Marissa Moss
Encyclopedia
Marissa Moss is an American children's book author
.
. She started her first career
making picture books. Amelia's Notebook was her first deviation from that format. This book is the format of a journal
or diary
and is penned in a black and white composition
notebook. Moss herself says that she loves this format that she stumbled upon because it allows her to explore the world through a child's eyes. In fact, she says, "The things that happened to Amelia really happened to me--from the fire in the school to the marshmallows on the ceiling — though the names have been changed because my sister is mad enough at me already!"
Other books in this series
, which traces Amelia's life through the years, are: Amelia Writes Again, Amelia Hits the Road, Amelia Takes Command, The All New Amelia, My Notebook (with help from Amelia), Luv, Amelia, Luv Nadia, Amelia's Family Ties, Amelia Works It Out!, Oh Boy, Amelia!, Amelia Lends a Hand, Amelia's Best Year Ever, Amelia's Book of Notes & Note Passing, Amelia's Sixth Grade Notebook, Dr. Amelia's Boredom Survival Guide, Madame Amelia Tells All,yoddler time Amelia's Bully Survival Guide, Amelia's Guide to Gossip: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, Amelia's 5th-Grade Notebook, Amelia's School Survival Guide, Amelia's Most Unforgettable Embarrassing Moments and Amelia's Must-Keep Resolutions For The Best Year Ever!. Still to come in the series and slated for publication in 2007 are: The All-New Amelia, Amelia Tells All, Amelia's 7th-Grade Notebook, and Vote 4 Amelia.
She has also written several historical journals, also in diary format. These include an account of a girl's life during the depression entitled, Rose's Journal: The Story of a Girl in the Great Depression
.; Rachel's Journal: The Story of a Pioneer Girl; Emma's Journal: The Story of a Colonial Girl; Hannah's Journal: The Story of an Immigrant Girl; and Galen: My Life in Imperial Rome...
Earlier in her career Marissa Moss wrote and illustrated several children's books not in journal format. These include After School Monster, Wanna Play?, But Not Kate, Regina's Big Mistake, Mel's Diner, In America, and The Ugly Menorah, although most of these are now out of print.
Moss has also written books illustrated by C.F. Payne: True Heart, Brave Harriet: The First Woman to Fly the English Channel, and Mighty Jackie: The Strikeout Queen.
Moss illustrated G is For Googol: A Math Alphabet Book, which was written by David Schwartz.
She attended the University of California, Berkeley
and graduated in 1979. She studied art history in graduate school for two years and then attended the California College of Arts and Crafts to study the publishing world. She, like most artists and authors, received many rejections before finally breaking into print with her book,One, Two, Three & Four. No More? published by Houghton Mifflin
in 1988. She currently resides in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
.
Work
Moss's work spans the many ages of a childChild
Biologically, a child is generally a human between the stages of birth and puberty. Some vernacular definitions of a child include the fetus, as being an unborn child. The legal definition of "child" generally refers to a minor, otherwise known as a person younger than the age of majority...
. She started her first career
Career
Career is defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as a person's "course or progress through life ". It is usually considered to pertain to remunerative work ....
making picture books. Amelia's Notebook was her first deviation from that format. This book is the format of a journal
Diary
A diary is a record with discrete entries arranged by date reporting on what has happened over the course of a day or other period. A personal diary may include a person's experiences, and/or thoughts or feelings, including comment on current events outside the writer's direct experience. Someone...
or diary
Diary
A diary is a record with discrete entries arranged by date reporting on what has happened over the course of a day or other period. A personal diary may include a person's experiences, and/or thoughts or feelings, including comment on current events outside the writer's direct experience. Someone...
and is penned in a black and white composition
Composition (language)
The term composition , in written language, refers to the collective body of important features established by the author in their creation of literature...
notebook. Moss herself says that she loves this format that she stumbled upon because it allows her to explore the world through a child's eyes. In fact, she says, "The things that happened to Amelia really happened to me--from the fire in the school to the marshmallows on the ceiling — though the names have been changed because my sister is mad enough at me already!"
Other books in this series
Amelia's Notebooks
Amelia's notebooks are a series of children's books written and illustrated by Marissa Moss. The books, targeted at children between 9 and 12, are a series of notebooks and journals written by the character Amelia, who writes about her life, thoughts, and memories. They are profusely illustrated...
, which traces Amelia's life through the years, are: Amelia Writes Again, Amelia Hits the Road, Amelia Takes Command, The All New Amelia, My Notebook (with help from Amelia), Luv, Amelia, Luv Nadia, Amelia's Family Ties, Amelia Works It Out!, Oh Boy, Amelia!, Amelia Lends a Hand, Amelia's Best Year Ever, Amelia's Book of Notes & Note Passing, Amelia's Sixth Grade Notebook, Dr. Amelia's Boredom Survival Guide, Madame Amelia Tells All,yoddler time Amelia's Bully Survival Guide, Amelia's Guide to Gossip: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, Amelia's 5th-Grade Notebook, Amelia's School Survival Guide, Amelia's Most Unforgettable Embarrassing Moments and Amelia's Must-Keep Resolutions For The Best Year Ever!. Still to come in the series and slated for publication in 2007 are: The All-New Amelia, Amelia Tells All, Amelia's 7th-Grade Notebook, and Vote 4 Amelia.
