Claire Hartfield

Agent: Rosemary Stimola

Claire Hartfield is a nationally recognized children’s book author and education leader.

Me and Uncle Romie (Dial Books for Young Children), is a historical fiction picture book based on the life and art of world-renowned collage artist, Romare Bearden. The book received national honors (favorable review in the New York Times Book Review, a Smithsonian Magazine Notable Book of the Year, a Junior Library Guild Choice, one of the New York Public Library’s 100 Books for Reading and Sharing) and has been reprinted in three textbooks.

Hartfield’s second book, A Few Red Drops (Clarion Books) tells the story of the Chicago Race Riot of 1919 and how the building tensions and conflicting interests exploded in bloodshed that sent shock waves across the nation.

Hartfield’s career has centered on providing underprivileged children with opportunity to achieve their potential through education. After graduating from Yale University and University of Chicago Law School, she oversaw development of school desegregation plans for the cities of Chicago and Rockford, Illinois. More recently, she led a non-profit organization that develops leaders for elementary and secondary education. She is currently Board Chair and a senior consultant for one of Chicago’s highest performing charter schools.

Hartfield is a lifelong resident of Chicago.

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