Born 1969; Education: Iowa State University, B.A. (drawing and painting). Agent—c/o Author Mail, Simon &Schuster, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020. Derek Anderson Children's book writer and illustrator. Also worked as a designer and sculptor of Warner Brothers and Disney figurines. American Library Association/Children's Book Council Children's Cho…
Born 1960, in Schenectady, NY; Education: Rutgers University, B.A., 1983; University of California, Los Angeles, M.S. (urban planning), 1993. Politics: Democrat. Religion: "Evolving." Hobbies and other interests: Gardening, music, reading, art, theology, nature. Agent—c/o Author Correspondence, Dutton Children's Books, 375 Hudson St., New York, NY 10014. REIS Reports, …
Born 1953, in Providence, RI; Education: University of New Hampshire, B.F.A., 1976. Politics: Democrat. Religion: Christian. Children's book writer and illustrator; iconographer. Barn, Houghton Mifflin (Boston, MA), 1996. River, Houghton Mifflin (Boston, MA), 1999. Pearl, Houghton Mifflin (Boston, MA), 2001. The Thanksgiving Door, Houghton Mifflin (Boston, MA), 2003. David Lewis Atwell, The…
1939— Writer Ghanaian novelist Ayi Kwei Armah attained international renown for his fiction in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Despite his fame Armah maintained an intensely private life and rarely gave interviews and distanced himself from discussions of his craft. Though critics disagreed about the literary merit of his English-language works, his six novels and numerous short stories pro…
Born 1961, in Kent, England; Education: Educated in Kent and Sussex. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Faber and Faber Ltd., 3 Queen Square, London WC1N 3AU, England. Children's book author. Writer in advertising agency, early 1980s; also worked as a hospital cleaner, librarian, and reader for the blind; BBC Radio 4, contributor; Guardian, Children's Fiction Prize judge, 2003. Luchs pri…
Born 1946, in Somerville, NJ; Education: Attended Rutgers University and Pratt Institute, both c. 1960s; Cooper Union, B.F.A., 1969; trained as a Montessori teacher. Frank Asch Author and illustrator of children's books, 1968—. Teacher in a public grammar school in Gondia Maharastra, India, 1972, and in a Montessori school in Edison, NJ, 1975; performer and producer with wife,…
Born 1946, in Detroit, MI; Education: Pratt Institute, B.F.A., 1969. Hobbies and other interests: Knitting, sewing, vegetable gardening, flea markets. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Greenwillow Press/William Morrow, 1350 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10019. Illustrator and author of children's books. Worked variously as a potter, greeting-card designer, school bus driver, shop attenda…
Born 1956, in MI. Hobbies and other interests: Playing the cello, traveling, reading, gardening, her pet cats. Agent—c/o Author Mail, c/o Scholastic Inc., 555 Broadway, New York, NY 10012. Freelance writer. The Invasion, Scholastic (New York, NY),1996. The Visitor, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1996. The Encounter, Demco Media, 1996. The Predator, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1996. The Message,…
1979— Professional basketball player Artest, Ron, photograph. AP/Wide world Photos. One November night in 2004, forward Ron Artest of the National Basketball Association's Indiana Pacers went into the stands at the Palace of Auburn Hills outside Detroit. He started throwing punches after being hit in the chest by a drink cup a Detroit Pistons fan had thrown. The incident, repl…
Marc Anthony: 1969—: Singer, songwriter, actor. Called "one of the finest male vocalists recording today," by Time magazine, Marc Anthony has pulled himself from a youth of singing with his father, standing on the kitchen table, to playing sold out concerts at Madison Square Gardens. He started out with great success in the Latin music market, and has taken this success ma…
The conflict between roots and assimilation is a staple in the literature of American immigrant experience, but rarely has it been so inventively explored as in American Chica, Marie Arana's memoir of her Peruvian-American background and upbringing. Arana, the editor of the Book World section of the Washington Post, was inspired to write the book almost by accident, after finding herself ov…
(Ian Peter Andrew) Born 1962, in Beckenham, Kent, England; Education: Attended Croydon College of Art; Camberwell, B.A. (with honors); Croydon Intermedia, Certificate in Animation; Royal College of Art, M.A. Hobbies and other interests: Collecting rubber stamps, exhibitions, live music concerts, comedy, cinema, theater, cycling, human rights activities, writing letters, "mysteries and the u…
