Marilyn Singer (born 3 October 1948)[1] is an author of children's books in a wide variety of genres, including fiction and non-fiction picture books, juvenile novels and mysteries, young adult fantasies, and poetry.

Marilyn Singer
Photo by Sonya Sones

Biography

Singer was born in the Bronx, New York City on October 3, 1948, and lived most of her early life in North Massapequa (Long Island), NY. She attended Queens College, City University of New York, and for her junior year, the University of Reading, England. She holds a B.A. in English from Queens College and an M.A. in communications from New York University.

In 1974, after teaching English in New York City high schools for several years, Singer began to write – initially film notes, catalogues, teacher's guides and film strips. Then, one day, when she was sitting in the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Singer penned a story featuring talking insect characters she'd made up when she was eight. Encouraged by the responses she got, Singer wrote more stories and in 1976 her first book, The Dog Who Insisted He Wasn't, was published by E. P. Dutton.

Since then, Singer has published over one hundred books for children and young adults. Her genres are many and varied, including realistic novels, fantasies, non-fiction, fairy tales, picture books, mysteries and poetry.

In 2023 Singer appeared as a contestant on Jeopardy!.[2]

Singer lives in Park Slope, Brooklyn, New York.

Education

1971. Education: Attended University of Reading, UK, 1967–68; Queens College of the City University of New York, B.A. (cum laude), 1969; New York University, M.A., 1979.

Works

Poetry

Picture books

Non-fiction

Novels for children

Mysteries For children

Fiction for young adults

Fairy tales

  • The Maiden on the Moor (Morrow, 1995)[26]
  • In the Palace of the Ocean King (Atheneum, 1995)[27]
  • The Painted Fan (Morrow, 1994)[28]
  • The Golden Heart of Winter (Morrow, 1991)[29]

Magazine articles and other publications

  • "Pests and Pollinators," on insects and other garden animals in Click magazine (Carus Publishing Company; July/August 2002)
  • "Clay Castles," on African termites in Click (February 2002)
  • "A Safe Place," on Kruger National Park in Click (March 2001)
  • "Never-Ending Journey," on the Serengeti migrations in Click (October 2000)
  • "Raising the Bar," on Puppies Behind Bars, a program that prison inmates raise pups to become guide dogs for the blind in AKC Gazette (October 2000)
  • "A Dad Who Has Babies," on seahorses in Click (February 2000)
  • "A Farmer's Best Friend," on sheepdogs in Click (May/June 1999)
  • "Paper Houses," on wasp nests in Click (February 1999)
  • "The Mind of the Judge," on dog obedience trial judges in AKC Gazette (March 1998)

Forthcoming

  • Cat-Chasing Day (Dutton) A poetry collection on holidays for dogs
  • The Boy Who Cried Alien (Hyperion) A "silent movie" in poems about Larry the Liar, a spaceship, and a town
  • Follow Follow: A Book of Reverso Poems (Dial)
  • Rutherford B., Who Was He? (Disney-Hyperion)
  • I'm Gonna Climb a Mountain in My Patent Leather Shoes (Abrams)

Awards and nominations

  • Mirror, Mirror
    • Cybil Award for Poetry, 2011
    • ALA Notable, 2011
    • CLA/NCTE Notable, 2011
    • Nominee, Texas Bluebonnet Award
    • Capitol Choice Book
    • 6 starred reviews
  • Chicago Public Library's Best of the Best, 2009 (Eggs and First Food Fight This Fall)
  • Orbis Pictus Honor Book, 2008 (Venom)
  • New York Public Library's One Hundred Best Titles for Reading and Sharing, 2007 (Venom)
  • Time Magazine's Top 10 Children's Books, 2007 (City Lullaby)[30]
  • NSTA-CBC Outstanding Science Trade Book, 2007 (What Stinks?)
  • Science Books & Film Best Trade Books, 2006 (What Stinks?)
  • New York Public Library, Best Books for the Teen Age, 2006
  • ALSC Notable Book, 2005 (Central Heating)
  • Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award Honor Book, 2005 (Creature Carnival)
  • New York Public Library's "Best Books for the Teen Age," 2005
  • Nominee:ALA Best Book for Young Adults, 2004
  • NSTA-CBA Outstanding Science Trade Book, 2002 (Tough Beginnings: How Baby Animals Survive)
  • Canadian Children's Book Centre "Our Choice" Book, 2002
  • Children's Literature Choice Book, 2002
  • National Science Teachers Association/Children's Book Council Outstanding Science Trade Book for Students, 2002
  • Skipping Stones Honor Award Book for 2002
  • Society of School Librarians International Best Book for Science, 2001 (Tough Beginnings: How Baby Animals Survive)
  • Animal Behavior Society Children's Book Award, 2001 (A Pair of Wings)
  • Society of School Librarians International Best Book for Science for 2001
  • New York Public Library's "Best Books for the Teen Age," 2001 (I Believe in Water: Twelve Brushes with Religion)
  • Tayshas List, 2001-2
  • Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults, 2000 (YALSA) (Stay True: Short Stories for Strong Girls)
  • Booklist's Top Ten Science Books, 2000 (On the Same Day in March)
  • NCSS-CBC Notable Book, 2000 (On the Same Day in March)
  • Runner-up, Publishers Weekly Best Religious Books of 2000
  • Cooperative Children's Book Center CCBC Link, Book of the Week, Dec 11, 2000
  • Finalist, YA category, Edgar Award, 1998 (Deal with a Ghost)
  • Nominee: Edgar Award, 1998[31]
  • Society of School Librarians International Best Books, 1997-8
  • Scholastic Book Club selection (paperback), 1993
  • Scholastic Book Club selection (paperback), 1991
  • NCTE Notable Book, 1989
  • Best Illustrated Children's Books of 1989, The New York Times
  • Best Children's Books of 1989, Time magazine
  • Society of School Librarians International Best Books, 1998-9
  • ALA Best Book for Young Adults, 1983 (The Course of True Love Never Did Run Smooth)
  • An American Library Association Best Book, 1983
  • Maud Hart Lovelace Award, 1983 (It Can't Hurt Forever)
  • Children's Choice Award (IRA/CBC)
  • Turtle in July
    • NCTE Notable, 1989
    • New York Times Best Illustrated, 1989
    • Time magazine Best Children's Books of 1989
    • Reading Rainbow review book

