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As time goes on, you can expect to find on this page a wide-ranging collection of our memories of Barbara Cooney and a close look at her life, her phenomenal career and the body of work she produced over a period of more than half a century. Among her more than 110 books for children were two Caldecott Medal winners, Chanticleer and the Fox (1959 ) and Ox Cart Man (1980), and many people will of course remember her best for her widely acclaimed book, Miss Rumphius, which won the National Book Award in 1983.
Of all her books, Island Boy was closest to her heart she said. Barbara Cooney loved the state of Maine, and when, on December 12th in 1996, she was the first person ever to be named a Living Treasure of the State of Maine by Governor Angus King, she considered that to be not only the pinnacle of her career . . . but of her life. She was born on August 6th, 1917, and died on March 10th, 2000.
We at the Maine Coast Book Shop & Café feel we can justifiably claim Barbara for our own. She was, after all, the mother of Barnaby Porter and a wonderful friend and mother-in-law of Susan Porter, the owner of and primary force at our bookshop for over 35 years. Barbara was at one time Susan’s silent partner, having always wanted to be able to say she at least owned part of a bookshop herself. So we have found ourselves thinking of late, with the magic of this website, that we should bring Barbara Cooney back to life in a way only we who were closest to her can.
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