Denise Holly Hobbie (néeUlinskas;[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.
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
Toot & Puddle series
Toot & Puddle are best friends, even though Toot likes to travel and Puddle likes to stay at home in Woodcock Pocket.