Renowned literacy educator Patricia Cianciolo, professor emeritus in the Department of Teacher Education at Michigan State University, died on Jan. 18, 2012.
Cianciolo, a faculty member at MSU from 1964 to 1996, was an expert in children’s response to literature and book illustrations, as well as in the teaching and learning of literature in the elementary grades.
In the field of children’s literature, her work on illustration in picture books was considered groundbreaking. Her book, Picture Books for Children (1973), saw several editions and has been used in children’s literature courses internationally. Her extensive collection of children’s literature — more than 30,000 pieces of literature, illustrations, articles and artworks — now resides at Cardinal Stritch University where it is known as the Cianciolo Children and Young Adult Literature Research Collection.
Cianciolo was past-president of the Michigan Council of Teachers of English, held prominent positions in the National Council of Teachers of English and served several times on the Caldecott Award selection committee. She received her Ph.D. from Ohio State University and a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee.
In her retirement, Cianciolo moved to New York City, where she continued to be an enthusiastic reader and world traveler. Her last trip was to Antarctica.
Cianciolo’s funeral was held on Jan. 21, 2012.
