Finding a great children's book is like unwrapping a perfect sweet.
Do you recognize this children’s book author?
Who started drawing at the age of two and has turned her love of art into a career writing and illustrating children’s books? This versatile author is best known for her books about sibling bunnies for young children, but also writes historical novels for middle grade and young adults.
Edit: The answer is now posted.
Our trivia question from last week stumped everyone.
This prolific nonfiction children’s author not only illustrates her own books but also makes her own Vermont maple syrup. Who is she?
The answer is Gail Gibbons.
Gail Gibbons is definitely one of our favorite nonfiction picture book authors. Regardless of the topic, if your child is interested in apple trees to sea turtles, Gail probably has a wonderful and informative book on the topic. She has written and illustrated over 140 books for children.
Although nonfiction authors often don’t receive the big awards fiction authors attract, Gail was given the Washington Post Children’s Book Guild Award in 1987, and in 2010 was awarded the Regina Medal by the Catholic Library Association for significant contributions to children’s literature.
Even better, if you go to her website, you can buy Vermont Maple Syrup made by Gail Gibbons. Maybe that’s why her books are so sweet!
Here’s more about Gail Gibbons in her own words.
Some of Gail Gibbons’ books:
Our trivia question this week is:
This prolific nonfiction children’s author not only illustrates her own books but also makes her own Vermont maple syrup. Who is she?
The answer is now posted
Here are the answers from last week’s trivia questions. Today I’m going to link the author’s name to their primary website and add an Amazon widget of a selection of their books. Please let me know if this is helpful or not.
Each of authors today came to writing by a different path.
Question 10. Let’s start off with a visual clue. Do you recognize this author? Her book won a Newbery Medal in 2002.
The photograph is of Linda Sue Park. In addition to winning the Newbery Medal for A Single Shard, she also has many other award-winning books.
Linda Sue Park grew up in Illinois, where she took to writing at an early age. She published her first work, a haiku, at the tender age of nine! Being the daughter of Korean immigrants has influenced her work, both in her choice of characters and topics.
Our favorite is Project Mulberry, because we have raised silkworms ourselves. In this unusual book, the author and the main character have conversations about writing.
Question 11. Do you know of an author who has written many adventure books based on happenings in his own life. He has participated in the famous Iditarod dogsled race, and has written an autobiographical book about his experiences with sled dogs (for young adults).
The author says of himself, “Gary Paulsen is adventure.” After having the kind of life most boys only dream about, Paulsen writes that he decided to become a writer quite suddenly. He was working in a technical field and literally walked away to start writing.
It was the right choice, because now he has written over 175 books, including three Newbery Honor books. Hatchet is probably his most famous, about a boy who gets stranded in the wilderness. My Life in Dog Years is the autobiographical book about his adventures with sled dogs. It includes the tale of Cookie the dog who saved his life.
Question 12. This author says he failed high school classes and needed tutoring in writing and reading. After struggling for years, he finally got a book published. Now this one-name superstar gives writing advice to others.
How many children’s authors go by one name? Avi, of course.
Avi has been quite upfront about his struggles to write, including having a learning disability. Regardless of the obstacles, he decided to become a writer in his senior year of high school. Although it took years, he has been able to overcome his difficulties and write many books. Crispin: The Cross of Lead won a Newbery Medal in 2003.
These are three very prolific, very different and very inspiring authors.