Jacqueline Briggs Martin, born on April 15, grew up on a dairy farm in Maine with two sisters, three brothers, her parents, grandparents and a great-great uncle. A cow on the farm named Riverflat Blanche Wisconsin later figured in her book Good Times on Grandfather Mountain, but  “We did not do much writing when I was in school and I did not imagine I would one day be writing books.” Her children are held responsible for her profession, as Briggs Martin enjoyed reading with them so much she decided to write books for adults and children to share.

Her first published book, Bizzy Bones and Uncle Ezra, tells the story of a mouse who is afraid of the wind and is based on her son’s fears. For many years Briggs Martin worked as a preschool teacher, but now lives in Iowa near the campus of Cornell College, where she writes full time. Each new book begins with a fresh notebook and pen, and the rough draft makes its first appearance in those pages before being transferred to computer. She notes, “I still like to do the first draft by hand. It keeps me from writing too fast and, for me, gives the story a better foundation.” Among her books are Snowflake Bentley (1998), winner of the Caldecott Medal; The Lamp, the Ice, and the Boat Called Fish: Based on a True Story (2001); and The Water Gift and The Pig of the Pig (2003).

Happy birthday, Jackie!

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