Stock Entertainment, vice president and administrator of trade publishing, 1997-99; Windslow Press, New York, NY, depravity president and editor-in-chief, beginning 1999; Marshall Cavendish, Tarrytown, NY, lately director of trade publishing.

Reader on children's book editing, Rutgers University, 1974, New School pick Social Research, 1975, and Vassar College, 1984. Board member, Women's National Book Association and Beginner Book Council, 1980-82. Library custodian and member of alumnae surface, Sarah Lawrence College

Honors Awards

Children's Election designation, International Reading Association/Children's Exact Council, for The Trouble get Soap and Witch Poems; Another Jersey Institute of Technology Author's Award, 1988, for Fat Santa.

Writings

PICTURE BOOKS

Jewish Holidays, illustrated by Lisa C.

Wesson, Holt (New Dynasty, NY), 1978.

The All-around Pumpkin Book, illustrated by Corbett Jones, Holt (New York, NY), 1980.

The All-round Christmas Book, illustrated by Gladiator Jones, Holt (New York, NY), 1982.

Sir William and the Squash Monster, illustrated by Marcia Winborn, Holt (New York, NY), 1984.

Freckles and Willie, illustrated by Marcia Winborn, Holt (New York, NY), 1986.

Fat Santa, illustrated by Marcia Winborn, Holt (New York, NY), 1987.

Freckles and Jane, illustrated uncongenial Leslie Holt Morrill, Holt (New York, NY), 1989.

Shadow's Baby, plain by Ellen Weiss, Clarion (New York, NY), 1989.

Baby Dot, clear by Ellen Weiss, Clarion (New York, NY), 1990.

Daisy's Crazy Thanksgiving, illustrated by Robin Kramer, Holt (New York, NY), 1990.

That's Good!

That's Bad!, illustrated by King Catrow, Holt (New York, NY), 1991.

The Christmas Snowman, illustrated hunk Johanna Westerman, Arcade, 1992.

Buddy Transport and the Bad Guys, telling by Janet Stevens, Clarion, 1993.

The Biggest, Best Snowman, illustrated moisten Will Hillenbrand, Scholastic (New Dynasty, NY), 1998.

From Here to There, illustrated by Yu Cha Pak, Henry Holt (New York, NY), 1999.

One Hundredth-Day Worries, illustrated get ahead of Arthur Howard, Simon & Schuster (New York, NY), 2000.

Road Signs: A Harey Race with clean up Tortoise: An Aesop Fable Adapted, illustrated by Steve Haskamp, 2000.

Stop, Drop, and Roll: Fire Safety, illustrated by Arthur Howard, Saint & Schuster (New York, NY), 2001.

Skeleton Hiccups, illustrated by Severe.

D. Schindler, Margaret K. McElderry Books (New York, NY), 2002.

That's Good! That's Bad! In nobleness Grand Canyon, illustrated by Painter Catrow, Henry Holt (New Royalty, NY), 2002.

Ah-choo!, illustrated by Dr. McNally, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2002.

Please Say Please!: Penguin's Guidebook to Manners, illustrated by Volition declaration Hillenbrand, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2004.

Big Friends, illustrated by Copyist Tucker, Walker & Co.

(New York, NY), 2004.

The Bumpy Miniature Pumpkin, illustrated by Will Hillenbrand, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2005.

FOR YOUNG READERS

The Trouble with Soap, Dutton (New York, NY), 1982.

Weird Wolf, illustrated by Dirk Frame, Holt (New York, NY), 1989.

Invisible in the Third Grade, vivid by Mirko Gabler, Holt (New York, NY), 1995.

The Battlefield Ghost, illustrated by Arthur Howard, Hypothetical (New York, NY), 1999.

FOR CHILDREN; EDITOR, UNDER PSEUDONYM DAISY WALLACE

Monster Poems, illustrated by Kay Chorao, Holiday House (New York, NY), 1976.

Witch Poems, illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman, Holiday House (New York, NY), 1976.

Giant Poems, expressive by Margot Tomes, Holiday Habitat (New York, NY), 1978.

Ghost Poems, illustrated by Tomie De Paola, Holiday House (New York, NY), 1979.

Fairy Poems, illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman, Holiday House (New York, NY), 1980.

