Phyllis J(ean) Perry (1933-) Biography

Born 1933, in Nevada City, CA; Ethnicity: "English." Education: University of California—Berkeley, A.B., 1955; San Francisco State College (now University), M.A., 1960; University of Colorado, Ed.D., 1980. Politics: Democrat. Religion: Methodist. Hobbies and other interests: Hiking in the mountains, acting in community theater, attending concerts, playing bridge, reading to grandchildren, amateur radio operation.

Career

Boulder Valley Public Schools, Boulder, CO, teacher, curriculum specialist, educational programs specialist, instructional design specialist, director of talented and gifted education, and principal, 1968-91. Nomad Community Theater, member of board of directors.

Member

International Reading Association (Colorado Council), National Association for Gifted Children, Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, Colorado Authors League, Colorado Language Arts Society, Phi Delta Kappa (Boulder chapter), Phi Beta Kappa.

Honors Awards

Governor's Award for Excellence in Education, 1986; Top Hand Awards, Colorado Authors League, children's nonfiction category, 1999, for Bats: The Amazing Upside-Downers, special writing category, 1999, for Exploring Our Country's History: Linking Fiction to Nonfiction, and children's nonfiction category, 2001, for Animals under the Ground.

Writings

CHILDREN'S NONFICTION

Spiders, illustrated by Lawrence M. Spiegel, Denison (Minneapolis, MN), 1964.

Let's Look at the Birds, illustrated by Lawrence M. Spiegel, Denison (Minneapolis, MN), 1965.

A Trip through the Zoo, illustrated by Barbara Furan, Denison (Minneapolis, MN), 1968.

One Dozen Swimmers, illustrated by June Talarczyk, Denison (Minneapolis, MN), 1968.

Let's Look at Moths and Butterflies, illustrated by June Talarczyk, Denison (Minneapolis, MN), 1969.

Let's Look at Frogs, illustrated by June Talarczyk, Denison (Minneapolis, MN), 1969.

Let's Look at Snails, illustrated by Celeste K. Foster, Denison (Minneapolis, MN), 1969.

Let's Look at Seashells, illustrated by Celeste K. Foster, Denison (Minneapolis, MN), 1971.

Let's Learn about Mushrooms, illustrated by Haris Petie, Harvey House (New York, NY), 1974.

Mexican American Sketches, BVSP, 1976.

A Look at Colorado, illustrated by Dian Diggs and with photographs by David L. Perry, Pruett Publishing (Boulder, CO), 1976.

The Fiddlehoppers: Crickets, Katydids, and Locusts, Franklin Watts (New York, NY), 1995.

Ballooning, Franklin Watts (New York, NY), 1996.

Sea Stars and Dragons, Franklin Watts (New York, NY), 1996.

Armor to Venom: Animal Defenses, Franklin Watts (New York, NY), 1997.

The Crocodilians: Reminders of the Age of the Dinosaur, Franklin Watts (New York, NY), 1997.

Hide and Seek: Creatures in Camouflage, Franklin Watts (New York, NY), 1997.

The Snow Cats, Franklin Watts (New York, NY), 1997.

Soaring, Franklin Watts (New York, NY), 1997.

Bats: The Amazing Upside-Downers, Franklin Watts (New York, NY), 1998.

Exploring the World of Sports: Linking Fiction to Nonfiction (in "Literature Bridges to Social Studies" series), Teacher Ideas Press (Portsmouth, NH), 1998.

Crafty Canines: Coyotes, Foxes, and Wolves, Franklin Watts (New York, NY), 1999.

Freshwater Giants, Franklin Watts (New York, NY), 1999.

Keeping the Traditions: A Multicultural Resource, Fulcrum (Colorado), 2000.

Boardsailing, Capstone Books (Bloomington, MN), 2000.

Animals That Hibernate, Franklin Watts (New York, NY), 2001.

Animals under the Ground, Franklin Watts (New York, NY), 2001.

Trains, Enslow Publishers (Berkeley Heights, NJ), 2001.

Jazz up Your Journal: Writing for Grades 1-2, Carson-Dellosa (Lancaster, CA), 2003.

Jazz up Your Journal: Writing for Grades 3-4, Carson-Dellosa (Lancaster, CA), 2003.

Jazz up Your Journal: Writing for Grades 5-6, Carson-Dellosa (Lancaster, CA), 2003.

"LITERATURE BRIDGES TO SCIENCE" SERIES

Bridges to the World of Water: Linking Fiction to Nonfiction, Teacher Ideas Press (Portsmouth, NH), 1995.