Miguel Angel Asturias was both a writer and a social champion. He spent his life fighting for the rights of Indians, for the freedom of Latin American countries from both dictatorships and outside influences—especially the United States—and for a more even distribution of wealth. He wrote mainly about the ancient Quiche culture. He was best known for his novels, such as El senor pres…
(Brent Kenneth Ashabranner) Born 1921, in Shawnee, OK; Education: Oklahoma State University, B.S., 1948, M.A., 1951; additional study at University of Michigan, 1955, and Boston University and Oxford University, 1959–60. Hobbies and other interests: Tennis, African and Asian traditional art. Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, instructor in English, 1952–55; Ministry of Education,…
Desi Arnaz: 1917-1986: Bandleader, entertainer, producer. Desi Arnaz made his mark as the straight man of the comedic couple behind the popular 1950s sitcom I Love Lucy. A Cuban immigrant, Arnaz was also a very savvy businessman. Arnaz's talents as a singer and entertainer helped to make I Love Lucy the first great television sitcom, but it was his skill as a businessman that built the …
1962— Musician Atkins, Juan, photograph. AP/Wide World Photos. Reproduced by permission. Juan Atkins is generally recognized as one of the creators of techno music, which spawned a whole group of genres now known as electronica, and he was probably the first person to apply the word "techno" to music. His novel electronic soundscapes influenced nearly every genre of mus…
Reinaldo Arenas: 1943-1990: Cuban writer. Viciously oppressed in his native Cuba for both his literary attacks on Fidel Castro's revolution and his open homosexuality, Reinaldo Arenas became a literary star by smuggling his books overseas. His extraordinary novels, flush with magical realism and sensual detail, won several prestigious awards abroad. Interview magazine wrote, "[Ar…
Female. Agent—c/o Author Mail, William B. Eerdmans, Publishing, 255 Jefferson Ave. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503. Writer of children's books. Outstanding Science Trade Book selection, National Science Teachers Association/Children's Book Council, 2004, for Rocket Man. Quest for King Arthur, illustrated by Scott Caple, Bantam (New York, NY), 1988. Sea Otters, Atheneum (New York, N…
Born 1984, in Silver Spring, MD; Education: Attended University of Massachusetts, beginning c. 2002. Hobbies and other interests: Cross-stitch, playing piano, gardening, cooking, carpentry, debate, learning new things. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Delacorte Press, Bantam Dell, 1745 Broadway, New York, NY 10019. Novelist. Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Readers citation, American Library Associati…
(Margaret Eleanor Atwood) Born 1939, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; married Jim Polk, 1967 Margaret Atwood (Photograph copyright © Christopher Felver/Corbis.)(divorced 1977); Education: University of Toronto, B.A., 1961; Radcliffe College, A.M., 1962; Harvard University, graduate study, 1962–63, 1965–67. Politics: "William Morrisite." Religion: "Immanent Tra…
Janeth Arcain: 1969—: Professional basketball player. South American players are rare in professional basketball, whose practitioners from outside the sport's U.S. home-land tend to come from Europe or Africa. But Houston Comets guard Janeth Arcain, a veteran Brazilian player, emerged as a Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) star in 2000. Arcain's rise t…
The defection of María Celeste Arrarás from Univision, North America's largest Spanish-language network, to the rival Telemundo broadcasting group in 2002 roused industry attention and was heralded as the start of a new era for Hispanic media. Arrarás was given a plum spot at Telemundo, and her arrival coincided with news that the National Broadcasting Company (NBC)�…
Born 1943, in Tasmania; moved to New Zealand, 1967; moved to England, 1974; Education: Attended Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology. office—Long Cottage, Graywood, East Hoathly, East Sussex BN8 6QP, England. Author and illustrator. Exhibitions: Work exhibited at Dunedin Public Arts Gallery, 1974; Fruitmarket, Edinburgh, Scotland; Atlantis Gallery, London, Mitre Gallery, Chichester, Engl…
Born 1943, in Kaikoura, New Zealand; moved to England, 1974; Education: Attended University of Auckland, 1963, 1969, and Massey University, 1965; Hamilton Teacher's College, certificate of teaching, 1963, diploma of teaching, 1969. School teacher in Duvauchelles, New Zealand, 1964-66, London, England, 1966, and Auckland, New Zealand, 1968-69; Dorothy Butler, Ltd., Auckland, advisor on child…
