Jane
Yolen, one of America's most prolific and versatile writers
for children, has more than two hundred books to her credit. With
her roots planted firmly in folkloric tradition, she has mastered every
conceivable type of literature, a mastery widely and repeatedly recognized.
Smith College, her alma mater, has praised her for nurturing "childhood's
precious sense of wonder and fantasy through hundreds of stories that respect
children's minds and challenge their imaginations." She has been
honored three times by the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators
with the Golden Kite and five times by the Science Fiction and Fantasy
Writers of America with the Nebula. One of her best known titles, Owl
Moon, illustrated by John Shoenherr, was awarded the Caldecott Medal,
and The Emperor and the Kite, illustrated by Ed Young, was selected
a Caldecott Honor. Of late, she has collaborated with her grown children
on such books as Meet the Monsters with Heidi Stemple, a writer;
Sing Noel with Adam Stemple, a musician and composer; and Color
Me a Rhyme with Jason Stemple, a photographer. Current and forthcoming
books include Sister Emily's Lightship and Other Stories; an historical
novel, Queen's Own Fool, with Robert J. Harris; and a picturebook,
Where Have The Unicorns Gone? Jane Yolen divides her time between
Hatfield, Massachusetts and St. Andrews, Scotland
Internet Public Library Interview