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Patricia C. McKissack

パトリシア・シー・マッキサック

Patricia C. McKissack

Aliases: Pat McKissack / L'Ann Carwell / Patricia L'Ann Carwell
Pen Names: L'Ann Carwell（Pen name used on some earlier works）, Pat McKissack（Used as an informal/short form）, Patricia C. McKissack（Formal author credit）

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1944-08-09 （Smyrna, Tennessee, U.S.）
Died
2017-04-07 （Bridgeton, Missouri, U.S.） age 72
Nationality
United States
Languages
English
Residence History
Smyrna, Tennessee (birthplace) → St. Louis, Missouri (long-term residence) → Chesterfield, Missouri (from 1995)

Career

Occupations
children's writer, author, educator
Active Years
1985-2017
Affiliations
National Children's Book and Literacy Alliance (board member)
Influenced By
Paul Laurence Dunbar
Influenced
Fredrick L. McKissack Jr. (son and collaborator)

Education

Tennessee State University (formerly Tennessee Agricultural and Industrial State University)
English / English
Degree: B.A.
Year of Graduation: 1964
Country: United States
Met Fredrick McKissack while attending
Webster University
Graduate studies (child education) / Education
Degree: M.A.
Country: United States
Completed an M.A. in child education

Awards

Coretta Scott King Award
1990
Work: A Long Hard Journey: The Story of the Pullman Porter
Organization: American Library Association (Coretta Scott King Book Awards)
Result: winner
Jane Addams Children's Book Award
1990
Work: A Long Hard Journey: The Story of the Pullman Porter
Organization: Jane Addams Children's Book Award
Result: winner
Carter G. Woodson Book Award
1993
Work: Madam C.J. Walker
Organization: National Council for the Social Studies
Result: winner
Coretta Scott King Award
1993
Work: The Dark-Thirty: Southern Tales of the Supernatural
Organization: American Library Association (Coretta Scott King Book Awards)
Result: winner
Coretta Scott King Award
1995
Work: Christmas in the Big House, Christmas in the Quarters
Organization: American Library Association (Coretta Scott King Book Awards)
Result: winner
PEN/Steven Kroll Award
2012
Work: Never Forgotten
Organization: PEN America
Result: winner
Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement
2014
Work: Joint award (Fredrick & Patricia)
Organization: American Library Association (ALA)
Result: winner
NAACP Image Award
Organization: NAACP
Result: winner

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Flossie & the Fox

1986 Picture book

A humorous picture book for children in which the protagonist Flossie uses wit to escape a fox.

witfolktale elementschildhood courage

The Dark-Thirty: Southern Tales of the Supernatural

1992 Short story collection / supernatural tales

A collection of Southern supernatural tales inspired by the author's childhood memories of the half-hour before dark; stories reflect history and race in the American South.

folkloreSouthern U.S. historysupernatural

A Long Hard Journey: The Story of the Pullman Porter

1990 Non-fiction / history

A children's history book about the Pullman porters, their roles, labor struggles, and challenges against racial discrimination.

labor historyAfrican American historycivil rights

Nzingha: Warrior Queen of Matamba

2000 Historical fiction (for young readers)

A fictional diary of Queen Nzingha of Matamba written for The Royal Diaries series, presenting historical events for young readers.

African historyfemale leadershiphistorical reconstruction

Never Forgotten

2011 Children's literature / picture book

A picture-book-style work about family memory and loss, illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon.

familymemoryloss

Bibliography

  • Flossie & the Fox
  • The Dark-Thirty: Southern Tales of the Supernatural
  • A Long Hard Journey: The Story of the Pullman Porter
  • Nzingha: Warrior Queen of Matamba
  • Never Forgotten

Style & Themes

Literary Style
clear, conversational style for young readerspresents historical facts in accessible narrative form
Recurring Motifs
African American history and heroesfolktales and oral traditionfamily and community

Legacy

Patricia C. McKissack authored over 100 children's books and played a major role in bringing African American history and culture to young readers. She received multiple Coretta Scott King Awards and other children's literature honors and is highly regarded in educational and library communities.

Academic Societies

  • Organizations associated with the American Library Association

Archives

  • Library of Congress (holdings related to the author)
  • WorldCat / various university library holdings

In Popular Culture

  • Works widely used in school curricula and reading programs

Trivia

  • Authored or co-authored over 100 books.
  • Collaborated extensively with her husband Fredrick McKissack and won multiple awards jointly.
  • Served on the board of the National Children's Book and Literacy Alliance.
  • Born in Smyrna, Tennessee; later lived in Chesterfield, Missouri.