Sarah Ellis (author)

Last updated
Sarah Ellis
Born (1952-05-19) May 19, 1952 (age 71)
Vancouver, British Columbia
OccupationWriter, librarian, teacher
Alma mater
GenreChildren's literature
Website
sarahellis.ca

Sarah Ellis (born 19 May 1952 in Vancouver) [1] is a Canadian children's writer and librarian. She has been a librarian in Toronto and Vancouver. She has also written reviews for Quill and Quire . [2] She taught writing at the Vermont College of Fine Arts and is a masthead reviewer for The Horn Book .

Contents

Ellis has said that she gets her ideas from "memories, anecdotes people tell me, radio interviews, dreams, newspaper articles, family stories, being curious, observing the world, paying attention." [3] She is a strong advocate for children's literature and she belongs to many different clubs and unions such as the Writers' Union of Canada, the Vancouver Children's Literature Roundtable, Children's Writers and Illustrators and many more. [4]

Biography

Ellis was born 19 May 1952 in Vancouver, British Columbia to Joseph Walter and Ruth Elizabeth Ellis [1] and has two older brothers. [5] [6]

She attended the University of British Columbia where she received her Bachelor of Arts honours in 1973 and a Master of Library Science (MLS) in 1975. [1] After receiving her MLS, Ellis began working as a librarian in Vancouver before attending Simmons College, where she graduated with a Master of Arts degree in children's literature in 1980. [1] [7]

Ellis published her first book, The Baby Project, in 1986.

In 1999, she was a writer-in-residence at Massey College at the University of Toronto. [1]

Ellis retired from library work in 2007 but shortly after began teaching at the Vermont College of Fine Arts. She has also written reviews for Quill and Quire [2] and is a masthead reviewer for The Horn Book .

She is an out lesbian. [8]

Awards and honours

In 1995, Ellis won the Vicky Metcalf Award for Literature for Young People, [9] and in 2013, she received the Lieutenant Governor's Award for Literary Excellence. [10] She has also been nominated for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award four times. [6]

In 2012, Ellis was chair of the judges for the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award. [11]

Awards for Ellis's writing
YearTitleAwardResultRef.
1987The Baby Project Sheila A. Egoff Children's Literature Prize Winner [12] [13]
1990Next Door Neighbours Sheila A. Egoff Children's Literature Prize Finalist
1991 Pick-Up Sticks Governor General's Award for English-Language Children's Literature Winner [14] [15]
1992Next Door NeighboursManitoba Young Readers' Choice AwardNominee [16]
Pick Up Sticks Sheila A. Egoff Children's Literature Prize Finalist
1994Out of the Blue Governor General's Award for English-Language Children's Literature Finalist
Pick Up SticksManitoba Young Readers' Choice AwardNominee [17]
1995Out of the Blue Mr. Christie's Book Award: English, Ages 12 and upWinner [18]
National Chapter of Canada IODE Violet Downey Book AwardWinner [19]
1997Back of Beyond Sheila A. Egoff Children's Literature Prize Winner [20]
Out of the BlueManitoba Young Readers' Choice AwardNominee [21]
2000The Young Writer's Companion Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children's Non-FictionFinalist
2002Dear Canada: A Prairie as Wide as the Sea Sheila A. Egoff Children's Literature Prize Finalist
2003Salmon ForestScience in Society Book AwardWinner [22]
The Several Lives of Orphan Jack Governor General's Award for English-Language Children's Literature Finalist
2004 Canadian Library Association Book of the Year Shortlist [1]
Mr. Christie's Book Award: English, Ages 8–11Winner
National Chapter of Canada IODE Violet Downey Book AwardWinner [23]
Sheila A. Egoff Children's Literature Prize Finalist
2007The Queen's Feet Christie Harris Illustrated Children's Literature Prize Finalist
Odd Man Out Canadian Library Association Book of the Year Shortlist [1]
Sheila A. Egoff Children's Literature Prize Winner
TD Canadian Children's Literature Award Winner [10] [24]
2008Manitoba Young Readers' Choice AwardNominee [25]
2016Outside InManitoba Young Readers' Choice AwardNominee [26]

Publications

Middle grade and young adult fiction

Picture books

Ben series

The Ben books are illustrated by Kim LaFave.

