Demi

Demi (1942–2026) was an award-winning children’s book author and illustrator. In her long career, she published over 130 books. Born in Cambridge, MA, Demi studied art at the Instituto Allende, Mexico; with Sister Corita at the Immaculate Heart College in Los Angeles; and was a Fulbright scholar at the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, India where she received her Master’s degree. Well known for her biographies of pivotal historical and spiritual figures such as Buddha, Krishna, Lao Tzu, Jesus, Mary, Muhammad, Rumi, Saint Francis, Gandhi, and the Dalai Lama, her book The Empty Pot was selected by former First Lady Barbara Bush in 1990 as one of the books to be read on the ABC Radio Network Program Mrs. Bush’s Story Time, sponsored by the Children’s Literacy Initiative.

In 1990, both Demi and her husband, the late writer and translator Tze-si “Jesse” Huang (1938-2022), represented the United States at the First Children’s International Book Conference in Beijing. Demi was a practicing Buddhist, as was Jesse.

Demi departed this world on August 14, 2026. World Wisdom expresses our condolences to her family, friends, and fans, as well as our thanks for the many beautiful works she created for readers — children and adults alike — of such joyous respect for the great spiritual traditions of the world.