Peggy Rathmann: key obituary facts
Is Peggy Rathmann dead? Yes. Peggy Rathmann died on November 3, 2026, at age 73.
Cause of death: Peggy Rathmann's cause of death has not been publicly confirmed.
What was Peggy Rathmann known for?
She was an American children's illustrator and writer.
More about Peggy Rathmann
Born: 4 March 1953.
Place of birth: Saint Paul.
Gender: female.
Occupation: writer, illustrator, children's writer, picture book writer.
Nationality: United States.
Education: University of Minnesota.
Awards: Caldecott Medal.
Peggy Rathmann, an American illustrator and author whose children’s books included Good Night, Gorilla and Officer Buckle and Gloria, died November 3, 2026, aged 73.
Born in St. Paul, Minnesota, on March 4, 1953, she grew up in a family of five children.
Nearsighted as a young student, she recalled being seated at the back of the classroom so she would not block other pupils’ view, while finding that she could not see the board herself. Rathmann later credited a third-grade teacher who painted stories. She attended Mounds View High School and studied psychology at the University of Minnesota, graduating with a degree in the subject. Initially planning to become a doctor, she enrolled in medical school at Macalester College but left after a year and a half to pursue scientific illustration. She trained at the American Academy of Art in Chicago, where she studied for two years before leaving the program. Rathmann went on to write and illustrate picture books, among them Good Night, Gorilla and Officer Buckle and Gloria. The latter received the 1996 Caldecott Medal, recognizing its distinction in American children’s picture books. Her work also included the 2025 title Just 10 More Minutes Before Bedtime.