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Remembering Jean Van Leeuwen: A Legacy in Children’s Literature

Jean Van Leeuwen, a celebrated children’s author renowned for her engaging stories that captivated young readers, passed away on March 3 at her residence in Chappaqua, N.Y., due to cancer. She was 87 years old.

Born on December 26, 1937, in Glen Ridge, N.J., Van Leeuwen was the daughter of Cornelius, a minister, and Dorothy, a teacher. She spent her formative years in Rutherford, N.J., where she developed an early love for reading. In an essay for Something About the Author, she reflected on her upbringing, noting, “It was not that my family was a particularly literary one. I was just irresistibly attracted to books.” This passion for literature consumed her throughout her childhood, leading her to constantly be found with a book in hand.

By the sixth grade, Van Leeuwen’s literary interests solidified, influencing her aspirations. She recalled her first creative endeavor—a story about a girl and her horse—along with a class project where she chose to report on the profession of a book editor.

Van Leeuwen attended Syracuse University starting in 1955. After engaging in liberal arts coursework for two years, she declared a major in magazine journalism at the university’s School of Journalism, envisioning a career in writing and editing. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1959 and initially worked as an assistant editor at TV Guide. However, feeling unfulfilled, she transitioned to a position as a library promotion assistant at Abelard-Schuman, a small publishing firm, where she volunteered to support notable children’s book editor Frances Schwartz.

In 1963, Van Leeuwen joined Random House as an assistant editor in their children’s department. Around this time, she began writing for young audiences and enrolled in a night class taught by picture book author William Lipkind, who later invited her to a writers’ workshop. Her confidence grew, and in 1967, she published her first book, Timothy’s Flower, which was inspired by a boy she observed in her neighborhood.

After publishing her debut, Van Leeuwen took on the role of associate editor at Viking Press in 1968, where she worked with editor-in-chief Velma Verner. That same year, she married Bruce Gavril, a mechanical engineer, and they eventually had two children together.

Van Leeuwen continued to release numerous children’s titles, including The Great Cheese Conspiracy in 1969, which marked the beginning of a series featuring a crime-boss rat and his hapless rodent crew. In 1970, she assumed a senior editor position at Dial Press, collaborating closely with her longtime editor, Phyllis Fogelman.

As her family expanded with the births of her son David in 1972 and daughter Elizabeth a year later, Van Leeuwen made the decision to halt her formal publishing career to focus on motherhood while continuing to write. During this busy phase, she created a series centered on sibling pigs, Oliver and Amanda, inspired by her real-life experiences as a mother. In 1979, her book Tales of Oliver Pig, illustrated by Arnold Lobel, became one of the first titles in Dial’s collection of early readers, eventually leading to a beloved series of 20 entries. The story Amanda Pig and the Really Hot Day (2005) was honored as a Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Book in 2006.

Throughout her career, Van Leeuwen authored over 50 children’s books that encompassed a wide range of genres, including picture books, middle-grade novels like Dear Mom, You’re Ruining My Life (1989), and historical fiction such as Cabin on Troubled Creek (2004). Her stories often drew from her family life, and in 2009, she published Chicken Soup (Abrams), illustrated by her son, David Gavril.

Engaging with her audience was something Van Leeuwen cherished, particularly during school visits, where she enjoyed connecting directly with children. She also cherished the letters she received from her young readers. In her local community, she collaborated for many years with first-grade teacher Yvonne Davies at Douglas Grafflin Elementary School, serving as a one-on-one writing mentor each fall. The surprise on the students’ faces when they learned the volunteer they knew as Mrs. Gavril was, in fact, the author Jean Van Leeuwen, created memorable moments, as described by Davies in 2015.

Author-illustrator Marisabina Russo, a longtime friend of Van Leeuwen, shared a touching remembrance of their friendship, emphasizing their mutual love for children’s literature despite their different backgrounds. She recalled their writing group and how Van Leeuwen listened intently to others before sharing her own work with humility and kindness. Russo highlighted Van Leeuwen’s grace, humor, and the impact she had through her books, which will continue to resonate with readers.

Fellow author Roni Schotter also expressed her fondness for Van Leeuwen, recounting their first meeting at a book awards ceremony. Having admired Van Leeuwen’s works, particularly the Amanda and Oliver Pig series, Schotter found her to be talented yet modest. Their friendship blossomed over shared experiences in the publishing world, and Schotter appreciated Van Leeuwen’s kind-hearted nature, emphasizing her elegance and warmth.

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