Holman, Felice

Felice Holman was born October 24, 1919 in New York City. She graduated from Syracuse University in 1941 and later worked as an advertising copywriter. Felice Holman married Herbert Valen in 1941 and some of the experiences of their daughter Nanine Elisabeth Valen would serve as the model for her first book Elisabeth, The Bird Watcher published in 1963. During the 1960s, she published two more "Elisabeth" stories and wrote some humorous books for children. In 1970, she published her first book for poetry for children At the Top of My Voice. Critics praised the poems for their "originality, humor and point." She continued to write humorous stories for young readers including The Escape of the Giant Hogstalk (1974) that critics called filled "with giggles interspersed with horse laughs all the way." In the 1970s, she also began writing realistic fiction for young adults. Her book Slake's Limbo(1974), the story of a boy who lives in a cave below Grand Central Station was lauded for its "authenticity of detail" and as "remarkably taut" and "convincing." In 1975, she co-wrote The Drac: French Tales of Dragons and Demons, a collection of French legends with her daughter Nanine Valen. Throughout her long and prolific career, Felice Holman has received several honors including a Lewis Carroll Shelf Award best book for young adult's citation and an American Library Association notable book citation for Slake's Limbo in 1978. Biographical Sources: Something About the Author, vol. 82, pp. 104-108; and Twentieth-Century Children's Writers, 3rd ed., pp. 464-465.

From the description of Felice Holman Papers 1962-1986. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 462884720

American author of children's and young adult fiction and poetry.

From the description of The escape of the Giant Hogstalk : production material, ca. 1970-1974. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62495051

From the description of Elisabeth, the bird watcher : production material, ca. 1962-1963. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62495050

From the description of The Drac : French tales of dragons and demons : production material, ca. 1974-1975. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62495049

From the description of The wild children : production material, ca. 1983. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62444382

From the description of The future of Hooper Toote : production material, ca. 1972. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62451898

From the description of The holiday rat ; and The utmost mouse : production material, ca. 1969. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62451899

From the description of Elisabeth, the treasure hunter : production material, ca. 1962-1964. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62444377

From the description of Elisabeth and the marsh mystery : production material, ca. 1964-1966. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62444376

From the description of I hear you smiling, and other poems : production material, ca. 1973. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62444379

From the description of The murderer : production material, ca. 1978. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62451900

From the description of Professor Diggins' dragons : production material, ca. 1966. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62451901

From the description of Victoria's castle : production material, ca. 1966. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62444381

From the description of Silently, the cat, and Miss Theodosia : production material, ca. 1964-1965. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62681027

From the description of At the top of my voice and other poems : production material, ca. 1968-1970. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62681026

From the description of A year to grow : production material, ca. 1968. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62681030

From the description of Solomon's search : production material, ca. 1969-1970. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62681028

From the description of The song in my head : production material, ca. 1985. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62681029

From the description of Papers, 1962-1986 (bulk 1963-1985). (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62406468

From the description of The blackmail machine : production material, ca. 1968. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62406469

From the description of Slake's limbo : production material, ca. 1974. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62495052

From the description of The witch on the corner : production material, ca. 1966. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62495053

From the description of The cricket winter : production material, ca. 1967. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62495047

Felice Holman was born October 24, 1919 in New York City. She graduated from Syracuse University in 1941 and later worked as an advertising copywriter. Felice Holman married Herbert Valen in 1941 and some of the experiences of their daughter Nanine Elisabeth Valen would serve as the model for her first book Elisabeth, The Bird Watcher published in 1963. During the 1960s, she published two more "Elisabeth" stories and wrote some humorous books for children. In 1970, she published her first book for poetry for children At the Top of My Voice. Critics praised the poems for their "originality, humor and point." She continued to write humorous stories for young readers including The Escape of the Giant Hogstalk (1974) that critics called filled "with giggles interspersed with horse laughs all the way." In the 1970s, she also began writing realistic fiction for young adults. Her book Slake's Limbo (1974), the story of a boy who lives in a cave below Grand Central Station was lauded for its "authenticity of detail" and as "remarkably taut" and "convincing." In 1975, she co-wrote The Drac: French Tales of Dragons and Demons, a collection of French legends with her daughter Nanine Valen. Throughout her long and prolific career, Felice Holman has received several honors including a Lewis Carroll Shelf Award best book for young adult's citation and an American Library Association notable book citation for Slake's Limbo in 1978.

Biographical Sources: Something About the Author, vol. 82, pp. 104-108; and Twentieth-Century Children's Writers, 3rd ed., pp. 464-465.

From the guide to the Felice Holman Papers, 1962-1986, (University of Minnesota Libraries Children's Literature Research Collections [clrc])