Denise Holly Hobbie (née Ulinskas;[1]: 102 born 1944) is an American writer, watercolorist[2]: 127 and illustrator.[3] She is best known for creating the American Greetings character which, originally unnamed, is now also called Holly Hobbie. She also created the Toot & Puddle series of children's books.
She is from Connecticut[1]: 102 and married Douglas Hobbie in 1964. She resides in Conway, Massachusetts.
Born Holly Ulinskas from Watertown, CT
Hobbie is the author of the popular Toot & Puddle children's books and the creator of the character bearing her name.
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Main article: Holly Hobbie (fictional character) |
In the late 1960s, at the encouragement of her brother-in-law,[2]: 128 Hobbie sold distinctive artwork of a cat-loving, rag dress-wearing little girl in a giant bonnet to American Greetings in Cleveland, Ohio. The artwork, based on Hobbie's own children and with rustic New England style of a bygone era,[2]: 128 became popular, and her originally nameless[3] character (identified earlier as "blue girl") became known as Holly Hobbie.
Toot & Puddle are best friends, even though Toot likes to travel and Puddle likes to stay at home in Woodcock Pocket.
The adaptation of the books, Toot & Puddle was made in 2008 by Mercury Filmworks, National Geographic Kids, and Treehouse TV.
In December 2006, Toot & Puddle: I'll Be Home for Christmas, serving as the pilot episode to Toot & Puddle, aired on Treehouse in Canada and on Noggin in the US. It was released on DVD by National Geographic.[4]