Born 1935, in London, England; Education: Trent Park College of Education, certificate, 1957; Cambridge Institute of Education, Associate Diploma, 1971. Hobbies and other interests: Theater, music, football (soccer), travel. Bernard Ashley King's Farm Primary School, Gravesend, England, teacher, 1957-65; Hertford Heath Primary School, Hertford Heath, England, head teacher, 1965-71; H…
First name is pronounced "Fe-li-che;" born 1968, in Kyabram, Victoria, Australia. Education: Graduated from La Trobe University (Bendigo, Victoria, Australia). Agent—Booked Out Speakers Agency, P.O. Box 2321, Prahran, Victoria 3181, Australia. Children's author. Formerly worked as an actor, starring in various musicals in London's West End; playing Marco Alessi …
1966?- Comedian Diverging from the hard-edged raunchy and streetwise observational styles of other contemporary African-American comedians, Arnez J offers comic routines reminiscent of an earlier era of comedy. His improvisational comic style is primarily physical, with a strong reliance on impressions and exaggerations of familiar personalities. "J is a whirling dervish on stage—he …
(Julie Edwards, Julie Andrews Edwards) Agent—William Morris Agency, 151 El Camino Dr., Beverly Hills, CA 90212. Actor's Equity Association, Screen Actors Guild, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. (As Julie Edwards) Mandy, illustrated by Judith Gwyn Brown, Harper & Row (New York, NY), 1971, HarperTrophy (New York, NY), 2001. (As Julie Edwards) The Last of the Rea…
Born in Sussex, England; Education: Camberwell Art School, B.A. (with honors). Office—The Guardian, 119 Farringdon Rd., London EC1R 3ER, England. Agent—Rosemary Canter, Peter Fraser Dunlop, Inc., 34-43 Russell St., London WG2B 5HA, England. Graphic designer and mural painter, 1973-77; City Limits, theatre editor, 1981-90; Time Out and Observer, theatre critic, 1976-90; The Guardian,…
(Antonia Barber) Born 1932, in London, England; Education: University College, London, B.A. (with honors), 1955. Hobbies and other interests: Walking, reading, theatre, gardening. Agent—David Higham Associates, 5-8 Lower John St., Golden Square, London W1R, 4HA, England. Writer, beginning 1966. British Society of Authors, Friends of the Earth, Amnesty International, Greenpeace. Carnegie Awa…
Born 0027;s College; University of California, B.A., 1981; graduate study at University of California, Riverside. Office—PMB 488 20505 Yorba Linda Blvd., Yorba Linda, CA 92886. Children's book author, poet, storyteller, and musician. CD recordings with David Plummer include Painting My World and Dancing on the Moon, for Youngheart Music. Irma Simonton Black Honor Book, Bank Street C…
Nationality: Ghanaian. Born: Abeadzi Kiakor, Ghana, 1942. Education: University of Ghana, Legon, B.A. (honours) 1964; Stanford University, California. Career: Lecturer in English, University of Cape Coast, Ghana, 1970-82; Minister of Education, 1982-83; writer-in-residence, University of Richmond, Virginia, 1989; chair, African Regional Panel of the Commonwealth Writers' prize, 1990, 1991; …
1970— Actor Anderson, Anthony, photograph. Kevin Winter/Getty Images. One of the fastest-rising African-American comic actors of the early 2000s was Anthony Anderson, who broke through to fame in 2000 with roles in the hit films Big Momma's House and Me, Myself & Irene. Following in the footsteps of other modern comedians such as Bernie Mac, he created comic situations …
Born 1942, in Shoreham-by-the-Sea, Sussex, England; immigrated to Canada, 1963; became Canadian citizen, 1971; divorced; Education: University of Reading, B.A. (with honors), 1963; University of Saskatchewan, M.A. (English), 1969; attended Carson Grove Language Centre, 1975. Hobbies and other interests: Canoeing, kayaking, cross-country skiing, gardening, rock climbing. Writer, storyteller, and ed…
Part of the "Headliners" series, detailed discussions of world events in the news, Terrorism in America probes the tragedy of September 11, as well as other notable attacks and explores resultant security measures. Born 1956, in Pittsburgh, PA. Education: Bryn Mawr College, B.A. (with honors) and teaching certificate, 1978; New Jersey Institute of Technology, graduate study in…
Nationality: New Zealander. Born: Barbara Lillian Romaine, 1926. Education: Woodford House secondary school, 1939-43; University of Otago, Dunedin, 1944-46, B.A. 1946; Victoria University, Wellington, 1979-83, B.A. 1983. Career: Science teacher, Samuel Marsden Collegiate School, Wellington, 1947, Hastings Girls' High School, 1961, and Queen Margaret's College, Wellington, 1964-67; me…
Nationality: Australian. Born: Jessica Margaret Queale, Gayndah, Queensland, 1916. Education: State schools in Brisbane; Brisbane Technical College art school. Awards: Miles Franklin award, 1979, 1981; New South Wales Premier's award, 1981; The Age Book of the Year award, 1987. Lives in Sydney. Agent: Elaine Markson Literary Agency, 44 Greenwich Avenue, New York, New York 10011, USA. The se…
