Carol Fenner, 72; Award-Winning Author of Children’s Books

Carol Fenner, 72, a children’s book writer and illustrator who won a Newbery Honor Award for “Yolanda’s Genius,” died Saturday of cancer at her home in Battle Creek, Mich.

Born in Almond, N.Y., the oldest of five children, Fenner spent parts of her childhood in Brooklyn and later in rural Connecticut. Published in 1995, “Yolanda’s Genius” earned the Newbery award in 1996. In 1979, Fenner was runner-up for the Coretta Scott King Freedom Award with her book “The Skates of Uncle Richard.” She received the Christopher Medal for her nonfiction book “Gorilla, Gorilla” in 1973.

She wrote and illustrated “Tigers in the Cellar” in 1963, “Christmas Tree on the Mountain” in 1966 and “Lagalag, the Wanderer” in 1968. Fenner also wrote “Randall’s Wall” in 1991 and “The King of Dragons” in 1998.