Quotes, interviews, reviews and media

  • Celebrating Poetry: Marilyn Singer, [32][33]
  • The New York State Reading Association Youth Book Blog (interview)[34]
  • Reading Rockets: A video interview with Marilyn Singer (video interview)[35]
  • The Miss Rumphius Effect (interview)[36]
  • David Harrison's Blog (interview)[37]
  • Cynthia Leitich Smith's Cynsations (interview)[38]
  • TeensReadToo.com (interview)[39]
  • Who Wrote That? by Patricia M. Newman (interview)[40]
  • "Sidelights Sketch" from Something About the Author, Vols. 80 & 125 (article about Marilyn Singer)[41]
  • WritingWorld.com (interview)[42]
  • "I don't know if I have a single poem that defines me. A lot of people think of me as a "nature poet" because I love writing about the natural world. But I also like to create characters and use them as narrators, and I'm fond of really silly verse."[43]
  • Singer actually sits and writes with pen in hand for three to four hours a day. "But I think writing for twenty-four, it seems. I like to write in cafes, restaurants, subways—it's not fixed."[44]
  • PEN American Center participating author[45]
  • Teaching Pre-K-8[46]
  • Commitment[47]
  • New York Times review of "City Lullaby" November 2007[48]
  • Parents Choice review of City Lullaby[49]

References

  1. Profile of Marilyn Singer
  2. Arnott, Christopher (June 12, 2023). "Connecticut children's book author a contestant on Monday's 'Jeopardy!'". Hartford Courant. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  3. A Strange Place to Call Home. ISBN 9781452141251.
  4. The Superheroes Employment Agency. ISBN 9780547822884.
  5. The boy who cried alien!. ISBN 9780786838257.
  6. A Stick Is an Excellent Thing. ISBN 9780547124933.
  7. Every Day's a Dog's Day. ISBN 9780803737150.
  8. Tallulah's Tutu. ISBN 9780547173535.
  9. Tallulah's Solo. ISBN 9780547330044.
  10. Tallulah's Toe Shoes. ISBN 9780547482231.
  11. Tallulah's Nutcracker. ISBN 9780547845579.
  12. Tallulah's Tap Shoes. ISBN 9780544236875.
  13. Tallulah's Ice Skates. ISBN 9780544596924.
  14. HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT LADY BIRD? | Kirkus Reviews.
  15. Make Me Over: Eleven Stories of Transformation: Eleven Stories of Transformation. ISBN 9781440678271.
  16. Face Relations 11 Stories About Seeing Beyond Color. ISBN 9781442496163.
  17. I Believe in Water: Twelve Brushes with Religion. ISBN 9780060283971.
  18. Stay True: Short Stories for Strong Girls. ISBN 978-0-590-36031-9.
  19. Deal with a Ghost. ISBN 9780613229791.
  20. Storm Rising. ISBN 978-0-590-42173-7.
  21. Several Kinds of Silence. ISBN 9780060256289.
  22. Horsemaster. ISBN 9780020449911.
  23. The Course of True Love Never Did Run Smooth. ISBN 9780060257538.
  24. The First Few Friends. ISBN 9780060257286.
  25. No Applause Please. ISBN 9780525359753.
  26. The Maiden on the Moor. ISBN 978-0-688-08675-6.
  27. In the Palace of the Ocean King. ISBN 978-0-689-31755-2.
  28. The Painted Fan. ISBN 978-0-688-11742-9.
  29. The Golden Heart of Winter. ISBN 978-0-688-07717-4.
  30. Time Magazine's Top 10 Children's Books, 2007>
  31. The Edgar Awards
  32. Part 1
  33. Part 2
  34. The New York State Reading Association Youth Book Blog
  35. Reading Rockets: A video interview with Marilyn Singer
  36. The Miss Rumphius Effect
  37. David Harrison's Blog
  38. Cynthia Leitich Smith's Cynsations
  39. TeensReadToo.com
  40. Who Wrote That? by Patricia M. Newman
  41. "Sidelights Sketch" from Something About the Author, Vols. 80 & 125
  42. WritingWorld.com
  43. Poet Roundtable
  44. Who Wrote That? Featuring Marilyn Singer
  45. PEN American Center participating author
  46. Teaching Pre-K-8
  47. Commitment
  48. New York Times review of "City Lullaby"
  49. Parents Choice
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