Joyce Carol Thomas (May 25, 1938-) is an African-American playwright, author and illustrator of more than 50 children's books. She was born in Ponca City, Oklahoma and currently lives in Berkeley, California. She moved with her family in 1948 to Tracy, California to pick vegetables. Thomas is a graduate of Stanford University and San Jose State College. Her first book, Marked by Fire published in 1982, won her the National Book Award.
