Author of Tuck Everlasting, Natalie Babbitt, was born in 1932.

Natalie Babbitt was born and raised in Ohio. As a child, she spent a great deal of time reading and drawing. She always wanted to become an illustrator, and eventually studied art in college. In 1966 Babbitt illustrated a children's book written by her husband, called The Forty-ninth Magician. With the encouragement of her editor, Babbitt went on to write and illustrate over a dozen children's novels, picture books, and collections on her own.

Many of Natalie Babbitt's books address the concept of immortality, an issue that has intrigued humanity for centuries. From the ancient Egyptians' determination to reach the afterlife, to the more recent quests to locate the mythical "Fountain of Youth," history offers numerous examples of humankind's attempts to achieve immortality.

• Have students research these and additional beliefs from around the world, and then compare them to Babbitt's vision in Tuck Everlasting.

• Have students consider questions such as:

  • What are some similarities and differences among these different views?
  • Why do people find the prospect of eternal life so intriguing?
  • What would be the positive and negative aspects of immortality?
• After considering the issues, have students compose a short story, myth, or poem that addresses immortality.
• Finally, have students illustrate their works in a style similar to Babbitt's black-and-white line drawings.

• Natalie Babbitt's Booklist
  

  This Scholastic biography for the author includes a link to an interview transcript and a list of her works.

• Study Guide for Tuck Everlasting
  

  Glencoe offers this reproducible teaching guide. It includes an author biography, vocabulary list, graphic organizers, and additional resources.

• eThemes:Literature:Tuck Everlasting
  

  The site provides information about the book Tuck Everlasting and its author, Natalie Babbitt. In addition, there are links to activity ideas, online quizzes, discussion questions, and lesson plans. There is even a comparison to the Disney movie of this book.