Jeanne Birdsall is a highly acclaimed American author, best known for her award-winning Penderwicks series. Born in 1951 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Birdsall grew up in the suburbs where she attended excellent public schools. She enjoyed the company of many great teachers who significantly influenced her life and writing, including Mrs. Corkhill, Mr. Tremonte, and Miss Basehore. Birdsall's love for writing began at the tender age of ten, but her journey as an author only started when she was forty-one.
Before becoming a writer, Birdsall held various unusual jobs to support herself and worked as a photographer, creating artful pieces that are now part of several museums' permanent collections, such as the Smithsonian and the Philadelphia Art Museum. Some of her work can still be seen in several galleries, including the R. Michelson Galleries in western Massachusetts. Currently, Birdsall resides in Northampton, Massachusetts, with her husband and a menagerie of animals, including three mischievous cats and a Boston terrier named Cagney.
Birdsall's literary career took off in 2005 when she published the first book in the Penderwicks series, which quickly gained popularity and critical acclaim. The novel earned her the prestigious Young People's Literature National Book Award, solidifying her status as a prominent author. The series follows the adventures of the Penderwick sisters, captivating readers with its blend of warmth, wit, and excitement. In addition to the Penderwicks series, Birdsall has also written various other literature and fiction novels, further establishing herself as a respected figure in children's literature.