Ruth Krauss (1901–1993)
Author of The Carrot Seed
About the Author
Ruth Krauss was born on July 25, 1901 in Baltimore, Maryland. She attended the Peabody Institute of Music. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Parsons School of Fine and Applied Art and studied anthropology at Columbia University. In 1941, she married David Johnson Leisk, who wrote and show more illustrated children's books as Crockett Johnson. They occasionally worked together. Her first book, A Good Man and His Good Wife, was published in 1944. She was credited as being one of the first authors to use minimal text, concentrating on precise language and working closely with an illustrator. She wrote more than 30 children's books during her lifetime including The Carrot Seed, I Can Fly, and A Hole Is to Dig: A First Book of First Definitions. She received the Caldecott Medal for The Happy Day in 1950 and A Very Special House in 1954. She also wrote verse plays and poetry for adults. She died on July 10, 1993 at the age of 91. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Works by Ruth Krauss
I Can Fly {abridged} 15 copies
This Thumbprint 1 copy
If Only 1 copy
Re-examination of Freedom 1 copy
Bears {video} 1 copy
Associated Works
Telephone 9 — Contributor — 1 copy
Telephone 11 — Contributor — 1 copy
Telephone 14 — Contributor — 1 copy
Telephone 15 — Contributor — 1 copy
Telephone 8 — Contributor — 1 copy
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Legal name
- Krauss, Ruth Ida
- Birthdate
- 1901-07-25
- Date of death
- 1993-07-10
- Gender
- female
- Education
- Parsons School of Design (BA|1929)
- Occupations
- children's book author
poet - Awards and honors
- Caldecott Medal (1950 | 1954)
- Relationships
- Johnson, Crockett (husband)
- Short biography
- Ruth Krauss was born in Baltimore, Maryland and graduated from the Parson School of Design in New York City. During the 1940s, she was a member of the Writers' Laboratory at the Bank Street College of Education. In 1943, she married Crockett Johnson, a children's book author and illustrator. They collaborated on many books for children, among them such classics such as The Carrot Seed (1945). Her book A Hole Is to Dig (1952) was illustrated by Maurice Sendak. She produced more than 30 books for children in her career and also wrote poems for an adult audience.
- Nationality
- USA
- Birthplace
- Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Places of residence
- Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Place of death
- Westport, Connecticut, USA
- Associated Place (for map)
- Maryland, USA
Members
Reviews
A little boy plants a carrot seed and waits patiently, tending to it carefully, while everyone around him insists that 'it won't come up.' His conviction is steadfast, however, and sure enough, a carrot worthy of first prize at any state fair springs forth from the earth. While the little boy is rendered with uncomplicated lines, all of his hope, confidence, and serenity shine through. The image that resonates most strongly in this minimalist tale is the unfaltering faith of the show more mild-mannered little boy. Young readers learn that standing your ground in the face of opposition and doubt can often result in twice the reward expected (even thrice the reward, if judging by the girth of this carrot). show less
Krauss gets kids, that's for sure. As an adult, I'm a bit bemused; this boy's family was sure quick on the uptake (maybe they're used to his cleverness, his eccentricities, his imagination). I'm glad that it's not been updated - the boy's "suit" of clothes from the 1950s could have been relabeled "uniform" or something but wasn't. I'm definitely glad for everyone's sake that the 'day' only lasted about an hour.
"I'll be the little street and you be the little street cleaner."
"I wouldn't wish to be the moon. Someone might think I was a hole and plant a flower in me."
"I'm the gate that lets the flowers into the garden."
Surprisingly still relevant to children who have not become addicted to their screens. For adults, a powerful and utterly beguiling tribute to the power of imagination. For children, an amusement and a comforting feeling that this author, this illustrator, actually understands them.
I show more wonder about the constant repetition of the word 'little' though. To me that seems patronizing. But it's done for poetic effect, and also maybe it helps a child take ownership of the word, much in the way that certain people have taken ownership of the words Queer and N*.
I wish more of the best older books would stay in print. show less
"I wouldn't wish to be the moon. Someone might think I was a hole and plant a flower in me."
"I'm the gate that lets the flowers into the garden."
Surprisingly still relevant to children who have not become addicted to their screens. For adults, a powerful and utterly beguiling tribute to the power of imagination. For children, an amusement and a comforting feeling that this author, this illustrator, actually understands them.
I show more wonder about the constant repetition of the word 'little' though. To me that seems patronizing. But it's done for poetic effect, and also maybe it helps a child take ownership of the word, much in the way that certain people have taken ownership of the words Queer and N*.
I wish more of the best older books would stay in print. show less
A moderately enjoyable quick read - has a limited color palatte, unfortunately. Also my copy is small format; it wouldn't be good for storytimes because of this.
Seems almost more like a morality tale for grownups, though. It's weird to me what came to be considered "classic" back in the day. Anyway, this one sort of made me wonder - is it about how children can do anything and don't need your (well meant?) cautionary advice? Or is it about the power of a child's imagination to spring show more anything to life?
Also, why would the parents think the carrot wouldn't grow? He watered it and seemed to have gardening basics down? I'm too literal for this story. show less
Seems almost more like a morality tale for grownups, though. It's weird to me what came to be considered "classic" back in the day. Anyway, this one sort of made me wonder - is it about how children can do anything and don't need your (well meant?) cautionary advice? Or is it about the power of a child's imagination to spring show more anything to life?
Also, why would the parents think the carrot wouldn't grow? He watered it and seemed to have gardening basics down? I'm too literal for this story. show less
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Statistics
- Works
- 51
- Also by
- 13
- Members
- 11,882
- Popularity
- #1,977
- Rating
- 3.9
- Reviews
- 203
- ISBNs
- 219
- Languages
- 16
- Favorited
- 1