Joan Walsh Anglund, artist, poet and children’s book creator

~ Book Club Mom

Last week, I read that Joan Walsh Anglund passed away on March 9 at age 95. One of my favorite books as a young girl was A Friend Is Someone Who Likes You. When I was in Kindergarten, I bragged that I could read it, and soon found myself at the front of the class at story time. I didn’t really know how to read it or anything else, but I knew most of the book by heart. I stumbled through a few pages, but the pictures carried us through and no one seemed to care. I like to think it was because the story and pictures are so nice.

A Friend Is Someone Who Likes You was published in 1958 and was selected as one of the New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Books that year.

You can read my review here and Anglund’s obituary in Publishers Weekly here.

Thanks for visiting – come back soon!

36 thoughts on “Joan Walsh Anglund, artist, poet and children’s book creator”

  4. Hi Barbara, This sounds like a lovely book. Michael tricked us into believing he was reading for a whole year by memorizing basic words. It was only when the books got harder we discovered his learning barrier. Kids are amazing.

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    1. Hi Betsy – haha! Well I’m glad I got through the middle pages of that book without anyone noticing or saying too much. Definitely did not know how to read! Thanks for the visit 🙂

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  6. A great memory. I’m smiling thinking of you – that little girl claiming you could read and then being put on the spot. But of course you succeeded with grace. To Joan Walsh Anglund -a marvelous children’s writer for her time.

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    1. Well Pam if you knew me as a little girl you’d know that I didn’t have a clue how to read. I’m not sure how well I handled it. Fortunately I don’t think anyone would remember now! Thanks for the visit 🙂

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  7. I’m breaking my blog “fast” this week to comment here. Joan Walsh Anglund books were a huge part of my childhood/girlhood reading. I found the simplicity of the artwork beguiling. Still do!

    I love the story of your “reading” the story to your kindergarten class – ha!

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    1. Hi Marian – aren’t her books so nice? I still have my little “A Friend Is Someone Who Likes You” and I have a copy in German and French too (from my sister). Thanks for breaking your blog fast to comment!

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  12. I had so many Joan Walsh Anglund books when I was a child. And a framed print on my bedroom wall. She influenced me, a shy kid, in subtle ways that helped me cope with the kids around me. I haven’t of her in years. May she RIP.

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      2. They were still in our parents’ house when we cleared it out last year. I would have saved them, but they weren’t in very good condition. I played with them a lot. I had a red-haired girl, a blond girl and a little boy with red hair. 🙂

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      3. So sweet. Being nosy here, how did you get rid of them? I have some worn out old Raggedy Anns, but every time I look in their faces I can’t bear to put them in a trash bag. I’m being silly, aren’t I? 😕

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      4. No definitely not silly. We had a huge task, clearing out our parents’ house to sell it. We had so much to go through and couldn’t keep everything. I remember them well, though and that’s enough for me. I kept other things 🙂

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    1. Hi Priscilla – I don’t know if you got to read the obituary but the article said that her husband submitted her notes for the book without telling her. He’d found them in a drawer and knew they were so good. Thanks for reading and commenting!

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