September 6, 1927

We found Margery Facklam's obituary in the Buffalo newspaper . Facklam's fame is based on her science books for children. Let's look at some highlights in the life of Margery Facklam (September 6, 1927 to February 21, 2015).

Born in Buffalo, the former Margery Anne Metz had four older brothers. She spent every Saturday at the Buffalo Museum of Science as she was growing up and kept a pet snake, an opossum and a crow.

As a student at Amherst High School, she volunteered at the reptile house at the Buffalo Zoo, where she was inspired by zoo curator Marlin Perkins. “He taught me more about snakes than any number of college courses ever could do,” she said.

While earning her bachelor’s degree from the University of Buffalo, she cared for porcupines and beavers in the Biology Department......

A feature in Redbook earned her a trip to New York City, an interview with anthropologist Margaret Mead and an appearance on Virginia Graham’s television talk show.

After she completed her master’s degree in science education at Buffalo State College, she was assistant curator of education at the Buffalo Museum of Science from 1970 to 1974, then became director of education and public relations at the Aquarium of Niagara.

Later, as coordinator of education at the Buffalo Zoo, she developed the Zoomobile and took exotic animals to the Rocketship 7 children’s program on WKBW-TV.
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She traveled extensively to research her books, exploring the Gobi Desert, the Galapagos Islands and the Amazon River.

She also shared her expertise, teaching writing at workshops and conferences for the Institute of Children’s Literature, the Vassar Writers Institute and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.

.......Mrs. Facklam, who first was published in 1962, wrote more than 30 books. Some she co-authored with her husband, Howard, a biology teacher at Amherst High School, and [with] her daughter, Peggy Thomas. Some, such as “The Big Bug Book” and “Creepy, Crawly Caterpillars,” featured illustrations by her son, Paul.....

Two of her books, ....[Do Not Disturb: The Mysteries of Animal Hibernation and Sleep, (1989)] and ...[Partners for Life: The Mysteries of Animal Symbiosis, (1989)] were named Outstanding Science Trade Books by the Children’s Book Council and the National Science Teachers Association. ...[And Then There Was One: Mysteries of Extinction] was named best book of 1990 by the School Library Journal.....
She and her daughter also offered tips in their 2011 book, “Anatomy of Nonfiction: Writing True Stories for Children.”
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Her husband of 52 years died in 2002.

In 2005, the New York State Library Association honored her with the Knickerbocker Award for her body of work...

Of course such a marvelous life included cats. Still it was pleasant to have her daughter's comment to cite: "I grew up with four older brothers, dogs, cats, snakes and even a porcupine."