Eve Bunting December 19, 1928 – October 1, 2023

 

Many of Mrs. Bunting’s picture books were long by the genre’s standards, beseeching children to sit 

with a grown-up and stay awhile to read. She insisted that children, with help, could and 

shouldface the realities of the world. The Washington Post

This will be a brief post because I talked about Eve Bunting previously. Read this tribute in Publisher's Weekly. 

Eve Bunting's first book was 'The Two Giants' (1971), with illustrations by Eric Von Schmidt and it introduced American readers to characters of Irish and Scottish legend. By the end of her career, she had published more than 250 books.

In 2006, Bunting's book One Green Apple, illustrated by Ted Lewin, won the inaugural Arab American Book Award for books written for Children/ Young Adults. One Green Apple tells the story of a young girl who just immigrated to America from an Arab country and how she discovers that her differences are what makes her special.

Some famous illustrators worked on books written by Eve Bunting - Jan Brett; Melissa Sweet; Don Tate; Lauren Castillo; Susan Meddaugh; David Wiesner and David Diaz.

Her 1994 book Smoky Night, illustrated by David Diaz, was awarded a Caldecott Medal.

Here are some Star review comments from Kirkus:

Fly Away Home: an outstanding presentation of a serious topic for young children.

Yard Sale: A simple, moving tale of a family in transition.

Big Bear's Big Boat: This story is more than just a tale of sticking to your vision—it’s a small world unto itself. A keeper.