Born: 1949
Ohio connection: Birth
Cincinnati
Louise Walker Borden was born in 1949 to William Lee and Louise (Crutcher) Walker. Inspired by a grandmother who loved history, Borden grew up fascinated by the stories of ordinary people and their relation to historical events. An avid reader of nonfiction and historical fiction, Borden majored in history at Denison University earning a B.A. in 1971. Later the same year she married Peter A. Borden. She worked as a teaching assistant and later as a teacher for young children, and realized a lifelong dream when she became co-owner of The Bookshelf, a bookstore in her hometown of Cincinnati. When the younger of their two daughters started elementary school Borden began work on her first children’s book, Caps, Hats, Socks, and Mittens: A Book About the Four Seasons. Borden has penned over two dozen books and her love of history has come into play in many of them, as has her experience, through both teaching and parenthood, with children’s thoughts, feelings, and concerns. She and her husband reside in Terrace Park, Ohio.
Awards:
Parents’ Choice Award, Reading Magic Award, & 1998 Notable Book in the Field of Social Studies for The Little Ships. American Booksellers’ Pick-of-the-Lists for The Watching Game. Ohioana Book Award Finalist for Juvenile Literature (2007) and ALA Notable Book for The Journey That Saved Curious George: The True Wartime Escape of Margret and H. A. Rey. Ohioana Book Award for Juvenile Literature (2005), Jr. Library Guild Selection & School Library Journal starred review for The Greatest Skating Race. Best Books for Children (2003) selection for Touching the Sky: The Flying Adventures of Wilbur and Orville Wright. Children’s’ Book-of-the-Month Club selection for America Is. A Jr. Library Guild Selection for The Day Eddie Met the Author. CBC/NCSS Notable Social Studies Trade Book & IRA Teachers’ Choice Book for Fly High: The Story of Bessie Coleman. Best Children’s Books of the Year (2000) selection and Smithsonian Notable Books for Children (2000) selection for Sleds on Boston Commons. Parents’ Choice Award for A. Lincoln and Me. Jr. Library Guild Selection, 2000 Christopher Award and Parents’ Choice Recommended Book for Good Luck, Mrs. K. Crossings for Kids Book Club Main Selection and 1999 Notable Book in the Field of Social Studies for Good-Bye Charles Lindbergh.