Barbara Cooney (1917-2000) was an American writer and illustrator of 110 children's books, published over sixty years. She won a National Book Award for "Miss Rumphius" (1983) and Caldecott Medals for two other books. Her books have been translated into 10 languages. Cooney was the U.S. nominee in 1994 for the biennial, international Hans Christian Andersen Award, the highest international recognition for creators of children's books.