  • Ben Over Night (2001)
  • Big Ben (2001)
  • A+ for Big Ben (2015)
  • Ben Says Goodbye (2015)
  • Ben and the Scaredy-Dog (2018)

Short story collections

Dear Canada Diary books

Nonfiction books

Anthologies edited

Related Research Articles

The Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young Readers is a Canadian literary award that goes to the best work of historical fiction written for youth each year. The award is named after Geoffrey Bilson, a writer of historical fiction for youth and a history professor at the University of Saskatchewan who died suddenly in 1987.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wallace Edwards</span> Canadian childrens author and illustrator

Wallace Edwards was a Canadian children’s author and illustrator whose imagination transformed the world of animals and strange creatures for a generation of children. His illustrations don’t condescend to children, they engage the imagination on multiple levels, blending childhood whimsy with adult sophistication."

The Governor General's Award for English-language children's writing is a Canadian literary award that annually recognizes one Canadian writer for a children's book written in English. It is one of four children's book awards among the Governor General's Awards for Literary Merit, one each for writers and illustrators of English- and French-language books. The Governor General's Awards program is administered by the Canada Council.

Caroline Adderson is a Canadian novelist and short story writer. She has published four novels, two short story collections and two books for young readers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marie-Louise Gay</span> Canadian illustrator and childrens writer (born 1952)

Marie-Louise Gay is a Canadian children's writer and illustrator. She has received numerous awards for her written and illustrated works in both French and English, including the 2005 Vicky Metcalf Award, multiple Governor General's Awards, and multiple Janet Savage Blachford Prizes, among others.

Iain Lawrence is a bestselling Canadian author for children and young adults. In 2007 he won a Governor General’s Literary Award in Children’s Literature for Gemini Summer, and in 2011, he was presented with the Vicky Metcalf Award for Literature for Young People.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deborah Ellis</span> Canadian fiction writer and activist

Deborah Ellis is a Canadian fiction writer and activist. Her themes are often concerned with the sufferings of persecuted children in the Third World.

The Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Canadian Picture Book Award is an annual literary award for children's picture illustrators. It was established in 1985 following the death of Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver, one of Canada's pre-eminent book illustrators. In her will, Cleaver left a fund of $10,000 for an award to be given annually in recognition of outstanding artistic talent in a Canadian picture book. The recipient receives a cheque for $1,000, and a certificate.

Norah McClintock was a Canadian writer of young adult fiction who published more than 60 books. She won five Crime Writers of Canada Awards of Excellence.

The Sheila A. Egoff Children's Literature Prize is awarded annually as the BC Book Prize for the best juvenile or young adult novel or work of non-fiction by a resident of British Columbia or the Yukon, Canada. It was first awarded in 1987. It is supported by the B.C Library Association.

William Edwin Bell was a Canadian author of young adult fiction, born in Toronto, Ontario. He lived in Orillia, Ontario.

The Christie Harris Illustrated Children's Literature Prize is awarded annually as the BC Book Prize for Canadian authors and illustrator of picture books, picture story books, and illustrated non-fiction books. The prize is shared by the author and the illustrator, who must be a resident of British Columbia or Yukon. It was announced in 2002 and first awarded in 2003. A handful of finalists are also selected for another award: participation in the expenses-paid BC Book Prizes on Tour, a week-long tour across the province to present their books at schools and libraries each April.

The TD Canadian Children's Literature Award is an annual Canadian literary award, presented to the year's best work of children's literature. Sponsored by TD Bank Financial Group and the Canadian Children's Book Centre, the award carries a monetary prize of $30,000. On September 11, 2018, it was announced that the monetary prize was increased from $30,000 to $50,000.

Susin Nielsen is a Canadian author for children, adolescent and young adults. She received the 2012 Governor General's Award for English-language children's literature and the 2013 Canadian Library Association Book of the Year for Children Award for her young adult novel The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen, which deals with the aftermath of a school shooting.

Carrie Mac is a Canadian author of more than a dozen novels for Young Adults, both contemporary and speculative. Her latest work is the literary novel, LAST WINTER, due out from Random House Canada in early 2023. She also writes literary short fiction, and creative non-fiction. Some of her accolades include a CBC Creative Nonfiction Prize, the Sheila A. Egoff Children's Literature Prize, and the Arthur Ellis Award, as well as various other awards and recognitions.

Jacqueline Guest is a Métis writer and activist from Alberta, Canada. Guest is a literacy advocate and a writers of books for children and young adults. In 2017 she was inducted into the Order of Canada.

Linda Bailey is a Canadian author who has written dozens of books for children, including Mary Who Wrote Frankenstein, and the Stevie Diamond mystery series. In 2021, she received the Vicky Metcalf Award for Literature for Young People, an honour bestowed by the Writers' Trust of Canada to Canadian writers and illustrators whose work has been "inspirational to Canadian youth".

