Born in Washington, D.C. on July 2, 1919, and raised in a family of naturalists, Jean Craighead George learned to investigate and appreciate animals. A turkey vulture became her first pet. Starting in the third grade, George began writing about nature, animals, and the world around her. She graduated with a degree in Science and Literature from Penn State University. Then in the 1940s, she worked as a member of the White House press corps and a reporter for the Washington Post.
The mother of three children, George brought 173 pets, not including dogs and cats, to their home in Chappaqua, New York. From owls to tarantulas, these creatures provided inspiration and developed into characters for her books.
George has written over 100 books, primarily for young adults. Julie of the Wolves won the prestigious Newbery Medal and the American Library Association's award for the most distinguished contribution to literature for children in l973. My Side of the Mountain, the story of a boy and a falcon surviving together on a mountain, earned a 1960 Newbery Honor Book. She has also received 20 other awards. George travels widely and returns home to write.
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