Nationality: Nigerian. Born: Nigeria in 1939. Education: Government College, Umuahia; University of California, Los Angeles, B.A., C. Phil., M.A. Military Service: Joined the Nigerian Army in 1959: attended cadet schools in Ghana and England; officer in the United Nations peace-keeping force in the Congo; at Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; fought on the Biafran side in…
1930— Writer, educator, poet, playwright Joseph Mason Andrew Cox spent his adult life in New York City, working primarily as a writer, poet, and educator. Best known for his poetry, Cox also published a three-act play, two novels, and contributed to literary journals and anthologies. He also taught for over a decade in the City University of New York system. Cox was born on July 12, 1930, i…
Nationality: Trinidadian. Born: Mayaro, 1932. Education: Mayaro Roman Catholic School; Junior Technical College, San Fernando, Trinidad. Career: Lived in England, 1954-68; journalist, Reuters news agency, London, 1964-68; lived in Brazil, 1968-70; assistant editor, Texaco Trinidad, Pointe-à-Pierre, 1970-72. Since 1972 researcher, National Cultural Council (now Ministry of Culture), Port-of-Sp…
Nationality: Ghanaian. Born: Takoradi in 1938. Education: Achimota College, Accra; Groton School, Massachusetts; Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, A.B. in social studies; Columbia University, New York. Career: Translator, Révolution Africaine magazine, Algiers; scriptwriter for Ghana Television; English teacher, Navrongo School, Ghana, 1966; editor, Jeune Afrique magazine, Paris, …
Nationality: Canadian (Okanagan). Born: Penticton (Okanagan) Indian Reservation, British Columbia, Canada, 1948. Education: Okanagan College; University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, B.F.A. Career: Since 1989 director, En'owkin School of International Writing, Okanagan, British Columbia. Following in the footsteps of her great aunt, Hum-Ishu-Ma (Mourning Dove/Christine Quintasket, …
Nationality: Australian. Born: Thea Beatrice May Astley in Brisbane, Queensland, 1925. Education: The University of Queensland, Brisbane, 1943-47, B.A. 1947. Career: English teacher in Queensland, 1944-48, and in New South Wales, 1948-67; senior tutor, then fellow in English, Macquarie University, Sydney, 1968-85. Lives near Sydney. Awards: Commonwealth Literary Fund fellowship, 1961, 1964; Miles …
Nationality: Canadian. Born: Ottawa, Ontario, 1939. Education: Victoria College, University of Toronto, 1957-61, B.A. 1961; Radcliffe College, Cambridge, Massachusetts, A.M. 1962; Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 1962-63, 1965-67. Career: Lecturer in English, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, 1964-65; instructor in English, Sir George Williams University, Montreal, 1967-68; te…
1969— Graphic novelist Artists at work in the comics medium became more and more ambitious in the 1990s, expanding their range from traditional superhero themes to tackle serious fiction and nonfiction subjects. Nowhere was this trend more apparent than in the work of African-Canadian artist Ho Che Anderson, whose three-volume biography of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., was, in the words…
1966— Chess player Maurice Ashley helped shatter stereotypes by becoming the top-ranked black chess player in the world, as well as by coaching championship school teams made up mostly of minority children. "For kids, it's what they see," he said in the New Yorker. "And they don't see black chess players—no blacks in intellectual fields at all. It&#…
Born 1949, in Menaldum, Netherlands; immigrated to Canada, 1981; Education: Attended teacher's college in the Netherlands, 1966-70; Laurentian University, B.A., 1986, B.Ed., 1989. Hobbies and other interests: Sewing clothes, crafts. Kindergarten teacher in Giekerk, Netherlands, 1969-73; teacher of kindergarten in North Bay, Ontario, beginning 1987; Vincent Massey Public School, North Bay, f…
Born in Nottingham, England. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Puffin, Penguin Books Ltd., 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England. Author of books for children and young adults. Actor and drama teacher at New Globe Theatre, London, England; has also worked as a lifeguard, computer consultant, and sports instructor. English PEN (member of steering committee). Playing on the Edge was shortlisted for the B…
Born 1949, in Elmira, NY; Education: University of Florida, B.F.A. Office—Elmira, NY. Agent—Peter Elek Associates, P.O. Box 223, Canal St. Station, New York, NY 10013. Author and illustrator. Textbook illustrator, Tallahassee, FL, 1973-78; creative director and owner of a graphic design studio, 1978-81; Cycles USA, Tallahassee, advertising art director, 1981-84; Workman Publishing, N…
