Nonny Hogrogian | |
|---|---|
| Born | May Hogrogian (1932-05-07)May 7, 1932 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | May 9, 2024(2024-05-09) (aged 92) Holyoke, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Occupation |
|
| Alma mater | Hunter College |
| Genre | Children's literature |
| Notable awards | Caldecott Medal (1966, 1972) |
| Spouse | |
May "Nonny" Hogrogian (May 7, 1932 – May 9, 2024) was an American writer and illustrator, known best forchildren'spicture books. She won two annualCaldecott Medals for U.S. children's book illustrations. From childhood she preferred folk and fairy tales, poetry, fantasy and stories. TheNew York Times attributes her for bringing multiculturalism to children's literature by evoking her Armenian heritage.[1] Another children's author describes her approach to American culture as that of a patchwork quilt, rather than a melting pot.
Hogrogian was born inNew York City on May 7, 1932, to Mugerdich and Rakel (née Ansoorian) Hogrogian, who were born inArmenia and fled theArmenian genocide.[2] Her parents were amateur painters and her sister became an interior designer.[3] Hogrogian earned a B.A. in Fine Arts fromHunter College in 1953. Afterward, Hogrogian worked as abook designer atThomas Y. Crowell Co. She studied withAntonio Frasconi andHodaka Yoshida, and she studied art at the New School.[3] In 1960, Crowell published her first works inKing of the Kerry Fair, a book with text by Nicolete Meredith, which Hogrogian illustrated withwoodcuts. Subsequently, she worked as a designer at Holt and Scribner's and as a freelance illustrator.
In 1971 Hogrogian marriedDavid Kherdian, a writer and editor. For two years they lived inLyme Center, New Hampshire,[2] where he was the state "poet-in-the-schools." The state university library is one repository for their works (in a joint collection).[4] Hogrogian has illustrated some of his poetic anthologies and other works for publication.[3] For one seven year period, they moved to a farm in Oregon with other followers ofGeorge Gurdjieff.[2] In 2016 they moved to Armenia, but later moved back to the United States after she sustained a back injury—residing inBlack Mountain, North Carolina and then in western Massachusetts.[2]
Hogrogian died of cancer inHolyoke, Massachusetts on May 9, 2024, two days after her 92nd birthday.[2][5]
Hogrogian won theCaldecott Medal for illustration in 1966 and 1972. TheAmerican Library Association award annually recognizes the previous year's "most distinguished American picture book for children".[6]Always Room for One More was written bySorche Nic Leodhas and published byHolt, Rinehart and Winston in 1965.One Fine Day, an oldArmenian tale that she retold and illustrated, was published byMacmillan US in 1971.
Hogrogian received aCaldecott Honor in 1977 forThe Contest, another story she retold and illustrated.[6]
