ERIC ED460912: Biography Today: Profiles of People of Interest to Young Readers. Author Series, Volume 4.

206 Pages·1998·3.5 MB·English

by  ERIC

DOCUMENT RESUME
ED 460 912
SO 029 744
AUTHOR
Harris, Laurie Lanzen, Ed.; Abbey, Cherie D., Ed.
TITLE
Biography Today: Profiles of People of Interest to Young
Readers. Author Series, Volume 4.
ISBN
ISBN-0-7808-0363-9
PUB DATE
1998-00-00
NOTE
204p.; For volumes 1 and 3, see ED 390 725 and SO 029 333.
AVAILABLE FROM
Omnigraphics, Inc., 615 Griswold St., Detroit, MI 48226.
Tel: [phone] (Toll Free); Web site:
http://www.omnigraphics.com.
PUB TYPE
Reference Materials
Reports
General (130)
Descriptive
(141)
EDRS PRICE
MF01/PC09 Plus Postage.
DESCRIPTORS
*Adolescent Literature; *Authors; Biographies; *Childrens
Literature; Elementary Secondary Education; Language Arts;
Reading Materials; Social Studies
ABSTRACT
This is the fourth volume of the "Biography Today Author
Series." Each volume contains alphabetically arranged sketches. Each entry
provides at least one picture of the individual profiled with additional
information about the birth, youth, early memories, education, first jobs,
marriage and family, career highlights, memorable experiences, hobbies, and
honors and awards. The entries end with a list of accessible sources designed
to lead the student to further reading on the individual and a current
address. Obituary entries also are included and clearly marked in both the
table of contents and at the beginning of the entry. Profiles in this volume
include:
(1) Betsy Byars, author of "The Summer of the Swans" and the "Bingo
Brown" books;
(2) Chris Carter, creator of the television series "The
X-Files" and "Millennium";
(3) Caroline B. Cooney, author of romance,
mystery, horror, and suspense stories for young adults;
(4) Christopher Paul
Curtis, author of "The Watsons Go to Birmingham
1963";
(5) Anne Frank,
Holocaust Victim and author of "The Diary of Anne Frank";
(6) Robert
Heinlein, author of science fiction books including "Stranger in a Strange
Land";
(7) Marguerite Henry, writer of books for children including "Misty of
Chincoteague," "Justin Morgan Had a Horse," "King of the Wind," and "Brighty
of the Grand Canyon";
(8) Lois Lowry, author of "Number the Stars," "The
Giver," and the "Anastasia" Series;
(9) Melissa Mathison, scriptwriter for
"The Black Stallion," "E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial," and "The Indian in the
Cupboard";
(10) Bill Peet, author and illustrator of children's books,
including "Farewell to Shady Glade" and "The Whingdingdilly," as well as
former illustrator and screen writer for Disney Animated Films such as
"Pinocchio" and "101 Dalmations"; and (11) August Wilson, playwright and
author of "Fences" and "The Piano Lesson." (EH)
Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made
from the original document.
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Profiles
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Chris Carter
Paul Curtis
Caroline B. Cooney
Robert Heinlein
Marguerite Henry
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Points of view or opinions stated in this
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Anne Frank
BEST enpv AVAll API F
Biography
Profiles
of People
Today
of Interest
to Young
Readers
Author Series
Volume 4
1998
Laurie Lanzen Harris
Executive Editor
Cherie D. Abbey
Associate Editor
anitraykics,
gno.
Penobscot Building
Detroit, Michigan 48226
3
Laurie Lanzen Harris, Executive Editor
Cherie D. Abbey, Associate Editor
Kevin Hillstrom and Laurie Hillstrom, Sketch Writers
Barry Puckett, Research Associate
Joan Margeson, Research Assistant
Omnigraphics, Inc.
* * *
Matt Barbour, Production Manager
Laurie Lanzen Harris, Vice President, Editorial Director
Peter E. Ruffner, Vice President, Administration
James A. Sellgren, Vice President, Operations and Finance
Jane Steele, Marketing Consultant
* * *
Frederick G. Ruffner, Jr., Publisher
1998 Omnigraphics, Inc.
Copyright
ISBN 0-7808-0363-9
The information in this publication was compiled from the sources cited and
from other sources considered reliable. While every possible effort has been
made to ensure reliability, the publisher will not assume liability for damages
caused by inaccuracies in the data, and makes no warranty, express or im-
plied, on the accuracy of the information contained herein.
This book is printed on acid-free paper meeting the ANSI Z39.48 Standard.
The infinity symbol that appears above indicates that the paper in this book
meets that standard.
Printed in the United States
Contents
Preface
5
Betsy Byars 1928-
9
American Writer for Children and Young Adults, Author of
The Summer of the Swans and the "Bingo Brown" Books
Chris Carter 1956-
23
American Screenwriter, Director, and Producer, Creator of the
Television Series "The X-Files" and "Millennium"
Caroline B. Cooney 1947-
35
American Author of Romance, Mystery, Horror, and Suspense
Stories for Young Adults
Christopher Paul Curtis 1953-
47
American Writer, Author of The Watsons Go to
Birmingham
1963
Anne Frank 1929-1945
58
German Holocaust Victim, Author of The Diary of Anne Frank
Robert Heinlein 1907-1988
75
American Novelist and Short Story Writer, Author of Science
Fiction Books, Including Stranger in a Strange Land
Marguerite Henry (Obituary) 1902-1997
88
American Writer of Books for Children, Author of Misty of
Chincoteague, Justin Morgan Had a Horse, King of the Wind, and
Brighty of the Grand Canyon
Lois Lowry 1937-
101
American Novelist, Author of Number the Stars, The Giver,
and the "Anastasia" Series
3
5
Melissa Mathison 1950-
115
American Screenwriter, Scriptwriter for The Black Stallion,
E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial, and The Indian in the Cupboard
Bill Peet 1915-
126
American Children's Book Author and Illustrator; Writer of
Farewell to Shady Glade and The Whingdingdilly; Former
Illustrator and Screenwriter for Such Disney Animated Films
