Emily Arnold McCully

Emily Arnold McCully (born July 1, 1939) is an American author and illustrator best known for children's picture books such as Mirette on the High Wire, for which she won the 1993 Caldecott Medal, along with other notable works like Picnic (Christopher Award), Ballerina Swan, and historical biographies including Ida M. Tarbell: The Woman Who Challenged Big Business – And Won!. Born in Galesburg, Illinois, and raised on Long Island, New York, she graduated from Pembroke College and earned an M.A. in art history from Columbia University, transitioning from advertising and adult fiction to a prolific career in children's literature featuring brave girls, historical subjects, and funny animals. Kids, official website