It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of the passing of beloved children’s author and illustrator, Niki Daly. We were honored to not just publish his work, but to call him a friend. His spirit and love practically burst from the pages of his books. The warmth and kindness in his words so perfectly echoed those in his heart.
Throughout his long career, Niki was the author/illustrator of over forty books for children. His critically-acclaimed books earned him a US Parent’s Choice Award, a Children’s Africana Book Award, a Children’s Literature Choice Award and the Parents’ Choice Silver Award, among many others. Most recently, he was awarded a Skipping Stones award for his book, Fly High, Lolo and a Charlotte Zolotow Award for his final book, On My Papa’s Shoulders, a beautiful ode to fathers and sons.
Niki had that ineluctable ability to write and illustrate irresistible children’s stories. And it’s no wonder, because he loved kids. But more than that, he respected them. He respected their voices, their thoughts, their emotions, never speaking down to them, but immersing himself in their world, and shining it back to them in his work. That is part of him that will live on— years from now, eras from now—in the smiles and excitement of a new generation turning the pages of his books.
All of us here at Catalyst Press send our deepest condolences to his wife, Jude, his sons Joe and Leo, his granddaughter Emily, and his daughter-in-law Magriet.