(Jim Arnosky) Born 1946, in New York, NY; Education: Attended high school in Pennsylvania. Hobbies and other interests: Collecting old fishing tackle and old boats, "not classic boats—just lovely old boats." Agent—c/o Children's Books Author Mail, Penguin Putnam, 375 Hudson St., New York, NY 10014. Draftsman in Philadelphia, PA, 1964; Braceland Brothers (printers…
Born in San Francisco, CA. Agent—c/o Author Mail, G. P. Putnam, 375 Hudson St., New York, NY 10014. Alternative education teacher and writer. International Reading Association Young Adults Choice, and Best Books for Young Adults citation, American Library Association (ALA), both for When Jeff Comes Home; New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age List, 2004, and ALA Popular Paperbacks …
(Sandy Asher) Born 1942, in Philadelphia, PA; Education: Attended University of Pennsylvania, 1960-62; Indiana University, B.A., 1964; graduate study in child development at University of Connecticut, 1973; Drury College (now Drury University), elementary education certificate, 1974. Agent— Wendy Schmalz, Wendy Schmalz Agency, Box 831, Hudson, NY 12534. Come Join the Circus (one-act), prod…
Born 1949, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada; Education: University of Manitoba, B.A. (English), 1970. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Penumbra Press, P.O. Box 940, Manotick, Ontario K4M 1A8, Canada. Freelance writer. Volunteer at senior citizens' home; ran volunteer horse-riding program. Canadian Society of Children's Authors, Illustrators, and Performers. Vicky Metcalf Short-Story Award…
Born 1944, in Leicester, England; Education: Open University, graduate. Hobbies and other interests: Keeps tropical fish, gardening, photography, swimming, walking, collecting china Dalmatians. Agent—c/o Author Mail, David Higham Associates, 5-8 Lower John St., Golden Sq., London W1F 9HA, England. Science technician, quality control manager, and writer. Writers' Circle. Beefeater Chi…
Born 1947, in Moscow, USSR (now Russia); Education: Received degree, 1965; Moscow Polygraph Institute, M.A., 1971. Politics: "Hate all." Hobbies and other interests: Mushrooms, reading, hiking, cooking, gardening. Agent—Diane B. Foote, Holiday House, 425 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10017. Fine artist and illustrator. Painter, 1960–; illustrator for a children's m…
1946– Human rights activist Angelina Atyam was honored with a 1998 human rights prize from the United Nations for her work on behalf of thousands of kidnapped children in Uganda. Atyam's own daughter disappeared one day in 1996 along with dozens of other girls from her school, taken by the militia forces of a fundamentalist Christian guerrilla group operating in northern Uganda. Sinc…
1945-2004 Actor, singer Carlton Earl Anderson, known as Carl to his friends and family, became famous for his portrayal of Judas Iscariot in the stage and screen production of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's 1970s rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar. Possessed of high energy and an upbeat attitude, Anderson was also a highly respected jazz vocalist, who released nine solo albums and appear…
1938— Secretary General of the United Nations Annan, Kofi, photograph by Jeff Christensen. Reuters/Archive Photos. Reproduced by permission On December 18, 1996, the clink of raised champagne glasses rang through the United Nations (UN) headquarters in New York City. The celebration was to honor incoming Secretary General Kofi Annan, the first black African ever to have held the diff…
Born 1926, in Tsuwano, Japan; Education: Graduated from Yamaguchi Teacher Training College, 1948. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Philomel, Putnam Berkley Group, 200 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10016. Artist, educator, essayist, and author and illustrator of children's books. Taught mathematics at elementary schools in Tokyo for ten years. Exhibitions: Has exhibited in major galleries and muse…
(Julia Winfield) Born 1961, in Waltham, MA; Education: Smith College, B.A., 1983. Hobbies and other interests: Gardening, teaching, music, reading. Agent—Susan Cohen, Writers House, 21 W. 26th St., New York, NY 10010. Cloverdale Press, New York, NY, assistant editor, 1983–85; freelance writer, 1985–; teacher. Girl Scout leader, 1987–89; Smith College, Northampton, MA, r…
Born 1955, in Oakland, CA; Education: University of California, Los Angeles, B.S., 1978; Harvard University, A.M., 1983, Ph.D., 1985; postdoctoral study at University of Toronto, 1985–87. Hobbies and other interests: Classical piano, ballet dancing, choir Office—c/o Molecudyne Research, P.O. Box 1302, Laurel, MD 20725. Kenyon College, Gambier, OH, assistant professor of physics, 198…
