An 'indispensable' writing factor

 

“Icould not write my books without the library’s help.  Even with the ease of Internet research, Ifind books to be indispensable when I am writing.  . . . Books make me laugh, cry, and think. . . . They help me make important decisions, and they provide endlessentertainment.” – Peg Kehret

 

Bornin La Crosse, WI on this date in 1936, Kehret said she always loved towrite, and as a child wanted to be either a writer or a veterinarian.  So, she included animals in most of her books.   Nowretired from writing, she still volunteers with animal rescue groups and is therecipient of the Henry Bergh Award from the American Society for the Preventionof Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA.)

 

 

Apolio survivor – she beat three types of polio at age 12 – Kehret startedwriting while still in her teens, writing primarilyfor children and young adults.  She’salso written plays, radio commercials and magazine stories, winning more than 50awards throughout her career.  Among herawards are the PEN Center Award inChildren’s Literature, and the Golden Kite Award from the Society of Children’sBook Writers & Illustrators.

 "I wasn't inspired so much by a person as by reading many good books," she said of her long and successful career.  "I loved to write and I wondered if I might be able to write material that others would enjoy."  Mission accomplished.