Shirley Glubok was born in St. Louis, Missouri. She received her bachelor's degree from Washington University, majoring in art and archeology, while continuing to develop her writing talent, which first emerged during childhood. After writing advertising copy in St. Louis, she took education courses and began her career as a grade school teacher. She went to New York to obtain her master's degree in early childhood education from Columbia University (1958). Upon graduation she was hired to give Saturday lectures for children at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. She also taught at a private school until 1964.
Glubok's first book, The Art of Ancient Egypt was published by Atheneum in 1962. After seeing the positive reviews the book received, Atheneum decided to produce a series of art history books written by Glubok. She has since written about thirty art history books for three publishers. With the help of young advisors, Glubok chose numerous black and white photographs for inclusion in her books. She complements the photographs with a clear, concise textual narrative. She has written most frequently about American art, classical art, Asian art, Native American art, dolls, and archaeological discoveries. She has also written about individual artists. In addition, she wrote four books with her husband, Alfred Tamarin (married 1968, died 1980). In addition to writing about art, Glubok lectures on art and children's literature in front of classrooms, museum groups, and various professional educators' and librarians' organizations. She has received numerous awards, including: the Lewis Carroll Shelf Award in 1963 for The Art of Ancient Egypt; the Spur Award from the Western Writers of America in 1971; several American Library Association "notable book" citations; the Boston Globe-Horn Book award for best non-fiction book of the year, 1976; and Author of the Year for her body of work from the Children's Book Guild of Washington, D.C.