as Pinocchio and 101 Dalmations
August Wilson 1945-
140
American Playwright and Author of Fences and The Piano
Lesson
Photo and Illustration Credits
157
Guide to the Indexes
159
Name Index
161
General Index
169
Places of Birth Index
195
Birthday Index (by month and day)
203
4
Preface
Welcome to the fourth volume of the Biography Today Author Series. We
are publishing this series in response to the growing number of suggestions
from our readers, who want more coverage of more people in Biography
Today. Over the past few years, we have published several special subject vol-
umes, covering Artists, Authors, Scientists and Inventors, Sports Figures,
and World Leaders. Each of these hardcover volumes is 200 pages in length
and covers approximately 15 individuals of interest to readers aged 9 and
above. The length and format of the entries is like those found in the regular
issues of Biography Today, but there is no duplication between the regular se-
ries and the special subject volumes.
The Plan of the Work
As with the regular issues of Biography Today, this special subject volume on
Authors was especially created to appeal to young readers in a format they
can enjoy reading and readily understand. Each volume contains alphabetical-
ly arranged sketches. Each entry provides at least one picture of the individual
profiled, and bold-faced rubrics lead the reader to information on birth, youth,
early memories, education, first jobs, marriage and family, career highlights,
memorable experiences, hobbies, and honors and awards. Each of the entries
ends with a list of easily accessible sources designed to lead the student to fur-
ther reading on the individual and a current address. Obituary entries are also
included, written to provide a perspective on the individual's entire career.
Obituaries are clearly marked in both the table of contents and at the begin-
ning of the entry.
Biographies are prepared by Omnigraphics editors after extensive research,
utilizing the most current materials available. Those sources that are generally
available to students appear in the list of further reading at the end of the
sketch.
Indexes
To provide easy access to entries, each issue of the regular Biography Today
series and each volume of the Special Subject Series contains a Name Index,
General Index covering occupations, organizations, and ethnic and minority
origins, Places of Birth Index, and a Birthday Index. These indexes cumulate
5
re
with each succeeding volume or issue. Each of the Special Subject Volumes
will be indexed as part of these cumulative indexes, so that readers can locate
information on all individuals covered in either the regular or the special vol-
umes. A "Guide to the Indexes" appears on page 159.
Our Advisors
This member of the Biography Today family of publications was reviewed by
an Advisory Board comprised of librarians, children's literature specialists, and
reading instructors so that we could make sure that the concept of this publi-
cation to provide a readable and accessible biographical magazine for
young readers was on target. They evaluated the title as it developed, and
their suggestions have proved invaluable. Any errors, however, are ours alone.
We'd like to list the Advisory Board members, and to thank them for their ef-
forts.
Judy Liskov
Sandra Arden, Retired
Waterford Public Library
Assistant Director
Waterford, CT
Troy Public Library, Troy, MI
Sylvia Mavrogenes
Gail Beaver
Miami-Dade Public Library System
Ann Arbor Huron High School Library
Miami, FL
and the University of Michigan School
of Information and Library Studies
Carole J. McCollough
Ann Arbor, MI
Wayne State University School of
Library Science, Detroit, MI
Marilyn Bethel
Pompano Beach Branch Library
Deborah Rutter
Pompano Beach, FL
Russell Library, Middletown, CT
Eileen Butterfield
Barbara Sawyer
Waterford Public Library
Groton Public Library and Information
Waterford, CT
Center, Groton, CT
Linda Carpino
Renee Schwartz
Detroit Public Library
School Board of Broward County
Detroit, MI
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Helen Gregory
Lee Sprince
Grosse Pointe Public Library
Broward West Regional Library
Grosse Pointe, MI
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Jane Klasing, Retired
Susan Stewart, Retired
School Board of Broward County,
Bimey Middle School Reading
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Laboratory, Southfield, ME
Marlene Lee
Ethel Stoloff, Retired
Librarian, Bimey Middle School,
Broward County Public Library System,
Southfield, MI
Fort Lauderdale, FL
6
s.%
Our Advisory Board stressed to us that we should not shy away from contro-
versial or unconventional people in our profiles, and we have tried to follow
their advice. The Advisory Board also mentioned that the sketches might be
useful in reluctant reader and adult literacy programs, and we would value any
comments librarians might have about the suitability of our magazine for
those purposes.
Your Comments Are Welcome
Our goal is to be accurate and up-to-date, to give young readers information
they can learn from and enjoy. Now we want to know what you think. Take a
look at this issue of Biography Today, on approval. Write or call me with your
comments. We want to provide an excellent source of biographical informa-
tion for young people. Let us know how you think we're doing.
Laurie Harris
Executive Editor, Biography Today
Omnigraphics, Inc.
Penobscot Building
Detroit, MI 48226
Fax: [phone]
7
4111111111.11,
/
Betsy Byars 1928-
American Writer for Children and Young Adults
Author of The Summer of the Swans, the "Blossom
Family" Books, and the "Bingo Brown" Books
BIRTH
Betsy Cromer Byars was born on August 7, 1928, in Char-
lotte, North Carolina. Her father, George Guy Cromer, was
trained as a civil engineer, and her mother, Nan (Rugheimer)
Cromer, had studied acting and music in college but stayed
home to raise their two children. Betsy had one older sister,
Nancy.
1 0