Natalie Babbitt

Date of Birth: July 28, 1932

Zodiac Sign: Leo

Date of Death: October 31, 2016

Biography

Natalie Babbitt was an American writer and illustrator best known for her children’s books. Born in Dayton, Ohio, Babbitt’s early life was steeped in creativity, largely influenced by her mother, who was an amateur artist. Babbitt attended Smith College, where she studied art. She initially embarked on her career as an illustrator for children’s books, collaborating with her husband, Samuel Fisher Babbitt, on “The Forty-ninth Magician” in 1966. However, Babbitt soon found her own voice as a writer. Her most famous work, “Tuck Everlasting,” published in 1975, has become a classic of children’s literature, exploring themes of immortality, life, and death. The book was adapted into two films and a Broadway musical. Babbitt’s other notable works include “Knee-Knock Rise,” which was a Newbery Honor book, “The Search for Delicious,” and “Goody Hall.” Babbitt’s writing is characterized by its lyrical prose, imaginative storytelling, and deep philosophical undertones. She received numerous accolades for her contributions to children’s literature and remained an active writer and illustrator throughout her life.

5 Interesting Facts about Natalie Babbitt

1. Natalie Babbitt initially illustrated books before she began writing them.

2. Her book “Knee-Knock Rise” earned a Newbery Honor in 1971.

3. “Tuck Everlasting” has been adapted into two films, one in 1981 and another in 2002, as well as a Broadway musical.

4. Babbitt’s husband, Samuel Fisher Babbitt, was a college president and collaborated with her early in her career.

5. Babbitt received the inaugural E.B. White Award for achievement in children’s literature in 2013.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Natalie Babbitt

1. “Don’t be afraid of death; be afraid of an unlived life. You don’t have to live forever, you just have to live.”

2. “Like all magnificent things, it’s very simple.”

3. “You can’t have living without dying. So you can’t call it living, what we got. We just are, we just be, like rocks beside the road.”

4. “Nothing ever seems interesting when it belongs to you—only when it doesn’t.”

5. “I had to grow up and write the best books I could, and I wanted them to be the kind of books that would make the world a better place.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Natalie Babbitt’s highest net worth achieved is not publicly documented, but her extensive and impactful career suggests she was comfortably established.