American author of children's books (1930–2023)
Mary Ann Hoberman (August 12, 1930 – July 7, 2023) was an American author of over 30 children's books.
Biography
Early life
Hoberman was born on August 12, 1930, in Stamford, Connecticut, but because her father changed jobs frequently, her family moved to New York City, New Jersey, New Haven, Connecticut, and eventually back to Stamford. Hoberman had a love for books from a young age, although she had few growing up during the Great Depression. In high school, Hoberman worked on the school's newspaper and was the editor of the yearbook. The first woman in her family to attend college, Hoberman attended Smith College, majoring in History, where she worked on the school's newspaper. During her senior year at Smith College, she married Norman Hoberman. Their son Chuck Hoberman invented the Hoberman sphere[1]
Professional life
Hoberman co-founded a children's theatre group called "The Pocket People", as well as a group that performed dramatized poetry readings called "Women's Voice" before she published her first book, All My Shoes Come in Twos, in 1957.[2] Many of Hoberman's books have been reviewed in multiple Academic Journals,[3] Magazines,[4] and Trade Publications.[5]
From elementary to college level, Hoberman has visited schools and libraries throughout the country to teach literature and writing. One of Hoberman's main concerns is literacy, which she furthered not only through her volunteer work with Literacy Volunteers of America,[2] but also through her You Read to Me, I’ll Read to You series. In 2003, Hoberman was named the second US Children's Poet Laureate (now called the Young People's Poet Laureate) by the Poetry Foundation, where she served from 2008 to 2011.[6] Hoberman lived in Greenwich, Connecticut and has four children and five grandchildren with her husband Norman.[2]
Death
Mary Ann Hoberman died at her Greenwich home on July 7, 2023, at the age of 92.[7][8]
