Norma Simon, 90, in November (juv. writer of "All Families are Special," 2003)

[leno...@yahoo.com]

She died in Wellfleet, Massachusetts (Cape Cod).

I knew her for the 1976 book "Why Am I Different?" It's about all kinds of differences, including being a kid with food allergies. One kid doesn't even have a TV at home, but sees some programs at friends' houses. However, there's something else to think about. As one reviewer said in 2010: "I felt like the book lost its purpose in that it made differences seem so prominent instead of portraying that we are all the same but unique in our own ways. Looking again, I realize that this was first written in 1976... I guess the way we look at diversity has changed."

(But maybe Simon realized that by the time she wrote "All Families are Special"? I haven't read it, though.)


http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/wickedlocal-brewster/obituary.aspx?n=norma-simon&pid=190716990&fhid=2816

First half:

Norma Simon passed away early on November 2, 2018 comforted by her family. Norma was born in 1927 in Brooklyn, NY, the child of immigrant parents. She was a graduate of Brooklyn College and Bank Street School of Education, which greatly shaped her approach to early childhood education. She was a prolific childrens book author, pioneering the introduction of books which helped children give voice to their feelings, experiences and to celebrate the things that made them and their families different. Norma lived very happily in Wellfleet for 50 years and loved and was loved by so many good friends and neighbors over those years. She worked in the Wellfleet Elementary school for many years, helping children write the stories they wanted to share. Over the years she got great pleasure in talking to her former students when she would see them in town. She was very devoted to making and keeping Wellfleet a wonderful place...

http://www.lib.usm.edu/legacy/degrum/public_html/html/research/findaids/simon.htm
(more about her life and work)

https://www.google.com/search?q=norma+simon+books&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwie9o3hqJ3fAhWIm-AKHZoDD5wQ_AUIECgD&biw=1266&bih=850
(book covers)

https://www.google.com/search?q=norma+simon&source=lnms&tbm=bks&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwihk6buqJ3fAhWLZd8KHbiIC7oQ_AUIFCgB&biw=1266&bih=850
(synopses)

https://www.google.com/search?ei=2pMSXPSYLOGN_QauoKPIBw&q=norma+simon+kirkus&oq=norma+simon+kirkus&gs_l=psy-ab.3..33i160l2.2478.3769..3955...0.0..0.94.546.7......0....1..gws-wiz.......0j0i67j0i22i30.JEhXzaN7BGQ
(Kirkus reviews)

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/29234.Norma_Simon
(reader reviews)

https://www.google.com/search?biw=1920&bih=966&tbm=vid&ei=fpQSXN-PEOeMgged47u4CA&q=%22norma+simon%22&oq=%22norma+simon%22&gs_l=psy-ab.3..0j0i7i30k1l4.6948.7603.0.7813.2.2.0.0.0.0.84.157.2.2.0....0...1c.1.64.psy-ab..0.2.156...0i5i30k1.0.YAG1elfN8Fg
(includes two videos ABOUT her books)


WRITINGS BY THE AUTHOR:

The Wet World, illustrated by Jane Miller, Lippincott, 1954, reprinted, Candlewick Press (Cambridge, MA), 1995.
Baby HousBaby Housee, Lippincott, 1955, reprinted, Simon & Schuster Children's Books (New York, NY), 1995.
A Tree for Me, Lippincott, 1956.
Up and over the Hill, Lippincott, 1957.
My Beach House, Lippincott, 1958.
The Daddy Days, illustrated by Abner Graboff, Abelard, 1958.
A Day at the County Fair, Lippincott, 1959.
Happy Purim Night, illustrated by Ayala Gordon, United Synagogue of America, 1959.
The Purim Party, illustrated by Ayala Gordon, United Synagogue of America, 1959.
Rosh Hashanah, illustrated by Ayala Gordon, United Synagogue of America, 1959.
Yom Kippur, illustrated by Ayala Gordon, United Synagogue of America, 1959.
Our First Sukkah, illustrated by Ayala Gordon, United Synagogue of America, 1959.
My Simchat Torah Flag, illustrated by Ayala Gordon, United Synagogue of America, 1959.
Happy Hanukkah, United Synagogue of America, 1959.

Every Friday Night, illustrated by Harvey Weiss, United Synagogue of America, 1962.
My Family Seder, illustrated by Harvey Weiss, United Synagogue of America, 1962.
Tu Bishvat, illustrated by Harvey Weiss, United Synagogue of America, 1962.
Elly the Elephant, illustrated by Stanley Bleifeld, St. Martin's, 1962.
Passover, illustrated by Symeon Shimin, Crowell, 1965.
Benjy's Bird, Whitman (Morton Grove, IL), 1965.
Hanukkah, illustrated by Symeon Shimin, Crowell, 1966.
What Do I Say?, illustrated by Joe Lasker, Whitman (Morton Grove, IL), 1967, reprinted, Whitman (Morton Grove, IL), 1991.
Ruthie, Meredith Corp., 1968.
See the First Star, Whitman (Morton Grove, IL), 1968.
What Do I Do?, illustrated by Joe Lasker, Whitman (Morton Grove, IL), 1969.

How Do I Feel?, illustrated by Joe Lasker, Whitman (Morton Grove, IL), 1970.
I Know What I Like, illustrated by Dora Leder, Whitman (Morton Grove, IL), 1971.
I Was So Mad!, illustrated by Dora Leder, Whitman (Morton Grove, IL), 1974.
All Kinds of Families, illustrated by Joe Lasker, Whitman (Morton Grove, IL), 1976.
Why Am I Different?, illustrated by Dora Leder, Whitman (Morton Grove, IL), 1976.
We Remember Philip, illustrated by Ruth Sanderson, Whitman (Morton Grove, IL), 1978.

I'm Busy, Too, illustrated by Dora Leder, Whitman (Morton Grove, IL), 1980.
Go Away, Warts!, illustrated by Susan Lexa, Whitman (Morton Grove, IL), 1980.
Nobody's Perfect, Not Even My Mother, illustrated by Dora Leder, Whitman (Morton Grove, IL), 1981.
Where Does My Cat Sleep?, illustrated by Dora Leder, Whitman (Morton Grove, IL), 1982.
I Wish I Had My Father, Whitman (Morton Grove, IL), 1983.
Oh, That Cat!, illustrated by Dora Leder, Whitman (Morton Grove, IL), 1986.
The Saddest Time, illustrated by Jacqueline Rogers, Whitman (Morton Grove, IL), 1986.
Cats Do, Dogs Don't, Whitman (Morton Grove, IL), 1986.
Children Do, Grownups Don't, illustrated by Helen Cogancherry, Whitman (Morton Grove, IL), 1987.
Wedding Days, illustrated by Christa Kieffer, Whitman (Morton Grove, IL), 1988.
I Am Not a Crybaby, illustrated by Helen Cogancherry, Whitman (Morton Grove, IL), 1989.

Mama Cat's Year, illustrated by Dora Leder, Whitman (Morton Grove, IL), 1991.
Story of Hanukkah, illustrated by Leonid Gore, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 1997.
Story of Passover, illustrated by Erica Weihs, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 1997.
Looking Back at Wellfleet: A Children's Historical Walking Tour, Wellfleet Historical Society and the Wellfleet Elementary School (Wellfleet, MA), 1997.
Fire Fighters, illustrated by Pamela Paparone, Simon & Schuster Children's Books (New York, NY), 1998.
All Kinds of Children, illustrated by Diane Paterson, Whitman (Morton Grove, IL), 1999.

Every Family Is Special, Whitman (Morton Grove, IL), 2003.



Lenona.