McGraw's first professional writing was published in
Jack and Jill magazine in 1949. She also published short stories in
Cricket, Parents’ Magazine, and
The Writer. Her first published book was
Sawdust in His Shoes (1950), followed by a steady stream of works for both children and adults. McGraw painted the cover art for most of her books. She was awarded the
Newbery Honor three times in three different decades, for her novels
Moccasin Trail (1952),
The Golden Goblet (1962), and
The Moorchild (1997). McGraw had a very strong interest in
history, and among the many books she wrote for children are
Greensleeves,
The Seventeenth Swap,
The Striped Ships and
Mara, Daughter of the Nile. A
Lewis Carroll Shelf Award was given to
Moccasin Trail in 1963. == Personal life ==