MARGARET BLOY GRAHAM

1920 - 2015

Graham, Margaret Bloy Illustrator of many beloved children's books, including the popular Harry the Dirty Dog series, died January 22, 2015 at age 94 in Cambridge, MA. Born in Toronto, Canada in 1920, Margaret began her art training at the age of ten at Toronto's Art Gallery. She received her B.A. in art history from the University of Toronto in 1942 and moved to New York City. Splitting her time between working at Conde Nast Magazine and freelancing as a designer and illustrator, Margaret received her first Caldecott Honor Award illustrating Charlotte Zolotow's book, The Storm Book, in 1952. In 1948, Margaret married Gene Zion, a designer at Conde Nast. They began collaborating on children's books in 1950 -- texts by Gene Zion, illustrations by Margaret Graham. They published 13 books and received a Caldecott Honor Award for their fourth book, Really Spring,in 1955. Their marriage ended in 1966. Margaret left New York and moved to Cambridge, MA. The following year she wrote and illustrated Be Nice to Spiders. In 1971 Harper & Row published the first of her Benjy books, a series for which she is both author and illustrator. In the late 1980s, Margaret and old friend, Else Minarik (Little Bear series), collaborated on two children's books -- What If? and It's Spring. Margaret's books have been translated into more than a dozen languages. There will be a memorial service in the spring. For condolences, please visit www.keefefuneralhome.com