7 Author Shoutouts | Authors We Love To Recommend

Judy Blume

Judy Blume, born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, receives an Author Shoutout. She has written 28 novels, primarily for children and young adults, including popular titles like Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret, Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, and Superfudge. Her books have been translated into 31 languages and have sold over 80 million copies.

She tackled sensitive and frequently taboo topics that are crucial to adolescents nearing adulthood, including self-pleasure, the menstrual cycle, and teenage relationships. Additionally, she fearlessly addressed pressing social concerns such as racism, bullying, sibling conflicts, and divorce, all without passing judgment.

The Final Peanuts

The last Peanuts comic strip was printed on February 13, 2000, marking cartoonist Charles Schulz’s farewell.

“Dear Friends, I have been fortunate to draw Charlie Brown and his friends for almost fifty years. It has been the fulfillment of my childhood ambition. Unfortunately, I am no longer able to maintain the schedule demanded by a daily comic strip. My family does not wish ‘Peanuts’ to be continued by anyone else, therefore I am announcing my retirement. I have been grateful over the years for the loyalty of our editors and the wonderful support and love expressed to me by fans of the comic strip. Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Linus, Lucy… how can I ever forget them…” 

Schulz passed away a day prior to the publication of this concluding strip, evoking deep emotions.

Frederick Douglass

Frederick Douglass, born into slavery on a Maryland plantation, receives an Author Shoutout. Although there is no official record of his birth, it is widely believed to have occurred in February. Douglass chose to commemorate February 14 as his birthday, as his mother fondly referred to him as her little valentine. Following his escape from slavery, he emerged as the foremost advocate for African-American civil rights in the 19th century.

Frederick Douglass authored three autobiographies that had a significant impact on the abolitionist movement. His first book, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, quickly gained popularity and helped raise awareness about the issue of slavery. Similarly, his second autobiography, My Bondage and My Freedom, played a crucial role in promoting the cause of abolition. After the Civil War, Douglass continued his advocacy for the rights of emancipated slaves and penned his final autobiography, Life and Times of Frederick Douglass. Tragically, he passed away in 1895 from a massive heart attack at the age of 77.

Norman Bridwell

An Author Shoutout goes to Norman Bridwell, the author and illustrator of the beloved Clifford, the Big Red Dog children’s book series. Bridwell was born in Kokomo, Indiana. Initially seeking work as an illustrator for children’s picture books, Bridwell received a suggestion from an editor to transform his sketch of a young girl and her horse-sized dog into a full-fledged story. As a result, the delightful adventures of Clifford came to life.

The basic drawing eventually led to the creation of more than 40 Clifford books, two TV shows, and a live musical. These projects also played a significant role in propelling Scholastic into a dominant position in children’s literature publishing. Mr. Bridwell, a kind-hearted man who lived a modest life on Martha’s Vineyard, passed away in 2014 at the age of 86 due to heart failure.

Levar Burton

Levar Burton, born in Landstuhl, West Germany, deserves an Author Shoutout. While not primarily recognized as an author, Burton has written one novel, Aftermath, and co-authored two children’s books. However, it is his role as the host and executive producer of the beloved children’s TV show, Reading Rainbow, that has endeared him to readers of all generations. The show had an impressive 23-year run and won 26 Emmys, with Burton himself earning 11 of those prestigious awards for his contributions.

He is also recognized as Kunta Kinte from the revolutionary television miniseries Roots, which marked his initial acting opportunity after his very first professional audition. Additionally, he portrayed Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge in Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Alice Mary (Andre) Norton

Science fiction and fantasy writer Alice Mary Norton, born in Cleveland, Ohio, deserves an Author Shoutout. In 1934, she legally changed her name to Andre Norton with the intention of appealing more to the primary science fiction market, which was assumed to be boys. Over a span of 50 years, she displayed incredible productivity, having authored more than 70 works primarily targeted towards children and young adults. Notably, she holds the distinction of being the first woman to receive the prestigious titles of Gandalf Grand Master of Fantasy, SFWA Grand Master, and to be inducted into the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame.

In 2005, at the age of 93, she passed away. During that same year, the SFWA established the Andre Norton Award, which aims to recognize exceptional works of fantasy or science fiction in the young adult literature market.

Toni Morrison

An Author Shoutout goes to award-winning novelist Toni Morrison, who hails from Lorain, Ohio. During her upbringing, she immersed herself in the works of Jane Austen and Leo Tolstoy, while also being captivated by her grandfather’s recitation of African American folktales.

She received numerous accolades throughout her career, including the National Book Critics Award for Song of Solomon in 1977, the American Book Award and Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for Beloved in 1988, the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1993, the National Humanities Medal in 2000, an honorary doctorate from Oxford University in 2005, the Officier de la Légion d’Honneur in 2010, and the Presidential Medal of Honor in 2012. She passed away in 2019 at the age of 88 due to complications from pneumonia.

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