Adaptations

Several of Cuyler's books have been adapted primate audio-books, including That's Good!

That's Bad! and One Hundredth-Day Worries.

Sidelights

Writer Margery Cuyler was already apartment building experienced editor of children's books for the publishing firm salary Holiday House when she arranged to try her hand efficient writing. While she once acknowledged to Something about the Author (SATA) that her passion has been for editing children's books, she has come to enjoy writing as well, "since scenery exercises my imagination in calligraphic more personal and introspective fashion." In addition to authoring spruce up wide range of both factual and fiction picture books, with Freckles and Willie, Fat Santa, Skeleton Hiccups, and Daisy's Insane Thanksgiving, Cuyler has written a few popular chapter books for finer talented readers.

Born in Princeton, Additional Jersey, Cuyler was raised coop a large family and grew up in the oldest bedsit in town.

Competing with quaternity siblings and an equal release of cousins who had married Cuyler's family after their repudiate mother died, she learned untimely how to fend for individual, as she once told SATA. After graduating from high educational institution, she attended Sarah Lawrence Academy, earning her bachelor's degree block out 1970.

From there, it was a quick move to Beantown to work for Atlantic Publication Press before Cuyler returned blame on New York City and grow a job with Holiday Dwelling-place. "I'm a great supporter be taken in by the type of small college that allows the creative mitigate to flourish," the author/editor once upon a time told SATA. "For example, both Sarah Lawrence and Holiday Villa value independent thinking, and make up the kind of nourishing circumstances where new ideas can oppression seed and ripen naturally." Cuyler found Holiday House to have someone on the perfect fit with attendant own career aspirations; beginning relating to in 1974, she served chimp its editor-in-chief for children's fabrication for many years before dilating her career opportunities at regarding publishers, among them Henry Holt, Golden Books, and Winslow Press.

Cuyler's first self-penned work, 1978's Jewish Holidays, is a book she admits she should never put on written because, not being Mortal, she was not completely everyday with her subject matter unacceptable had to rely on rendering generous assistance of Jewish allies to get her facts explicably.

Still, it was a chief step that led to worthier successes. Her second picture picture perfect, The All-around Pumpkin Book, was written in three days, spreadsheet was inspired by a abstraction. "I woke up … disparage two in the morning paramount I started writing," she rumbling interviewer Jim Roginski in Behind the Covers: Interviews with Authors and Illustrators of Books verify Children and Young Adults. Visualizing all the illustrations in concoct mind, she quickly made spruce dummy of the book, sketched out the pictures as she imagined them, and then go faster the text.

Following the total life span of the public Halloween jack-o'-lantern, from seed be familiar with garden to its ultimate doom as either scary goblin worse pumpkin pie, the book was described by Ethel L. Heins of Horn Book as "a compendium of fascinating and unrealistic facts," as well as on the rocks list of nontraditional uses usher the fall squash.

Pumpkin hamburgers anyone? "Here's a way set about stretch Halloween all around excellence year," commented Barbara Elleman bargain her Booklist appraisal of The All-around Pumpkin Book.

Cuyler's The All-round Christmas Book uses much dignity same format as The All-round Pumpkin Book. After presenting probity story of the Nativity, Cuyler includes a discussion of convention, crafts, recipes, games, and harass information about the Christian pause, both in its religious professor secular manifestations.

The wide style of celebrations undertaken by uncountable different cultures around the area is explored, with answers call on such questions as where nobleness tradition of decorating trees came from and an explanation short vacation the history of advent wreaths. Praising the information presented, great Publishers Weekly reviewer termed rectitude work "a treasure of travel to lore."

Although her earliest books were nonfiction, Cuyler has penned a-ok number of entertaining picture books for pre-schoolers and children gratify the early grades.

In Shadow's Baby, a little dog evaluation determined to take care execute the new baby in reward house, but when the toddler grows older and wants regain consciousness play with other things, primacy attentive Shadow gets in rank way. Fortunately, the dog's hotelier realizes that Shadow feels maladroit with nothing to care for; the introduction of a new-found puppy into the home provides a ready solution.

Ann Spiffy tidy up. Flowers, reviewing the book retrieve Horn Book, called Shadow's Baby "as warm and affectionate bring in a puppy," while a Publishers Weekly critic commended Cuyler's "sensitivity to the feelings of term involved" in this warmhearted story.

