- Cynthia Leitich Smith
-
Cynthia Leitich Smith
Cynthia Leitich Smith at the 2011 Texas Book Festival.Nationality American Period 2000-present Genres Children's literature, Young Adult Literature, Native American literature, Gothic Fantasy/Horror, Humor, Realistic Fiction
cynthialeitichsmith.comCynthia Leitich Smith is a New York Times best-selling [1] author of fiction for children and young adults. A member of the Muscogee Creek Nation, she writes fiction for children centered on the lives of modern-day American Indians.[2] These books are taught widely by teachers in elementary, middle school, high school, and college classrooms.[3][4][5] In addition, Smith writes fanciful, humorous picture books and gothic fantasies for ages 14-up.[6] Regarded as an expert in Children's Literature by the press, she also hosts a website for Children's Literature Resources.[7] Smith is a faculty member at Vermont College of Fine Arts, teaching in the Writing for Children and Young Adults MFA program.[8]
Smith lives in Austin, Texas.[9]
Contents
Books
Jingle Dancer,[10] illustrated by Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu.[11] A picture book for ages 4 and up. Published in 2000 by Morrow/HarperCollins, the book was a finalist for the Oklahoma Book Award,[12] a runner-up for the Western Writers of America Storyteller Award,[13] and is listed as a Notable Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies,[14] on the 2002 Texas 2x2 list,[15] and on the 2002 Michigan Reader's Choice Award List.[15]
Rain is Not My Indian Name[16] is a novel for middle school readers. Upon its publication by HarperCollins, Smith was recognized as 2001 Writer of the Year by Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers and Storytellers.[17] Like Jingle Dancer, it was a finalist for the Oklahoma Book Award.[18] An audio book version of this title is available from Listening Library/Random House.[19]
Indian Shoes[20] is a chapter book for ages 7 and up. Published in 2002 by HarperCollins, it was selected for inclusion on the NEA Native American Book List. It is also listed as a Notable Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies,[20] the 2003 Best Children's Books of the Year by Bank Street College of Education,[15] and Choices 2003 by the Cooperative Children's Book Center.[15]
Santa Knows,[21] also by Greg Leitich Smith[22] and illustrated by Steve Bjorkman,[23] is a humorous holiday picture book, published in 2006 by Dutton, for ages 4 and up. In 2006, it was included among "Holiday High Notes" by the Horn Book,[24] "Worthy Stories for the Holidays" by the Miami Herald, and cheered as a "newly minted winner" by Kirkus Reviews.[25]
Tantalize[26] is a young adult gothic fantasy novel, published in 2007 and 2008 by Candlewick Press, for ages 14 and up. Fantasy elements include vampires and shapeshifters. The novel is a genre bender, employing elements of mystery, suspense, comedy, romance, and gothic fantasy. It was also published in 2008 by Listening Library/Random House, [27] Walker Books U.K., [28], Walker Books Australia and New Zealand, [29] and Editions Intervista in France. [30] Tantalize was named to the 2011 list of Popular Paperbacks by the Young Adult Library Services Association and [31] and featured at the 2007 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C. [32]
Eternal[33] is a young adult gothic fantasy novel, published in 2009 and 2010 by Candlewick Press, for ages 14 and up. Fantasy elements include angels, vampires and shapeshifters. The novel is a genre bender, employing elements of mystery, suspense, comedy, romance, and Gothic fantasy. It also was published by Listening Library/Random House, [34] Walker Books U.K., [35] Walker Books Australia and New Zealand, [36] and Amber in Poland. The U.S. paperback edition debuted at #5 on the New York Times best-seller list (children's paperbacks) and #13 on the Publishers Weekly best-seller list.[1]
Holler Loudly,[37] illustrated by Barry Gott,[38] is a humorous tall tale picture book, published in 2010 by Dutton, for ages 4 and up. Holler Loudly was featured at the 2010 Texas Book Festival [39] and was a Dolly Parton's Imagination Library selection. [40]
Blessed[41] is a young adult gothic fantasy novel, published in 2011 by Candlewick Press, for ages 14 and up. Fantasy elements include angels, vampires, and shapeshifters. The novel is a genre bender, employing elements of mystery, suspense, comedy, romance, and Gothic fantasy. It also was published by Walker Books Australia and New Zealand. [42]
Bibliography
- "Jingle Dancer" (2000)
- "Rain is Not My Indian Name" (2001)
- "Indian Shoes" (2002)
- "Santa Knows" (2006)
- "Tantalize" (2007)
- "Eternal" (2009)
- "Holler Loudly" (2010)
- "Blessed" (2011)
- "Tantalize: Kieren's Story" (2011)
Short stories/essays
- "The Gentleman Cowboy" in Period Pieces: Stories for Girls, published by HarperCollins in 2003, for ages 8 and up.
- "The Naked Truth" in In My Grandmother's House: Award-Winning Authors tell Stories about their Grandmothers, published by HarperCollins in 2003 for ages 8 and up.
- "A Real-Live Blonde Cherokee and His Equally Annoyed Soul Mate" in Moccasin Thunder,[43] published by HarperCollins in 2005 for ages 12 and up.
- "Riding With Rosa" in Cicada literary magazine (Vol. 7, No. 4, March/April 2005) for ages 12 and up.
