Eve Bunting and Ann Rinaldi

Eve Bunting was born in Ireland and grew up in a tradition steeped in the art of storytelling. In Ireland the Sanachies were the storytellers who went from house to house telling old Irish folktales. Eve believes she is a bit of a Shanachie herself.

Eve and her husband and three children moved to California in 1958. She enrolled in a writing class at the local college and has been writing ever since. Eve writes for all ages from pre-school to young adult novels. Eve loves to write picture books. She likes to write books that make young people ask questions. Finding an idea to write about is never a problem for her.

Eve's first book, The Two Giants, was published in 1972. It is about an Irish man named Finn McCool. Eve has since written more than 150 books, including picture books and novels for young adults.

In addition to her writing career, Eve has also taught at the University of California, in Los Angeles. She is a member of the board of directors for the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators and The Writer magazine. She currently lives in Los Angeles with her husband.

Eve Bunting has been awarded many honors for her books. She has been the recipient of the Golden Kite Award, given by the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. She has also received the Southern California Council on Literature for Children and Young People Award, the PEN Los Angeles Center Literary Award for Special Achievement in Children's Literature. Also awarded has been the Edgar Award which is given by the Mystery Writer's of America.

Some of Buntings books are pure fun such as Sunflowers House, and Scary and the Dog Detective. Some books are what she calls "tender topics" and are about issues such as poverty, racial prejudice, war and other social problems. Two of her latest books include I Am the Mummy HEB-NEFERT and SOS Titanic and On Call Back Mountain.

Ann Rinaldi

Ann Rinaldi is best known for her wonderful works of historical fiction. Her books have brought history alive for many young people.

Ann was born in New York City in 1934. Her mother died soon after she was born so she was raised by an aunt and uncle who lived in Brooklyn. Her father remarried and Ann was then taken to live with him and her new step-mother in New Jersey.

Ann started writing poetry when she was a young girl. Reading the book Little Women inspired her to write. In 1969, she began a career as a newspaper columnist. She had her first novel Term Paper published in 1979.

Ann married in 1960. She had two children and decided she wanted to be a novelist. Her second novel was a sequel to the first and called, Promises Are For Keeping.

Ann's son became involved in Revolutionary War reenacting while he was in high school. Ann developed a love of history while attending these events with him. Her next novel Time Enough For Drums was written shortly thereafter.

Ann has since written over one dozen young adult novels. Writing historical fiction has become a passion and Ann pays close attention to small details.

Ann has her own large personal library where she begins her research. She also visits public and private libraries as well as historical sites where she gathers information for her books.

Some of Ann's other young adult novels:

A Break With Charity: A Story About the Salem Witch Trials
The Blue Door
The Fifth of March: The Story of the Boston Massacre
In My Father's House
The Last Silk Dress
Hang a Thousand Trees With Ribbons: The Story of Phillis Wheatley

Ann Rinaldi has received many awards for her writing. In 1987 the New Jersey Institute of Technology awarded her the New Jersey Author's Award for her novel Time Enough for Drums. In 1994 the Daughters of the American Revolution awarded Ann the National History Award for her historic novels. She has received the American Library Association Best Books for Young Adults for her novels, Time Enough for Drums, The Last Silk Dress, Break With Charity and Wolf by the Ears.

Ann Rinaldi's writing has brought history to life for many young people through her attention to accuracy and through her well developed characters. Many social studies teachers use Ann's books as supplements to their curriculum. A student who was otherwise turned off to history will be suddenly turned on while reading Ann Rinaldi's great historical novels.

Next week's column will highlight the many awards given in the field of children's literature.