She has also written several historical journals, also in diary format. These include an account of a girl's life during the depression entitled, Rose's Journal: The Story of a Girl in the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
.; Rachel's Journal: The Story of a Pioneer Girl; Emma's Journal: The Story of a Colonial Girl; Hannah's Journal: The Story of an Immigrant Girl; and Galen: My Life in Imperial Rome...
Earlier in her career Marissa Moss wrote and illustrated several children's books not in journal format. These include After School Monster, Wanna Play?, But Not Kate, Regina's Big Mistake, Mel's Diner, In America, and The Ugly Menorah, although most of these are now out of print.
Moss has also written books illustrated by C.F. Payne: True Heart, Brave Harriet: The First Woman to Fly the English Channel, and Mighty Jackie: The Strikeout Queen.
Moss illustrated G is For Googol: A Math Alphabet Book, which was written by David Schwartz.
Personal life
Marissa Moss first submitted a book for publication at the age of nine.She attended the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
and graduated in 1979. She studied art history in graduate school for two years and then attended the California College of Arts and Crafts to study the publishing world. She, like most artists and authors, received many rejections before finally breaking into print with her book,One, Two, Three & Four. No More? published by Houghton Mifflin
Houghton Mifflin
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt is an educational and trade publisher in the United States. Headquartered in Boston's Back Bay, it publishes textbooks, instructional technology materials, assessments, reference works, and fiction and non-fiction for both young readers and adults.-History:The company was...
in 1988. She currently resides in the San Francisco Bay Area.
2010
- Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People, Sky High: The True Story of Maggie Gee
- Booklist Top Ten Biography in 2010, Sky High: The True Story of Maggie Gee
- Amelia Bloomer Project Selection, Sky High: The True Story of Maggie Gee
2005
- International Reading AssociationInternational Reading AssociationThe International Reading Association is an international professional organization that was created in 1956 to improve reading instruction, facilitate dialogue about research on reading, and encourage the habit of reading....
Teachers' Choices for 2005-2006: Mighty Jackie: the Strike-out Queen - Selected as a nominee for the 2006 Bill Martin Jr. Picture Book Award, sponsored by the Kansas Reading Association: Mighty Jackie: the Strike-out Queen
- Selected for the 2005-2006 Louisiana Young Readers' Choice Award Master List: Mighty Jackie: the Strike-out Queen
- Placed on the Chickadee Award Master List for 2005-2006 in the state of Maine: Mighty Jackie: the Strike-out Queen
- Selected for the 2006 Washington Children's Choice Picture Book Award Master List: Mighty Jackie: the Strike-out Queen
2004
- ALAAmerican Library AssociationThe American Library Association is a non-profit organization based in the United States that promotes libraries and library education internationally. It is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with more than 62,000 members....
Notable: Mighty Jackie: the Strike-out Queen - Starred Review, Publishers WeeklyPublishers WeeklyPublishers Weekly, aka PW, is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers and literary agents...
: Mighty Jackie: the Strike-out Queen - Starred Review, Booklist: Mighty Jackie: the Strike-out Queen
- Top Ten Sports Books of the Year, Booklist 2004: Mighty Jackie: the Strike-out Queen
2003
- Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, CBC: Galen, My Life in Imperial Rome
- LA Times Bestseller List: Max's Log Book
2002
- Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People: National Council for the Social Studies—CBC Joint Committee: Brave Harriet, Rose's Journal
- Starred Review, Booklist: Brave Harriet
- Books for Youth Top Ten Women's History Booklist: Brave Harriet
- Children's Choices, Children's Book Council: Oh Boy, Amelia
2001
- Society of School Librarians International Honor Books: Hannah's Journal
- Best Children's Books of the Year, Bank St. College: Hannah's Journal
- Sugarman Family Award for Jewish Children's Literature: Hannah's Journal
- National Parenting Publications Gold Award: Amelia's Moving Pictures (Video)
- Parent's Guide Children's Media Award: Amelia's Moving Pictures (Video)
- ALA Notable Video: Amelia's Moving Pictures (Video)
- Starred Review, Publisher's Weekly: Amelia's Moving Pictures (Video)
- Parent's Guide Fiction Award: Oh Boy, Amelia
1999
- Society of School Librarians International Honor Books: Rachel's Journal
- ABC Booksellers Choices: Rachel's Journal
- San Francisco Chronicle Bestseller List: Dr. Amelia's Boredom Survival Guide
1997
- ABA Pick of the List: Amelia Hits the Road
- San Francisco Chronicle Bestseller List: My Notebook with Help from Amelia
1995
- ABA Pick of the List: Amelia's Notebook
- Starred Review, Publisher's Weekly: Amelia's Notebook
- Child Study Children's Book of the Year: In America
- Notable Trade Book in Field of Social Studies, Children's Book Council: In America
1990
- Notable Children's Trade Book in Field of Social Studies, National Council of Teachers of Social Studies: Regina's Big Mistake
- Reading Rainbow Featured Book: Regina's Big Mistake
- Storytime Featured Book: Regina's Big Mistake