- "Haunted Love" in Immortal: Love Stories with Bite, published by BenBella in 2008 for ages 12 and up.
- "Cat Calls" in Sideshow: Ten Original Tales of Freaks, Illusionists, and Other Matters Odd and Magical,[44] published by Candlewick Press in 2009 for ages 12 and up.
- "The Wrath of Dawn," co-authored by Greg Leitich Smith in Geektastic: Stories from the Nerd Herd, published by Little, Brown in 2009 for ages 12 and up.
- "Isolation" in Dear Bully: Seventy Authors Tell Their Stories, published by HarperCollins in 2011, for ages 13 and up.
References
- ^ a b http://www.earlyword.com/2010/03/08/new-vampires-in-town/
- ^ http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/20/AR2007092002266_pf.html The Washington Post
- ^ http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-140921767.html Childhood Education
- ^ http://www.nea.org/readacross/resources/nabooklist.html National Education Association
- ^ http://applications.edreform.net/educationaltype/educatorsguide Education Reform
- ^ http://yaauthorscafe.blogspot.com/2007/02/tantalize-by-cynthia-leitich-smith.html Young Authors Cafe
- ^ http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/1108/p13s01-almo.html Christian Science Monitor
- ^ - MFA in Writing for Children
- ^ Cynthia Leitich Smith: About the Author. Retrieved 2011-02-28.
- ^ http://www.harpercollinschildrens.com/HarperChildrens/Kids/BookDetail.aspx?isbn13=9780688162412 HarperCollins
- ^ http://www.cynthialeitichsmith.com/lit_resources/authors/interviews/hu_vanwright.html CYALR
- ^ http://www.odl.state.ok.us/ocb/01final.htm Oklahoma Center for the Book
- ^ http://www.westernwriters.org/spur_award_history.htm#2002 Western Writers of America
- ^ http://www.harpercollinschildrens.com/HarperChildrens/Kids/BookDetail.aspx?isbn13=9780688162412
- ^ a b c d http://www.childrenslit.com/childrenslit/mai_smith_cynthial.html Children's Literature
- ^ http://www.harpercollinschildrens.com/HarperChildrens/Kids/BookDetail.aspx?isbn13=9780688173975 HarperCollins
- ^ http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-25398616_ITM The Horn Book Magazine
- ^ http://www.odl.state.ok.us/ocb/02final.htm Oklahoma Center for the Book
- ^ http://www.randomhouse.com/audio/catalog/results.pperl?title_subtitle_auth_isbn=rain+is+not+my+indian+name&btnG.x=&btnG.y=&btnG=GO Random House Audio
- ^ a b http://www.harpercollinschildrens.com/HarperChildrens/Kids/BookDetail.aspx?isbn13=9780060295318 HarperCollins
- ^ http://us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780525477570,00.html?Santa_Knows_Cynthia_Leitich_Smith Penguin USA
- ^ http://www.gregleitichsmith.com/mt/books/archives/2006/07/santa_knows.html Author Greg Leitich Smith
- ^ http://www.stevebjorkman.com/ Illustrator Steve Bjorkman
- ^ http://www.hbook.com/magazine/reviews/group/holiday06.asp Horn Book Magazine
- ^ http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Santa-Knows/Cynthia-Leitich-Smith/e/9780525477570#TABS Barnes & Noble
- ^ http://www.candlewick.com/cat.asp?browse=Title&mode=book&isbn=0763627917&pix=n Candlewick Press
- ^ http://www.randomhouse.com/audio/catalog/results.pperl?title_subtitle_auth_isbn=tantalize&btnG.x=0&btnG.y=0&btnG=GO Random House Audio
- ^ http://www.walker.co.uk/Tantalize-9781406315608.aspx Walker U.K.
- ^ http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/Books/Tantalize-9780763627911
- ^ http://www.editionsintervista.com/
- ^ http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/booklistsawards/popularpaperback/11ppya.cfm
- ^ http://www.loc.gov/bookfest/
- ^ http://www.candlewick.com/cat.asp?mode=book&isbn=0763635731&browse=Title Candlewick Press
- ^ http://www.randomhouse.com/audio/listeninglibrary/catalog/display.php?isbn=9780739385616
- ^ http://www.walker.co.uk/Eternal-9781406325003.aspx
- ^ http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/Books/Eternal-9780763635732
- ^ http://us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780525422563,00.html?Holler_Loudly_Cynthia_Leitich_Smith
- ^ http://barrygott.com/barrygott/home.html Illustrator Barry Gott
- ^ http://www.texasbookfestival.org/
- ^ http://imaginationlibrary.com/
- ^ http://www.candlewick.com/cat.asp?mode=book&isbn=0763643262&browse=Title
- ^ http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/Books/Blessed-9780763655129
- ^ http://www.harpercollinschildrens.com/HarperChildrens/Kids/BookDetail.aspx?isbn13=9780066239576 HarperCollins
- ^ http://www.candlewick.com/cat.asp?browse=Title&mode=book&isbn=0763637521&pix=n Candlewick Press
See also
- Cynthia Leitich Smith Official site
- Cynsations
- Tantalize by Cynthia Leitich Smith Spanish-English blog
- CL Smith Interview at BookReviewsAndMore.ca
Categories:- Living people
- Native American writers
- Muscogee people
- Native American children's literature
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