Rainy, Windy, Snowy, Sunny Days: Linking Fiction to Nonfiction, Teacher Ideas Press (Portsmouth, NH), 1996.

The World's Regions and Weather: Linking Fiction to Nonfiction, Teacher Ideas Press (Portsmouth, NH), 1996.

Exploring the World of Animals: Linking Fiction to Nonfiction, Teacher Ideas Press (Portsmouth, NH), 1997.

Exploring Our Country's History: Linking Fiction to Nonfiction, Teacher Ideas Press (Portsmouth, NH), 1998.

FOR TEACHERS

Full Flowering: A Parent and Teacher Guide to Programs for the Gifted, Wetherall (Minneapolis, MN), 1985.

A Guide to Independent Research, G.C.T., 1986.

Colorado History: Creative Activities for Curious Kids, Hi Willow Research (San Jose, CA), 1994.

A Teacher's Science Companion: Resources and Activities in Science and Math, TAB Books (New York, NY), 1994.

Getting Started in Science Fairs: From Planning to Judging, TAB Books (New York, NY), 1995.

(With Peter Rillero) 365 Science Projects and Activities, illustrated by Ellen Joy Sasaki and Terri and Jo Chicko, Publications International, 1996.

Guide to Math Materials: Resources to Support the NCTM Standards, Teacher Ideas Press (Portsmouth, NH), 1997.

Reading Activities and Resources That Work, Highsmith Press (Fort Atkinson, WI), 1997.

Myths, Legends, and Tales, Highsmith Press (Fort Atkinson, WI), 1998.

Science Fair Success with Plants, Enslow Publishers (Berkeley Heights, NJ), 1999.

Meeting Math Standards: Grades 2-3, McGraw-Hill (New York, NY), 2002.

Meeting Math Standards: Grades 4-5, McGraw-Hill (New York, NY), 2002.

Substitute's Own Survival Guide, Carson-Dellosa (Lancaster, CA), 2002.

Science Companion for Library, Home, and School, Scarecrow Press (Lanham, MD), 2002.

Ten Tall Tales: Origins, Activities, and More, Upstart Books (Fort Atkinson, WI), 2002.

Teaching Fantasy Novels: From The Hobbit to Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Teacher Ideas Press (Portsmouth, NJ), 2003.

OTHER

My Big Rock, Bebop Books (New York, NY), 2002.

The Musical ABC, Piano Press, 2001.

Beneath the Old Oak Tree (children's fiction), Seedling (Lakewood, CO), 2003.

Mr. Crumb's Secret ("Fribble Mouse Library Mystery" series), Alleyside (Fort Atkinson, WI), 2003.

The Secret of the Silver Key ("Fribble Mouse Library Mystery" series), illustrated by Ron Lipking, Upstart Books (Fort Atkinson, WI), 2003.

Contributor to The Young Gifted Child: Potential and Promise, edited by Joan Franklin Smutny, Hampton Press (Cresskill, NJ), 1998. Contributor to periodicals, including Educational Leadership, Middle School Journal, Instructor, Challenge, Wee Wisdom, High Adventure, Story Friends, Day Care and Early Education, Child Life, and Humpty Dumpty.

Sidelights

A former teacher, Phyllis J. Perry has written a number of nonfiction books for young readers that discuss various animal families and describe the habitats and behaviors of each kind of animal. The Crocodilians: Reminders of the Age of the Dinosaur features crocodiles, alligators, caimans, and gavials, while The Snow Cats discusses cats ranging from the sabertooth tiger to snow leopards and lynxes. In a review of Perry's animal families books for School Library Journal, Jacqueline Elsner concluded that the titles "are sure to circulate."

In addition to nonfiction, Perry has also written several original stories, including two titles in her ongoing "Fribble Mouse Library Mystery" series. In the second series installment, The Secret of the Silver Key, the young mouse receives a key for his birthday from his grandparents and is told to wait a few days to find out what the mysterious key unlocks. Being a rather impatient young rodent, Fribble decides to do a little research on the key, which takes him to the library in hopes of unlocking a mystery that School Library Journal reviewer Gloria Koster praised as "an excellent springboard for teaching about traditional reference sources as well as the Internet and computerized library catalogs."

In addition to writing books for young readers, Perry has also penned several books that guide teachers in several areas of study. For those hoping to inspire children with an interest in science and social studies, Perry has authored Bridges to the World of Water: Linking Fiction to Nonfiction and Getting Started in Science Fairs: From Planning to Judging, while Teaching Fantasy Novels: From The Hobbit to Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire provides suggestions for Language Arts instructors. Writing in Appraisal, Kathleen Dummer described Getting Started in Science Fairs as an "excellent reference book."