Adams was born in Fort Smith, Arkansas,[1] and grew up in Oklahoma.
She married children's book writer John Lonzo Anderson on August 17, 1934,[2] and in 1942 illustrated his first book, Bag of Smoke, to begin her career as an illustrator.
She became a full-time illustrator in 1952, and illustrated more than 30 books, ranging from contemporary authors including Rumer Godden, Irwin Shapiro and Aileen Fisher to the fairy tales of Hans Christian Andersen and the Brothers Grimm.
Adams and Anderson lived together in Lebanon Township, New Jersey.
[3] Library of Congress catalogs five children's picture books with text and illustrations by Adams.