Mary Brigid Barrett '77
Mary Brigid Barrett '77 writes and illustrates books for children. Mary is currently editing
and contributing to an anthology about American history using the White House as a unifying
theme entitled, Through White House Windows; Looking In, Looking Out, which will be
released in the fall of 2008 by a major publishing company, Candlewick Press. Over 100
nationally renowned authors and illustrators have contributed to this incredible anthology
including Presidents Bush and Carter. Pulitzer Prize winning historian David McCullough wrote
the introduction for the book and MacArthur genius grant awardee David Macaulay did the cover
art. Our White House is being created for ages 9 through to adult, to promote both family
literacy and historical literacy. All royalties from the book will benefit the National
Children’s Book and Literacy Alliance (NCBLA), a not-for-profit advocacy and education
organization of which Mary is the founder, president, and executive director. As president of
NCBLA, Mary works with the library of Congress planning the annual National Book Festival and
has worked with first lady, Laura Bush and former first lady, Hillary Clinton, assisting them
with Children’s literacy/literature projects.
