Jean Little

Author’s Corner: NovelsBirdie for Now (2002)

Dancing Through the Snow (2007)

Different Dragons (1986)

Forward, Shakespeare (2005)

From Anna (1972)

His Banner Over Me (1995)

Home from Far (1965)

Kate (1971)

Listen for the Singing (1977)

Look Through My Window (1970)

Lost and Found (1985)

Mamas Going to Buy You A Mockingbird (1984)

Mine for Keeps (1962)

One to Grow On (1969)

Rescue Pup (2004)

Somebody Else’s Summer (2005)

Spring Begins in March (1966)

Stand in the Wind (1975)

Take Wing (1968)

The Belonging Place (1997)

The Birthday Girl (2004)

Willow and Twig (2000)

Jean Little BiographyBorn in 1932, in Formosa (Taiwan)

Doctors found scars over both of her corneas, which is cause for a significant loss of eyesight and is diagnosed as legally blind

Teased in school

Family was very supportive, with parents reading to her frequently

Gained limited vision,

taught herself to read on her own, which became her “greatest joy”

Moved to Toronto, Canada in 1939

Was first in a school for children with vision problems, but transitioned to a regular education classroom by fourth grade

She lost lots of accommodations and struggled

Began to enjoy writing; her father encouraged her and often edited her work

Father published her first collection of poetry when Little was 15 years old

Saturday Night (magazine) published two of her verses. “I listened and [when] his voice broke, I knew why I wanted to be a writer.”

Attended Victoria College’s English language and literature program to pursue a degree in English, father suffered a heart attack

Published first novel after

freshman year: Let Me Be Gentle about a large family with a mentally retarded six-year-old girl.

Graduated in 1955 with bachelor’s degree in English

Taught children with disabilities, although she primarily wanted to write

Worked with children at camps and in their homes, and at the Institute of Special Education in Salt Lake City, Utah and at Florida University

Inspired her to write for children

Found that books of the 1950s that did portray children with disabilities were difficult to find and inaccurate portrayals – miraculous miracles

Published Mine for Keeps about Sally Copeland, a young girl with cerebral palsy – focuses on coping skills of Sally and those around her

1985 – won Canadian

Children’s Book of the Year Award for Mama’s Going to Buy You a Mockingbird – focuses on grief and understanding of a child losing a parent

Also writes historical novels

Published many novels, picture books, and professional articles

When not writing, works with young people in churches, schools, and the community

Jean Little, the AuthorPartially sighted

Former teacher of children with disabilities

Her disability and experiences are a basis for many of her characters, many of whom have cerebral palsy or are blind

Many other characters confront psychological difficulties, such as fear or grief

None of her characters find “magical cures” for their problems

Learn to cope and led to greater self-understanding

Has won awards such as Canadian Children’s Book Award, Governor General’s Literacy Award, and a Vicky Metcalf Award

http://www.teachingbooks.net/tb.cgi?aid=859

Bibliography

(2012). Jean little photograph. (2012). [Web Photo]. Retrieved from http://www.scholastic.ca/dearcanada/authors/jean_little.htm

Little, J. (n.d.). Jean little: Canadian author. Retrieved from http://jeanlittle.ca/

Little, J. (n.d.). Teaching books: Jean little. Retrieved from http://www.teachingbooks.net/tb.cgi?aid=859

Bibliography of Author’s Books

Little, J. (1995). Bats about baseball. Penguin.

Little, J. (2002). Birdie for now. Orca.

Little, J. (2003). Brothers far from home: The World War I diary of Eliza Bates. Scholastic.

Little, J. (2007). Dancing through the snow. Scholastic.

Little, J. (1986). Different Dragons. Penguin.

Little, J. (1998). Emma’s Magic Winter. Harper.

Little, J. (2004). Emma’s Strange Pet. Harper.

Little, J. (2001). Emma’s Yucky Brother. Harper.

Little, J. (2005). Forward, Shakespeare!. Orca.

Little, J. (1972). From Anna. Harper.

Little, J. (1996). Gruntle Piggle takes off. Penguin.

Little, J. (1986). Hey world, here I am!. Kids Can Press.

Little, J. (1995). His banner over me. Penguin.

Little, J. (1965). Home from far. Little Brown & Co.

Little, J. (2003). I gave my mom a castle. Orca.

Little, J. (2003). I know an old laddie. Penguin.

Little, J. (2007). If I die before I wake: the flue epidemic diary of Fiona Macgregor. Scholastic.

Little, J. (1995). Jenny and the Hanukkah queen. Penguin.

Little, J. (1991). Jess was the brave one. Penguin.

Little, J. (1971). Kate. HarperCollins.

Little, J. (1977). Listen for the singing. Stoddart.

Little, J. (2006). Listen, said the donkey. Scholastic.

Little, J. (1987). Little by little. Penguin.

Little, J. (1970). Look through my window. Harper & Row.

Little, J. (1985). Lost and Found. Penguin.

Little, J. (1984). Mama’s going to buy you a mockingbird. Penguin.

Little, J. (1962). Mine for keeps. Penguin.

Little, J. (1991). One upon a golden apple. Penguin.

Little, J. (1969). One to grow on. Penguin.

Little, J. (2001). Orphan at my door: the home child diary of Victoria Cope. Scholastic.

Little, J. (2003). Pippin the Christmas pig. Scholastic

Little, J. (2004). Rescue Pup. Orca

Little, J. (1992). Revenge of the small small. Penguin.

Little, J. (2005). Somebody else’s summer. Penguin.

Little, J. (1966). Spring begins in March. Penguin.

Little, J. (1975). Stand in the wind. Penguin.

Little, J. (1990). Stars come out within. Penguin.

Little, J. (1968). Take wing. Little Brown & Co.

Little, J. (1997). The belonging place. Penguin.

Little, J. (2004). The birthday girl. Orca.

Little, J. (2008). The sweetest one of all. Scholastic.

Little, J. (1998). What will the robin do then?. Penguin.

Little, J. (1968). When the pie was opened. Little, Brown.

Little, J. (2000). Willow and Twig. Penguin.