Joan Blos

Joan Blos
Born(1928-12-09)December 9, 1928
New York City, U.S.
DiedOctober 12, 2017(2017-10-12) (aged 88)
Ann Arbor, Michigan, US
Education
Occupations
  • Writer
  • educator
Spouse(s)
Peter Blos, Jr.
​
(m. 1953)​
Children2
Writing career
Notable awardsNational Book Award for Young People's Literature (1980)
Newbery Medal (1980)

Joan Winsor Blos (1928 – 2017) was an American writer, teacher and advocate for children's literacy.[1] For her 1979 historical novel, A Gathering of Days, Blos won the U.S. National Book Award in category Children's Books and the Newbery Medal.

Early life and education

Winsor was born in New York City on December 9, 1928, the only child of Max and Charlotte Winsor. Her father was a psychiatrist, and her mother was a teacher.[2][3] She attended City and Country School in New York City.[3]

She received a Bachelor of Arts in physiology from Vassar College in 1949,[2][3] followed by a Master of Arts (MA) in psychology from City College of New York.[4] She then attended Yale University, pursuing a doctorate in child psychology, though she left the program after three years. Blos later returned to City College to study children's literature, earning an MA in 1956.[4]

Career

Blos began her career working in a nursery school for "disturbed children", after which she considered becoming a psychologist.[4] However, Blos shifted careers to focus on children's literature.

In 1958, Blos began working in the publication division of the Bank Street College of Education, where she worked alongside American writer Lucy Sprague Mitchell (1878–1967). While at Bank Street, Blos taught sessions on children's literature and led writing workshops. During a writing workshop, Blos's own writing was recognized by a children's book editor at Alfred A. Knopf, who encouraged her to pursue writing as a career. After beginning her career as a children's book author, Blos continued working with Bank Street until 1970, at which point she moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan.[4]

While in Ann Arbor, Blos began teaching at the University of Michigan School of Education,[3] a position she held until 1980.[4]

Blos published her first book, In the City, with Macmillan in 1964. She eventually published 20 books, including A Gathering of Days, which won the 1980 won the U.S. National Book Award in category Children's Books[5][a] and the Newbery Medal.[2]

Personal life

While studying at Yale, Blos met Peter Blos, Jr., a medical student.[3] The couple married on June 7, 1953, and later had two children.[2][4][6] The Blos family moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan in 1970.[6] Their son died from cancer at age 30;[3] they were also predeceased by their daughter.[6]

Peter and Joan lived in Ann Arbor until their deaths. Joan died at age 88 on October 12, 2017,[4] while Peter died on November 4, 2020, at age 90. They had two grandchildren.[6]

Works

  • In the City, Macmillan (New York, NY), 1964.
  • People Read (with Betty Miles), Macmillan (New York, NY), 1964.
  • Joe Finds a Way (with Betty Miles), L.W. Singer (Syracuse, NY), 1967.
  • "It's Spring" She Said, Knopf (New York, NY), 1968.[7]
  • Just Think! (with Betty Miles), Knopf (New York, NY), 1971.
  • A Gathering of Days: A New England Girl's Journal, 1830-32, Scribner (New York, NY), 1979.
  • Martin's Hats, illustrated by Marc Simont, Morrow (New York, NY), 1984.
  • Brothers of the Heart: A Story of the Old Northwest, 1837-1838, Scribner (New York, NY), 1985.
  • Old Henry, Morrow (New York, NY), 1987.[8]
  • The Grandpa Days, illustrated by Emily Arnold McCully, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (New York, NY), 1989.
  • One Very Best Valentine's Day, illustrated by Emanuel Schongut, Little Simon (New York, NY), 1989.
  • Lottie's Circus, illustrated by Irene Trivas, Morrow (New York, NY), 1989.
  • The Heroine of the Titanic: A Tale Both True and Otherwise of the Life of Molly Brown, illustrated by Tennessee Dixon, Morrow (New York, NY), 1991.[9]
  • A Seed, a Flower, a Minute, an Hour, illustrated by Hans Poppel, Simon & Schuster (New York, NY), 1992.[10]
  • Brooklyn Doesn't Rhyme, Scribner (New York, NY), 1994.[11]
  • The Hungry Little Boy, illustrated by Dena Schutzer, Simon & Schuster (New York, NY), 1995.[12]
  • Nellie Bly's Monkey: His Remarkable Story in His Own Words, illustrated by Catherine Stock, Morrow (New York, NY), 1996.[13][14]
  • Bedtime!, illustrated by Stephen Lambert, Simon & Schuster (New York, NY), 1998.[15]
  • Hello, Shoes!, illustrated by Ann Boyajian, Simon & Schuster (New York, NY), 1999.[16][17]
  • Letters from the Corrugated Castle: A Novel of Gold Rush California, 1850-1852, Atheneum Books for Young Readers (New York, NY), 2007.[18][19]

Notes

  1. ↑ Blos and A Gathering of Days won the award for hardcover Children's Literature.
    From 1980 to 1983 in National Book Award history there were dual awards for hardcover and paperback books in many categories. Most of the paperback award-winners were reprints, including the 1980 Children's Literature paperback.

References

  1. ↑ "Joan Blos's Obituary on Ann Arbor News". Ann Arbor News. Archived from the original on October 20, 2017. Retrieved October 20, 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Blos, Joan W. 1928–". Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Silberman, Eve (October 27, 2017) [1994]. "Reprint: Ann Arborite Joan BIos". Ann Arbor Observer. Archived from the original on August 12, 2022. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Maughan, Shannon (October 24, 2017). "Obituary: Joan W. Blos". Publishers Weekly. Archived from the original on May 9, 2026. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
  5. ↑ "National Book Awards 1980". National Book Foundation. Archived from the original on October 26, 2018. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Peter Blos Obituary (2020) - Ann Arbor, MI - Ann Arbor News". MLive. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
  7. ↑ ""It's Spring," She Said". Kirkus Reviews. March 1, 1968. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
  8. ↑ "Old Henry by Joan W. Blos". Publishers Weekly. March 31, 1987. Archived from the original on March 9, 2026. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
  9. ↑ "The Heroine of the Titanic by Joan W. Blos". Publishers Weekly. July 29, 1991. Archived from the original on January 23, 2026. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
  10. ↑ "A Seed, a Flower, a Minute, an Hour". Booklist. April 15, 1992. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
  11. ↑ "Brooklyn Doesn't Rhyme". Booklist. September 15, 1994. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
  12. ↑ "The Hungry Little Boy by Joan W. Blos, Dena Schutzer". Publishers Weekly. April 3, 1995. Archived from the original on September 18, 2025. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
  13. ↑ "Nellie Bly's Monkey". Booklist. 1996. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
  14. ↑ "Nellie Bly's Monkey by Joan W. Blos". Publishers Weekly. March 4, 1996. Archived from the original on March 7, 2026. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
  15. ↑ "Bedtime! by Joan W. Blos". Publishers Weekly. May 4, 1998. Archived from the original on February 7, 2026. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
  16. ↑ "Hello, Shoes!". Booklist. October 15, 1999. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
  17. ↑ "Hello, Shoes! by Joan W. Blos". Publishers Weekly. May 3, 1999. Archived from the original on November 12, 2025. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
  18. ↑ "Letters from the Corrugated Castle: A Novel of Gold Rush California, 1850-1852". Booklist. April 15, 2007. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
  19. ↑ "Letters from the Corrugated Castle: A Novel of Gold Rush California, 1850–1852 by Joan W. Blos". Publishers Weekly. May 28, 2007. Archived from the original on October 11, 2025. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
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