Ursula Nordstrom (February 2, 1910 – October 11, 1988) was a pioneering American editor of children's literature, widely regarded as the architect of the golden age of children's books. As director of Harper & Brothers' Department of Books for Boys and Girls from 1940 to 1973, she championed works that respected children's intelligence and emotions. She discovered and nurtured iconic authors including E.B. White, Maurice Sendak, and Margaret Wise Brown, editing classics such as Charlotte's Web, Where the Wild Things Are, and Goodnight Moon. Nordstrom's revolutionary belief that children's books should be art, not instruction, transformed the publishing industry. Her legacy endures in the millions of copies sold and the enduring influence on how stories for young readers are created and valued.
Related Quotes
“The grave's a fine and quiet place but none I think do finish their books from there.”
Source: Dear genius: the letters of Ursula Nordstrom
Source: Dear genius: the letters of Ursula Nordstrom
“Emotion combined with an artist's discipline is the rarest thing in the world.”
Source: Dear genius: the letters of Ursula Nordstrom