Barbara M. Joosse

Barbara M. Joosse (born February 18, 1949) is an American children's writer. She has been writing for children for over thirty years. She has published thirty-eight books for children, both picture books and chapter books. Through her writing, she aspires to find the things that are the same, and the things that are different, between us all. She has toured worldwide to promote her books, which have been translated into twenty-eight languages. She was born in Grafton, Wisconsin to Robert Elmer (a banker) and M. Eileen Monnot on February 18, 1949. Her first marriage was to Peter Clifford Joosse (a psychiatrist) on August 30, 1969. They had three children: Maaike Sari, Anneke Els, and Robert Collin. Her second marriage was to Charles Thomas Whitehouse (a bronze sculptor) on July 30, 2005. She attended college in Wisconsin, first at the University of Wisconsin--Stevens Point and then received her B.A. at the University of Wisconsin--Madison in 1970. She attended University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee from 1977-80, taking creative writing classes. She is a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators and the Council for Wisconsin Writers.