Nancy White Carlstrom has written more than 50 books for children, including the Jesse Bear series with illustrator Bruce Degan.

Born the daughter of steel mill worker William J. and Eva (Lawrence) White, Nancy White Carlstrom was born in Washington, Pennsylvania, on August 4, 1948. She practiced writing poetry, enjoyed reading books like Little Women, and wanted to become a children’s book author at an early age. Carlstrom worked in the children’s department of her local library in Washington during her high school years. She graduated from Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois, majoring in Elementary Education and earning her B.A. in 1970, also studying at Harvard Extension School and Radcliffe from 1974 to 1976. In September of 1974, she married David R. Carlstrom, later a pilot and a marketing director at Fairbanks International Airport. They had two children—Jesse and Joshua.

She draws inspiration from her 18 years living in Alaska, volunteer experiences in Africa and Haiti, and raising her two sons. 

Books in order of publication:

Jesse Bear, What Will You Wear? – 1986

Wild Wild Sunflower Child Anna – 1987

The MOON CAME TOO – 1987

Better Not Get Wet, Jesse Bear – 1988

It’s About Time, Jesse Bear and Other Rhymes – 1990

Grandpappy – 1990

Where Does the Night Hide – 1990

Moose in the Garden – 1990

Blow Me a Kiss, Miss Lilly – 1990

I’m Not Moving, Mama – 1990

No Nap for Benjamin Badger – 1991

Goodbye, geese – 1991

who gets the sun out of bed? – 1992

How Do You Say It Today Jesse Bear – 1992

Baby-O – 1992

Northern Lullaby – 1992

The Snow Speaks – 1992

Fish and Flamingo – 1993

What Does the Rain Play? – 1993

How Does the Wind Walk? – 1993

Swim the Silver Sea, Joshie Otter – 1993

Does God Know How to Tie Shoes? – 1993

Rise and Shine! – 1993

Jesse Bear’s Wiggle-Jiggle Jump-up – 1994

Jesse Bear’s Tum-Tum Tickle – 1994

Happy Birthday, Jesse Bear! – 1994

Jesse Bear’s Tra-LA Tub – 1994

Jesse Bear’s Yum-Yum Crumble – 1994

What Would You Do If You Lived at the Zoo? – 1994

Who Said Boo? – 1995

I Am Christmas – 1995

Let’s Count It Out, Jesse Bear – 1996

I Love You, Papa, in All Kinds of Weather – 1997
 Raven and River – 1997

I Love You, Mama, Any Time of Year – 1997

Guess Who’s Coming, Jesse Bear – 1998

Midnight Dance of the Snowshoe Hare – 1998

What a Scare, Jesse Bear – 1999

Thanksgiving Day at Our House: Thanksgiving Poems for the Very Young – 1999

The Way to Wyatt’s House – 2000

What Does the Sky Say? – 2001

Glory – 2001

Before You Were Born – 2002

Giggle-Wiggle Wake-Up – 2003

Climb the Family Tree, Jesse Bear! – 2004

This Is the Day! – 2008

It’s Your First Day of School, Annie Claire – 2009

Mama, Will it Snow Tonight? – 2009

Counting Winter- 2024