Denise Holly Hobbie (née Ulinskas;[1]: 102  born 1944) is an American writer, watercolorist[2]: 127  and illustrator.[3] She is best known for creating the American Greetings character which, originally unnamed, is now also called Holly Hobbie. She also created the Toot & Puddle series of children's books.

Holly Hobbie
BornHolly Ulinskas
1944 (age 79–80)
Watertown, Connecticut, U.S.
Occupation
  • Writer
  • watercolorist
  • illustrator
Spouse
Douglas Hobbie
(m. 1964)

Personal life

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She is from Connecticut[1]: 102  and married Douglas Hobbie in 1964. She resides in Conway, Massachusetts.

Born Holly Ulinskas from Watertown, Connecticut.

Career

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Author

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Hobbie is the author of the popular Toot & Puddle children's books and the creator of the character bearing her name.

Namesake character

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In the late 1960s, at the encouragement of her brother-in-law,[2]: 128  Hobbie sold distinctive artwork of a cat-loving, rag dress-wearing little girl in a giant bonnet to American Greetings in Cleveland, Ohio. The artwork, based on Hobbie's own children and with rustic New England style of a bygone era,[2]: 128  became popular, and her originally nameless[3] character (identified earlier as "blue girl") became known as Holly Hobbie.

Works

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Toot & Puddle series

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Toot & Puddle are best friends, even though Toot likes to travel and Puddle likes to stay at home in Woodcock Pocket.

Books

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  • Toot & Puddle
  • A Present for Toot
  • You Are My Sunshine
  • Puddle's ABC
  • I'll Be Home For Christmas
  • Top of the World
  • Charming Opal
  • The New Friend
  • Wish You Were Here
  • The One and Only
  • Let It Snow
  • How Does Your Garden Grow?

Television show

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The adaptation of the books, Toot & Puddle was made in 2008 by Mercury Filmworks, National Geographic Kids, and Treehouse TV.

Film

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In December 2006, Toot & Puddle: I'll Be Home for Christmas, serving as the pilot episode to Toot & Puddle, aired on Treehouse in Canada and on Noggin in the US. It was released on DVD by National Geographic.[4]

Other books

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  • Elmore (2018)
  • A Cat Named Swan (2017)
  • The night before Christmas (Text by Clement Clarke Moore) (2013)
  • Gem (2012)
  • Fanny (2008)
  • Fanny & Annabelle (2009)
  • Everything But The Horse: A Childhood Memory (2010)
  • The Art of Holly Hobbie (1980)
  • Holly Hobbie's the night before Christmas (1976)

References

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  1. ^ a b Brewer, Susan (2010). Collecting Classic Girls' Toys. Remember When. ISBN 9781783375219.
  2. ^ a b c Brewer, Susan (2013). Famous Character Dolls. Casemate Publishers. ISBN 9781844680948.
  3. ^ a b Soligny, Aurélie (21 November 2012). "Inspiration: Holly Hobbie". plumetismagazine.net (in French). Retrieved April 5, 2017.
  4. ^ "Videos for Kids - National Geographic Kids". Nationalgeographic.com. 2013-01-29. Retrieved 2015-04-17.
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