Coombs, Patricia

Patricia Coombs has illustrated juvenile books for others authors, but is best known for her self-illustrated titles, especially her "Dorrie" series. She was on the New York Times Ten Best Books of the Year list (1962), the Child Study Association of America Books of the year (1970, 1971-73, 1975-76, 1986), New York Times Ten Best Illustrated Books of the Year list (1972). Several Dorrie books have been Junior Literary Guild selections.

American author and illustrator from Los Angeles, California. She is most noted for her Dorrie series. She also contributes and illustrates for Poetry magazine.

Noted children's book author and illustrator, Patricia Coombs, was born in Los Angeles in 1926. As a child her family traveled a great deal. She attended numerous universities and received her BA in art and MA in English from the University of Washington. She married C. James Fox and they have lived much of their lives in the New York City area. She has said that she nursed her children through childhood illnesses by telling them stories, stories that eventually became the "Dorrie" books. She published her first book, Dorrie's Magic in 1962. She has won numerous awards for her children's books.

Biographical Source: Something About the Author, vol. 51, pp. 31-44.