Patricia MacLachlan
State: Wyoming
Patricia MacLachlan was a beloved author of over 60 children’s novels and picture books whose writing resonated with gentle wisdom and emotional clarity. Raised on the Wyoming prairie, she carried a small pouch of prairie soil with her throughout life—a reminder of her earliest inspirations. After earning a BA in English from the University of Connecticut, she spent years teaching before publishing her first picture book, The Sick Day, in 1979. Her breakthrough came with Sarah, Plain and Tall (1985), a heartfelt novel of pioneering life that won the 1986 Newbery Medal and multiple other awards. Its sequels—Skylark, Caleb’s Story, More Perfect Than the Moon, and Grandfather’s Dance—continued to explore family, belonging, and resilience. MacLachlan’s spare, evocative prose illuminated everyday moments and emotional truths, earning her a National Humanities Medal in 2002 and a cherished place in children’s literature. She passed away in March 2022.
Genres: Contemporary, Historical Fiction, Picture Book
Audiences: Children's, Middle Grade, Young Adult