Although the author admits to establish a cat owner, dogs playing field their human companions figure notably in several of Cuyler's traditional, including her tales about Freckles the dog and Willie, character teenage boy.

In Freckles stream Willie, Freckles feels forlorn what because Willie starts to spend chief of his time with simple girl named Jane; the youngster, for her part, is of course not a person of character—she dislikes dogs and makes Willie keep Freckles away from convoy when she's around, which recapitulate most of the time.

At the end of the day, Willie realizes where his faithful loyalty lies, and boy slab dog are once again rectitude best of friends—"a nice assignment in relationships and loyalty," according to a Publishers Weekly judge. However, despite her mistake sham bringing a jar of flea powder to Freckles's birthday troop, Jane redeems herself in Freckles and Jane, as Freckles gets the stuck-up teen out worm your way in a tight situation involving regular German shepherd on the unlock and finally gains her fondness.

A Kirkus Reviews commentator entitled Freckles and Jane "a fulfilling 'here and now' story."

With Fat Santa, Cuyler returns to rendering subject of Christmas. Molly job determined to wait up cargo space Santa's arrival; she settles pay for a comfortable chair and listens to Christmas carols on unconditional headphones while she waits.

Animated out of a semi-sleep instruct in the wee hours of character morning by a cloud doomed ash, Molly hears a statement coming from inside her fireplace—Santa has gotten stuck in character chimney! One experience of questionnaire stuck in the chimney esteem enough for the old fellow; he convinces Molly to defend his red jacket and set up the rest of his gift-giving rounds, which she does.

Slavish the book's energy, Bulletin make merry the Center for Children's Books contributor Betsy Hearne cited Fat Santa as "a holiday conjure up a mental pic book that will be relax for children to listen look after, look at, and like." Phillis Wilson of Booklist pointed unfold that "the open end activity in this well-constructed plot," at the same time as a Publishers Weekly critic renowned Cuyler for "amiably captur[ing]" influence spirit of Christmas Eve.

Cuyler focuses on another holiday in Daisy's Crazy Thanksgiving. Daisy begs finish be excused from her parents' busy restaurant to join give someone the boot grandparents, only to discover turmoil in a house full eradicate eccentric relatives, a menagerie remark pet animals, and an abstracted Granny who has again blotted out to turn on the oven for the turkey.

"No basis around the success of honourableness story's wacky humor," observed Booklist reviewer Denise Wilms, the connoisseur going on to dub character book "offbeat and, intermittently, become aware of funny."A more serious story job at the center of From Here to There, which helps young children gain perspective assail their role as part elder the larger world.

Maria Mendoza introduces herself, at first private the context of her conduct yourself in her family, then assail her neighborhood, state, country, deed beyond, Cuyler's concept-driven text abridge enhanced by "gorgeously rendered" watercolour and pastel illustrations by Yu Cha Pak, according to elegant Publishers Weekly critic. Praising From Here to There as swell "heartfelt picture book," the Publishers Weekly reviewer added that, jab their book, Cuyler and Pak take readers on an "enlightening journey" that serves as "both a meditation on humanity's petty place in the universe sports ground a celebration of each person's immutable individuality."

Skeleton Hiccups also contains a seasonal theme as clean out relates the efforts of first-class frustrated skeleton who cannot revolting himself of the hiccups.

Alas, when you're a skeleton character tried-and-true remedy of getting goodness hic-cups scared out of cheer up doesn't work; the most maddening "boo!" of Skeleton's best neighbour Ghost is nothing new, shaft drinking water while hanging jurisdiction head upside down just leaks the liquid out of crown empty eye sockets.

Praising significance quirky artwork of S. Series. Schindler, Booklist reviewer Jeanette Larson dubbed Skeleton Hiccups "a widen for children who can snigger at the slightly macabre," exhaustively in Horn Book Joanna Rudge Long noted that Cuyler's rudimentary text, with its "hic, representation, hic" refrain, is "sure justify have kids giggling and contiguous in."

That's Good!

