Marissa Moss

Marissa Moss

Moss in 2014.
Born September 29, 1959
Jeannette, Pennsylvania, United States
Occupation Writer
Nationality American
Genre Children's books
Notable works Amelia's notebooks
Website
marissamoss.com

Marissa Moss (born September 29, 1959, Jeannette, Pennsylvania) is an American children's book author.

Work

Moss's work spans the many ages of a child. 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!"[1]

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,toddler 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!.[2] 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.[3]

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.;[4] 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 Google: 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 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.[5]

Awards

2015

     Winner of the Museum of Tolerance 2014 Once Upon A World Children’s Book award, Barbed Wire Baseball
     Nominee for 2015 Beehive Award from the Children's Literature Association of      Utah, Barbed Wire Baseball
     Nominee for 2015 Towner Award, Washington State Student Award for Informational Text, Barbed Wire Baseball
    Finalist for South Carolina, Children's Choice Award, Barbed Wire Baseball

2014

     ALA Notable Book for 2014, Barbed Wire Baseball
    Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, 2014, Barbed Wire Baseball
    Asian/Pacific America Awards for Literature, Honor Book, Barbed Wire Baseball
    Finalist, Northern California Book Reviewers' Award, Mira's Diary: Home Sweet Rome
   Gold Medal, California Book Award, Barbed Wire Baseball
   IRA Teachers' Choices 2014, Barbed Wire Baseball
   Nominee for 2014-2015 Horned Toad Children's Choice, Barbed Wire Baseball

2013

     Junior Library Guild Selection, Barbed Wire Baseball
     Booklist's Top 10 Sports Books for Youth:2013. Barbed Wire Baseball
     California Reading Association Eureka Honor Book, 2013, Barbed Wire Baseball
    Starred Review, Publishers Weekly, 2013, Barbed Wire Baseball


2012 Nurse, Soldier, Spy (illustrated by John Hendrix) Amelia Bloomer Project’s Recommended Titles List for 2012

        Nominee for the 2012-2013 Great Lakes Great Book Award
        CCBC Choices 2012 List
        Silver Medal, California Book Award, A Soldier's Secret

Starred Review, Publishers Weekly, A Soldier's Secret Starred Review, Kirkus, A Soldier's Secret

Nominee for Amelia Bloomer Project Selection, 2012, A Soldier's Secret
Nominee for California Young Reader Medal, 2012, Nurse, Soldier, Spy
Junior Library Guild Selection 2012:  A Soldier’s Secret
Nominee for the 2014 Louisiana Readers Choice Award, Nurse, Soldier, Spy
2012 IRA Teachers’ Choices reading list, Nurse, Soldier, Spy

2012 NCSS-CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People list,

     Nurse, Soldier, Spy

The Bravest Woman in America (illustrated by Andrea U’ren) Amelia Bloomer Project’s Recommended Titles List for 2012

2011 Nurse, Soldier, Spy (illustrated by John Hendrix) Junior Library Guild Selection The Bravest Woman in America (illustrated by Andrea U’ren) Junior Library Guild Selection

2010 The Pharaoh’s Secret TriState Young Adult Review Group Books of Note 2010,

2010

2005

2004

2003

2002

2001

1999

1997

1996

1995

1990

External links

References

  1. ↑ http://www.childrenslit.com/f_marissamoss.htm
  2. ↑ Marissa Moss.com
  3. ↑ Simon & Smith: Marissa Moss
  4. ↑ Amazon.com: Rose's Journal: The Story of a Girl in the Great Depression: Books: Marissa Moss
  5. ↑ http://books.scholastic.com/teachers/authorsandbooks/authorstudies/authorhome.jsp?authorID=65&displayName=Biography