Marthe Jocelyn is a Canadian writer of over forty children's books. In 2009, she received the Vicky Metcalf Award for Literature for Young People, an honour bestowed by the Writers' Trust of Canada to a writer or illustrator whose body of work has been "inspirational to Canadian youth".

Julie Lawson is a Canadian writer of children's nonfiction books. Her 1993 book, White Jade Tiger, won the Sheila A. Egoff Children's Literature Prize.

Robin Stevenson is a Canadian author of thirty books for kids and teens. Her writing has been translated into several languages, and published in more than a dozen countries. Robin's books regularly receive starred reviews, have won the Silver Birch Award, the Sheila A. Egoff Children's Literature Prize and a Stonewall Book Award, and have been finalists for the Governor General's Awards, the Lambda Literary Award, and others. She writes both fiction and non-fiction, for toddlers through teens.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Ellis, Sarah 1952-". Encyclopedia.com . Archived from the original on 2022-05-19. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  2. 1 2 Ellis, Sarah. Quill and Quire. January 2009. [ full citation needed ]
  3. ↑ "Sarah Ellis: Writer, Reader, Storyteller, Librarian". Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 2 November 2010.
  4. ↑ "Sarah Ellis". CANSCAIP members. Canadian Society of Children's Authors, Illustrators, and Performers (canscaip.org). Archived from the original on 29 October 2021. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
  5. ↑ "Ellis, Sarah". Encyclopedia.com . Archived from the original on 2022-01-27. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
  6. 1 2 "About". Sarah Ellis. Archived from the original on 2019-07-06. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
  7. ↑ Donohue, Kathleen. "Sarah Ellis". Oxford University Press 2001
  8. ↑ "Secret garden". Xtra. Archived from the original on 2007-10-05. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  9. ↑ "1995 Vicky Metcalf Award for Children's Literature Recipient: Sarah Ellis". Canadian Children's Book Centre. Archived from the original on 2023-02-05. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  10. 1 2 Martha Perkins (April 11, 2013). "Sarah Ellis and Lorna Crozier to receive Lieutenant Governor Award". WE Vancouver. Archived from the original on June 30, 2013. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
  11. ↑ "And the Judges Are..." Shelf Awareness . 2013-06-04. Archived from the original on 2023-02-07. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
  12. ↑ "B.C. Book Prize winners". Quill and Quire . 2007-05-04. Archived from the original on 2023-05-02. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  13. ↑ "1987 Sheila A. Egoff Children's Literature Prize Recipient: Sarah Ellis". Canadian Children's Book Centre. Archived from the original on 2023-02-04. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  14. ↑ "Governor General's Literary Awards". Canadian Children's Book Centre. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 29 October 2013.
  15. ↑ "1991 Governor General's Literary Awards Recipient: Sarah Ellis". Canadian Children's Book Centre. Archived from the original on 2023-02-01. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  16. ↑ "1992". Manitoba Young Readers' Choice Award. Archived from the original on 2023-02-01. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  17. ↑ "1994". Manitoba Young Readers' Choice Award. Archived from the original on 2023-02-01. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  18. ↑ "1994 Mr. Christie's Book Award Recipient: Sarah Ellis". Canadian Children's Book Centre. Archived from the original on 2023-01-28. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  19. ↑ "1995 National Chapter of Canada IODE Violet Downey Book Award Recipient: Sarah Ellis". Canadian Children's Book Centre. Archived from the original on 2023-01-30. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  20. ↑ "1997 Sheila A. Egoff Children's Literature Prize Recipient: Sarah Ellis". Canadian Children's Book Centre. Archived from the original on 2023-02-06. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  21. ↑ "1997". Manitoba Young Readers' Choice Award. Archived from the original on 2023-02-01. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  22. ↑ "2003 Science in Society Book Award Recipient: David Suzuki and Sarah Ellis". Canadian Children's Book Centre. Archived from the original on 2023-01-29. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  23. ↑ "2004 National Chapter of Canada IODE Violet Downey Book Award Recipient: Sarah Ellis". Canadian Children's Book Centre. Archived from the original on 2022-10-06. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  24. ↑ "2007 TD Canadian Children's Literature Award Recipient: Sarah Ellis". Canadian Children's Book Centre. Archived from the original on 2022-11-29. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  25. ↑ "2008". Manitoba Young Readers' Choice Award. Archived from the original on 2023-02-01. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  26. ↑ "2016 Nominees". Manitoba Young Readers' Choice Award. Archived from the original on 2023-02-08. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.