Janet Lunn
Encyclopedia
Janet Louise Lunn, is a Canadian
children's writer
.
Born in Dallas, Texas
, she moved with her family to Vermont
when she was an infant. In 1938, she moved again to the outskirts of New York, New York. In 1946, she came to Canada to attend Queen’s University and married a fellow student, Richard Lunn. She became a Canadian citizen in 1963. They had five children and her husband died in 1987.
She published her first children's book, Double Spell, in 1968. From 1972 to 1975, she was a children’s editor for Clark, Irwin Publishers.
From 1984 to 1985, she was the first children's author to be Chair of the Writers' Union of Canada
.
In 1982, she was awarded the Vicky Metcalf Award
. In 1997, she was made a Member of the Order of Canada
. She was awarded the Order of Ontario
in 1996.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
children's writer
Children's literature
Children's literature is for readers and listeners up to about age twelve; it is often defined in four different ways: books written by children, books written for children, books chosen by children, or books chosen for children. It is often illustrated. The term is used in senses which sometimes...
.
Born in Dallas, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, she moved with her family to Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
when she was an infant. In 1938, she moved again to the outskirts of New York, New York. In 1946, she came to Canada to attend Queen’s University and married a fellow student, Richard Lunn. She became a Canadian citizen in 1963. They had five children and her husband died in 1987.
She published her first children's book, Double Spell, in 1968. From 1972 to 1975, she was a children’s editor for Clark, Irwin Publishers.
From 1984 to 1985, she was the first children's author to be Chair of the Writers' Union of Canada
Writers' Union of Canada
The Writers' Union of Canada , founded in 1973, describes itself as supporting "the country's authors by advocating for their rights, freedoms, and economic well-being." Its members are professional writers who must have published at least one book through a commercial publisher.The Union addresses...
.
In 1982, she was awarded the Vicky Metcalf Award
Vicky Metcalf Award
The Vicky Metcalf Award is awarded to a writer whose body of work has been "inspirational to Canadian youth." It is one of the top awards for Canadian children's writers. The award was named after Vicky Metcalf...
. In 1997, she was made a Member of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
. She was awarded the Order of Ontario
Order of Ontario
The Order of Ontario is the most prestigious official honour in the Canadian province of Ontario. Instituted in 1986 by Lieutenant Governor Lincoln Alexander, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier David Peterson, the civilian order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended to...
in 1996.
Selected bibliography
- Double Spell (1968)
- The Root CellarThe Root CellarThe Root Cellar is a children's historical novel by Janet Lunn. It won the 1982 Canada Library Association Book of the Year for Children Award. In 1988 the book won the California Young Reader Medal-Plot:...
(1981) - Shadow in Hawthorn Bay (1986)
- The Hollow TreeThe Hollow TreeThe Hollow Tree is a children's historical novel by Janet Lunn. The book is the third in a trilogy, the first two being The Root Cellar and Shadow on Hawthorne Bay...
(1997), winner of the 1998 Governor General's Awards1998 Governor General's AwardsThe winners of the 1998 Governor General's Literary Awards were announced by Jean-Louis Roux, Chairman, and Shirley L. Thomson, Director of the Canada Council for the Arts on November 17 in Ottawa... - Dear Canada: A Rebel's Daughter: The 1837 Rebellion Diary of Arabella Stevenson, Toronto, Upper Canada, 1837(2006, with Christopher Moore)
- Dear Canada: A Season for Miracles: Twelve Tales of Christmas (various authors) (2006, with Christopher Moore)
External links
- The Janet Lunn Web site
- Janet Lunn fonds at Library and Archives Canada