Denise Holly Hobbie (née Ulinskas; born 1944) is an American writer, watercolorist and illustrator. 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.

Personal life

She is from Connecticut and married Douglas Hobbie in 1964. She resides in Conway, Massachusetts. Born Holly Ulinskas from Watertown, Connecticut.

Career

Author

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

Namesake character

In the late 1960s, at the encouragement of her brother-in-law, 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, became popular, and her originally nameless character (identified earlier as "blue girl") became known as Holly Hobbie.

Works

Toot & Puddle series

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

Books

Television show

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

Film

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.

Other books