ANNOUNCEMENT: While looking for one thing, I just found another; actually, two other things: my first and second publications. You’re going to love the titles. Number one: THE GROWTH OF THE RAT TAPEWORM, HYMENOLEPIS DIMINUTA, DURING THE FIRST FIVE DAYS IN THE FINAL HOST, published in The Journal of Parasitology. Number two: A STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF MOUSE MOTOR ACTIVITY DATA AS RECORDED WITH THE NUTATING ANNULAR ACTIVITY CAGE, published in The Pharmacologist. Ah, those were the days!
Hi everyone,
Tomorrow it will be my pleasure to reintroduce Lee Bennett Hopkins to you. Today I’m reposting the bio he sent for his original Featured Guest spot. Knowing Lee, this is undoubtedly out of date already, but it will give you some idea of his activities, interests, and accomplishments.
Stay cool everyone!
Lee Bennett Hopkins has written and edited numerous award-winning books for children and young adults, as well as professional texts and curriculum materials. He has taught elementary school and served as a consultant to school systems throughout the country. Born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, Hopkins graduated Kean University, Bank Street College of Education, and holds a Professional Diploma in Educational Supervision and Administration from Hunter College. In 1980 he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Kean University.
in 1989 he received the University of Southern Mississippi Medallion for “outstanding contributions to the field of children’s literature” in recognition of his work; 2009 brought him the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Excellence in Poetry for Children recognizing his aggregate body of work. Among his original collections are Been to Yesterdays: Poems of a Life (Boyds Mills Press) an autobiographical book of poetry that received the prestigious Christopher Medal and a Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) Golden Kite Honor Award, Alphathoughts: Alphabet Poems, and City I Love (Abrams, 2009), illustrated by jazz musician, Marcellus Hall, starred in both PW and SLJ.
His creativity is the result of his passion for poetry and his unflagging belief that poetry is a necessity for children, at home and in the classroom.
His award winning series of American History through poetry for children and young adults include Hand in Hand: An American History Through Poetry, illustrated by Peter Fiore, My America: A Poetry Atlas of the United States, and America At War, both illustrated by Stephen Alcorn (all Simon & Schuster/McElderry Books).
His recent, SKY MAGIC (Dutton, 2009) received a starred review in THE HORN BOOK calling the anthology ‘mesmerizing…a hypnotic,
otherworldly feel.”
At the heart of all his writing is the dedication in bringing children and books together. “You must teach children to love books,” he insists. “We spend too much time teaching children to read and not enough time teaching them to love to read.”
To encourage the recognition of poetry, he has established two major awards: the Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award, presented annually by Penn State University for a single volume of poetry, and the Lee Bennett Hopkins/International Reading Association Promising Poet Award, presented every three years by IRA.
One of the nation’s most sought-after speakers on the subject of children’s literature, Mr. Hopkins lives in Cape Coral, Florida. PHONE: 239.549.9514
EMAIL: lbhcove@aol.com See: www.leebennetthopkinsbooks.com, www.simonsays.com
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