Susan P. Bloom, former director of The Center for the Study of Children’s Literature, was an associate professor emerita who taught graduate courses in children’s literature at Simmons College in Boston. She co-authored, with Cathryn M. Mercier, Presenting Zibby Oneal and Presenting Avi. She was a member of the Horn Book reviewing staff and wrote articles for a variety of books and journals. She served as chair of the 1992 and 1999 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award Committee and was a member of the 1997 and 2006 Newbery Committees. She passed away in June of 2019.