It’s the birthday of Charlotte Zolotow (1915-2013, #nicelonglife), author of over 90 children’s books and editor of hundreds more. Her best-known books include Mr. Rabbit and the Lovely Present (1962, illustrated by Maurice Sendak), The Hating Book (1969), The Seashore Book (1992), My Grandson Lew (1974, illustrated by William Pène du Bois), and William’s Doll (1972, also illustrated by du Bois), which last was adapted as a song and included in the album “Free to Be…You and Me.”

Zolotow was born in Norfolk, Virginia, the second of two daughters. She had a father who was beloved but terrible at business and a beautiful, overbearing mother. The family moved frequently for financial reasons but also because Zolotow’s mother liked moving. Zolotow was shy and had trouble making friends; fortunately, she wore thick glasses, braces, and a back brace for her scoliosis, so the other children treated her with extra kindness. (That was sarcasm. Children are horrible, which explains a lot about adults.)

Zolotow had a beloved dog named Pudgie. When the family moved to New York, they gave Pudgie away and Zolotow’s mother lied about it, saying the dog had run away. Zolotow was heartbroken and asked repeatedly about the dog until (according to her web site) her mother snapped, “She turned into a duck and flew away.” Zolotow’s confusion and sense of betrayal helped form her as a writer; she was an author who cared deeply about children’s feelings, and her books often told the truth about difficult topics.

Zolotow studied at the University of Wisconsin and started her career in publishing in adult books but transitioned to children’s books under the tutelage of the great children’s book editor Ursula Nordstrom, and when Nordstrom retired in the 1970s, Zolotow took over as head of Harper & Row’s children’s division.

Zolotow was married and divorced. She had a daughter, author Crescent Dragonwagon (formerly Ellen Zolotow), and a son, professional poker player Stephen Zolotow. Dragonwagon has published prolifically in six different genres, including culinary memoirs, and Stephen, who changed his name to Zee, plays poker in Las Vegas.

In unrelated news, I lead a very quiet life.

Have a lovely day as this sunny Wednesday unfolds, and in the spirit of staying scrupulously honest to the data, do not lie to your children should a beloved pet die or disappear, trusting instead that the truth shall set you free.