Newbery Medal (John Newbery Medal)
1 appearances
-
Edition 20 (1941) Nominee
Mary Jane Carr
メアリー・ジェーン・カー
Mearī Jēn Kā
Profile
- Gender
- Female
- Born
- 1895-04-23 （Portland, Oregon, United States）
- Died
- 1988-01-04 （Portland, Oregon, United States） age 92
- Nationality
- American
- Languages
- English
- Residence History
- Portland, Oregon, United States
Career
- Occupations
- Author, Journalist
- Active Years
- 1928-1988
- Affiliations
- Catholic Sentinel (editor)
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Mary's College (now Marylhurst University) | — | — | — | — | United States |
St. Mary's College (now Marylhurst University)
Country:
United States
Studied journalism; worked in proofreading and editorial writing.
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
The Magic of May
1928 Children's literatureAn early work containing poems and short pieces reflecting a child's perspective and lyrical sensibilities.
childrennatureseasons
Children of the Covered Wagon
1934 Children's literatureA children's novel set in the pioneer era, depicting wagon-train journeys, family bonds, and frontier adventures.
westward expansionfamilyadventurehistory
Adaptations
- [Film] Westward Ho the Wagons! (1956)
Peggy and Paul and Laddy
1936 Children's literatureA story focusing on children, telling gently about friendship and everyday events.
friendshipgrowing upfamily
Young Mac of Fort Vancouver
1940 Children's literatureA children's novel set against the historical background of Fort Vancouver, following the growth and adventures of a young protagonist.
historyadventurecoming of age
Top of the Morning
1941 PoetryA poetry collection notable for rhythmic language and nature imagery; some poems were later adapted into other media.
natureseasonslyricism
Adaptations
- [Adaptation for narration/film score] The Autumn Wind (adapted for NFL Films, 1974) / Steve Sabol (1974)
Bibliography
- The Magic of May, 1928
- Children of the Covered Wagon, 1934
- Peggy and Paul and Laddy, 1936
- Young Mac of Fort Vancouver, 1940
- Top of the Morning, 1941
Adaptations
- Children of the Covered Wagon was adapted into the 1956 film Westward Ho the Wagons! by Walt Disney
- The poem "Pirate Wind" was adapted by Steve Sabol as "The Autumn Wind" for NFL Films in 1974
Translations of Works
- Braille editions adopted in several schools
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- Lyrical, rhythmic poetic expressionChild-centered narrative voice
- Recurring Motifs
- nature imageryfamily bondswestward expansion history
Legacy
Mary Jane Carr was known for her children's literature and poetry; several works were adapted or repurposed for other media. Notably, Children of the Covered Wagon was filmed and her poem "Pirate Wind" was used as "The Autumn Wind" by NFL Films, marking a cultural reach beyond literature and contributing to portrayals of pioneer-era America in children's fiction.
In Popular Culture
- Her poem "Pirate Wind," adapted as "The Autumn Wind," was used by NFL Films and had an impact on American popular culture
Trivia
- Wrote her first poem at age eight.
- Children of the Covered Wagon was adapted into a 1956 film by Walt Disney.
- Her poem "Pirate Wind" was adapted as "The Autumn Wind" for NFL Films in 1974.
- Several of her books were transcribed into Braille and used in schools.
- Worked for many years editing for the Catholic Sentinel.