Cynthia Leitich Smith

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Cynthia Leitich Smith is an 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. [1] These books are taught widely by teachers in elementary, middle school, high school, and college classrooms [2] [3][4]. In addition, Smith writes fanciful, humorous picture books and gothic fantasies for ages 14-up.[5]. Regarded as an expert in Children's Literature by the press, she also hosts a website for Children's Literature Resources[6]. Smith is a faculty member at Vermont College of Fine Arts, teaching in the Writing for Children and Young Adults MFA program.[7]

Contents

[edit] Books

Jingle Dancer, illustrated by Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu. A picture book for ages 4 and up. Published in 2000 by Morrow/HarperCollins, the book was a finalist for the Oklahoma Book Award, a runner-up for the Western Writers Association Storyteller Award, and is listed as a Notable Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies.

Rain is Not My Indian Name 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[8]. Like Jingle Dancer, it was a finalist for the Oklahoma Book Award. An audio book version of this title is available from Listening Library/Random House.

Indian Shoes 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, the 2003 Best Children's Books of the Year by Bank Street College of Education, and Choices 2003 by the Cooperative Children's Book Center.

Santa Knows, also by Greg Leitich Smith and illustrated by Steve Bjorkman, is a humorous holiday picture book, published by Dutton, for ages 4 and up. In 2006, it was included among "Holiday High Notes" by the Horn Book, "Worthy Stories for the Holidays" by the Miami Herald, and cheered as a "newly minted winner" by Kirkus Reviews.

Tantalize is a young adult gothic fantasy novel, published in 2007 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 will be published in fall 2008 by Walker U.K.

[edit] Bibliography

  • "Jingle Dancer" (2000)
  • "Rain is Not My Indian Name" (2001)
  • "Indian Shoes" (2002)
  • "Santa Knows" (2006)
  • "Tantalize" (2007)

[edit] Short Stories

  • "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, 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.

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/20/AR2007092002266_pf.html The Washington Post
  2. ^ http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-140921767.html Childhood Education
  3. ^ http://www.nea.org/readacross/resources/nabooklist.html National Education Association
  4. ^ http://applications.edreform.net/educationaltype/educatorsguide Education Reform
  5. ^ http://yaauthorscafe.blogspot.com/2007/02/tantalize-by-cynthia-leitich-smith.html Young Authors Cafe
  6. ^ http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/1108/p13s01-almo.html Christian Science Monitor
  7. ^ Union Institute & University - MFA in Writing for Children
  8. ^ http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-25398616_ITM The Horn Book Magazine

[edit] See also

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