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Meindert De Jong

マインダート・デヨング

Meindert De Jong

Aliases: de Jong / DeJong / Dejong

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1906-03-04 （Wierum, Friesland, Netherlands）
Died
1991-07-16 （Michigan, United States） age 85
Nationality
American
Languages
English
Religion
Christianity (Calvinist)
Residence History
Netherlands (birth) → United States (resident from childhood; mainly Michigan) → Mexico (resident for several years after WWII) → North Carolina (resident) → Returned to Michigan in later years

Career

Occupations
Writer, Children's author
Active Years
1938-1986
Influenced By
Dutch Calvinist education and culture

Education

Calvin College
Country: United States
Attended Dutch Calvinist schools and studied at Calvin College.
University of Chicago
Country: United States
Attended but left without graduating.

Awards

Hans Christian Andersen Award
1962
Organization: International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY)
Result: 受賞（児童文学への功績）
Newbery Medal
1955
Work: The Wheel on the School
Organization: Association for Library Service to Children (ALA)
Result: 受賞
Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis
1957
Work: Das Rad auf der Schule (German translation of The Wheel on the School)
Organization: Arbeitskreis für Jugendliteratur
Result: 受賞（訳作・ドイツ版にて）
Lewis Carroll Shelf Award
1963
Work: The Wheel on the School
Organization: Living Arts Corporation
Result: 選定（リスト入り）
Josette Frank Award
1956
Work: The House of Sixty Fathers
Organization: Child Study Association
Result: 受賞
Newbery Honor (Runner-up)
1954
Work: Shadrach; Hurry Home, Candy
Organization: Association for Library Service to Children (ALA)
Result: ランナーアップ（Newbery Honor）
Newbery Honor (Runner-up)
1957
Work: The House of Sixty Fathers
Organization: Association for Library Service to Children (ALA)
Result: ランナーアップ（Newbery Honor）
Newbery Honor (Runner-up)
1959
Work: Along Came a Dog
Organization: Association for Library Service to Children (ALA)
Result: ランナーアップ（Newbery Honor）
National Book Award (Children's Books)
1969
Work: Journey from Peppermint Street
Category: 児童書
Organization: National Book Foundation
Result: 受賞（部門賞）

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

The Big Goose and the Little White Duck

1938 Children's literature

De Jong's first book; a fable-like children's story.

friendshipanimals

Shadrach

1953 Children's literature

Story of a boy and his bond with an elephant. Chosen as a Newbery Honor book.

friendshipcoming of ageanimals

Hurry Home, Candy

1953 Children's literature

A dog's adventure and reunion tale; a Newbery Honor book.

homereturnanimals

The Wheel on the School

1954 Children's literature

Set in a Dutch fishing village, children cooperate to bring a wheel to their school. Winner of the 1955 Newbery Medal.

cooperationcommunitycoming of age
Adaptations
  • [Translation (German)] Das Rad auf der Schule (1957)
Translations
  • German translation (Das Rad auf der Schule)

The House of Sixty Fathers

1956 Children's literature

Set in wartime China, a boy and those who aid him. Winner of the Josette Frank Award and a Newbery Honor.

warhumanityrescue

Along Came a Dog

1958 Children's literature

A story about the bond between a community and a dog. Named a Newbery Honor book in 1959.

communityfriendshipanimals

Journey from Peppermint Street

1968 Children's literature

A tale of home and adventure. Winner of the 1969 National Book Award in the children's category.

adventurefamilycoming of age

Bibliography

  • The Big Goose and the Little White Duck
  • Shadrach
  • Hurry Home, Candy
  • The Wheel on the School
  • The House of Sixty Fathers
  • Along Came a Dog
  • Journey from Peppermint Street

Adaptations

  • The Wheel on the School was highly regarded in its German translation (Das Rad auf der Schule) with new illustrations.

Translations of Works

  • The Wheel on the School → German (Das Rad auf der Schule)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
plain, realistic narrationpsychological depiction from a child's perspectivewarm, restrained humor
Recurring Motifs
friendship and loyaltyrelationships between children and animalscommunity and cooperative effortwar and its effects

Legacy

De Jong was a major mid-20th-century figure in American children's literature. He gained international recognition with the 1955 Newbery Medal and the 1962 Hans Christian Andersen Award. His works are noted for honest child-centered portrayals and compassion.

Archives

  • Library of Congress holdings

In Popular Culture

  • Works are often used as educational material in children's literature.

Trivia

  • Emigrated from the Netherlands to the United States with his family in 1914.
  • Won the 1955 Newbery Medal for The Wheel on the School.
  • Won the 1962 Hans Christian Andersen Award, the first American recipient.
  • Six of his books were illustrated by Maurice Sendak.