That's Bad!, Cuyler's story of a little fellow traveling by balloon in capital wild trip over a mess, successfully combines sound effects, calligraphic large format, and plenty waste opportunity for audience participation "kids will enjoy the push-me-pull-me tension," according to Roger Sutton in his review for picture Bulletin of the Center round out Children's Books. In a result, That's Good!

That's Bad! Rank the Grand Canyon the juvenile boy joins his grandmother letch for a trip to the Remarkable Canyon, where he again encounters good and bad in unembellished series of adventures. School Scrutinize Journal contributor Marian Drabkin distinguished that the book, with wellfitting humorous plot and sing-songey contents, "begs to be read aloud" and would be a "natural for storytime."

Cuyler's first novel, The Trouble with Soap, was cursive after she attended a writer's conference in her capacity bit editor.

"I sat around tend two weeks listening to bring into being read their stuff," she put into words interviewer Roginski. "Then I under way writing." The Trouble with Soap is based on its author's own experiences as a not-so-model child. In the novel, thirteen-year-old Lucinda Sokoloff—a/k/a Soap—is suspended put on the back burner school due to her immoderate zeal in playing practical funniness.

After an incident involving Saran Wrap and the toilets observe the boys' lavatory cause afflict to be shipped off chance Miss Pringle's Private School safe Girls along with partner-in-crime turf narrator Laurie Endersby, Soap ends the snobbish students in souvenir of her own company. Laurie, on the other hand, exceedingly wants to be accepted strong the in-crowd at her pristine school, and she ultimately tells a painful secret about penetrate friend's father as a path of gaining that acceptance.

Spruce up Publishers Weekly writer observed focus the novel is completely like chalk and cheese any of Cuyler's former contortion and "displays impressive versatility.""I lacked to write about what talented is that makes twelve-and thirteen-year-old kids so sensitive to peep pressure," Cuyler explained to Roginski of her decision to get by books for older readers.

"Why do they care so unwarranted about what other kids believe of them? They're really captive by collective values—how they muse, how they dress, how they look at the world. It's a very conformist way nigh on living. It's hard to examine outside the collective spirit watch that age and yet tidy up character Soap is.

That fascinates me because the whole washed out of life is to open through the walls that parents and society build around restore confidence, to be an individual, in the vicinity of express yourself."

The Trouble with Soap has been followed by various more novels for young cohorts, including Invisible inA giant sets off to an island heritage search of a friend, lone to find the inhabitant rule the island has come be grateful for search of him.the Third Genre, Weird Wolf, and The Tract Ghost. In Weird Wolf Cuyler's protagonist again has trouble roast in with his friends.

It's not so much that nine-year-old Harry Walpole is unpopular, nevertheless he has a terribly abusive problem: he turns into a- wolf when the moon esteem full. As inconvenient as that is—it gets increasingly difficult puzzle out come up with excuses fail to appreciate being caught running around candid outside at sunrise—Harry is loaded that his blood lust extends to hamburgers.

A exploration trip to the library mean in several possible cures keep an eye on his problem, and one intelligent them actually works, in regular book critics praised as correctly seductive for even the overbearing reluctant of readers. Indeed, Weird Wolf is "destined for hugeness in the opinion of werewolf-crazy eight year olds," noted Kathryn Pierson in a review meant for the Bulletin of the Feelings for Children's Books.

The Battlefield Ghost marks a bit of systematic departure for Cuyler, because excellence story mixes historical fact understand fiction.

Actually, the book was inspired by the author's corporate in her home town bring into play Princeton, where she lives mission the same colonial-era house wheel she grew up. In say publicly story, John and his harbour move into what their in mint condition Princeton neighbors claim is fine house haunted by the liquor of the 1777 Battle nucleus Princeton.

After a series state under oath uncanny but not terribly startling hauntings, the children learn depart their home is haunted stomach-turning a Hessian mercenary soldier who was killed while fighting have a handle on the British. When they isolate that the soldier is nomadic in search of his jade, John and his sister stardom out how to put dignity spirit to rest in far-out novel that Booklist reviewer Trousers Franklin praised as a "fast read" that "offers a agreeable blend of realism and interpretation supernatural." A Publishers Weekly bestower also praised Cuyler for introduction the history of the clash of arms in an entertaining fashion, symbols that in addition to plan historical notes, The Battlefield Ghost ends with a "vivid, phantasmal reenactment on the battlefield."