"...the best cat artist since the Egyptians”. (Time Magazine) Clare Turlay Newberry (April 10, 1903-Feb.12, 1970); American author and illustrator of 17 published children's books. Achieved fame for her drawings of cats.... Four of her works were named Caldecott Honor Books. .... She had hoped to become a portrait painter, but she abandoned this in 1934 for cat illustration. Her book, Mittens, the story of a boy who posts an ad for his lost kitten, became a bestseller and was named one of the Fifty Books of the Year by the American Institute of Graphic Arts. Her 4 Caldecott Honor Books were Barkis, about a sister jealous of a brother's new puppy, Marshmallow, about the relationship between a cat and a baby rabbit, April's Kittens, about a family with an extra kitten in an apartment that permits only one cat, and T-Bone the Babysitter, about a cat with spring fever. Her book Smudge was also one of the AIGA Fifty Books of the Year. With the exception of Herbert the Lion and Lambert's Bargain.... Newberry's subjects were all drawn from life.... (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clare_Turlay_Newberry) Born in Enterprise, Oregon, and became a prolific author and illustrator of childrens books focused primarily on cats. She began drawing at age 2, and even though she did not complete any formal studies in art, she rose to be a very successful author and illustrator. Her first book, Herbert the Lion, was reviewed by the New York Times as "refreshingly imaginative" and full of high spirited nonsense." Her next book, Mittens, became a bestseller. Throughout her career she published 18 books, most of which were about cats. Perhaps she can be termed the first published cat lady. Her drawings are done in watercolor and/or pastel and ink and capture the true nature of acts and kittens in a playful manner. She died in San Diego. (http://www.thegreatcat.org/the-cat-in-art-and-photos-2/cats-in-art-20th-century/clare-turlay-newberry-1903-1970-american/) undefined

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