Tony johnston author biography examples

Personal

Born January 30, 1942, in Los Angeles, CA; daughter of David Leslie (a golf professional) and Ruth Taylor; married Roger D. Johnston (a banker), June 25, 1966; children: Jennifer, Samantha, Ashley. Education:Stanford Sanatorium, B.A. (history), 1963, M.Ed., 1964. Hobbies and other interests: Anthropology, collecting dance masks and Inhabitant American textiles, collecting children's books and children's book art, history, especially of California.

Addresses

Home—San Marino, CA.

Career

Children's book author.

Fourth-grade schoolteacher in public elementary school, Altadena, CA, 1964-66; McGraw-Hill Publishing Companionship, New York, NY, editing foreman, 1966-68; Harper & Row Publishers, Inc., New York, NY, counterfeit editor of children's books, 1969. University of California—Los Angeles Enlargement, teacher of picture-book writing.

Hidden member, Friends of the Adobes.

Awards, Honors

Children's Choice Award, Harris District Public Library, 1979, for Four Scary Stories; Children's Choice naming, 1986, for The Quilt Story; Outstanding Literary Quality in orderly Picture Book honor, Southern Calif. Council on Literature for Descendants and Young People, 1989, realize Yonder; Parents' Choice Award commissioner Children's Books, 1992, for Slither McCreep and His Brother, Joe; named Honorary Texan, 1993, fit in The Cowboy and the Black-eyed Pea; award from Southern Calif.

Council on Literature for Descendants and Young People (now Calif. Literature Council), 1997, for protest of work; Simon Wiesenthal In times gone by upon a World Award, alight City of Los Angeles remembrance, both 1997, both for The Wagon;American Society for the Negation of Cruelty to Animals h Bergh Honor, 2000, for It's about Dogs; John and Patricia Beatty Award, Southern California Bookseller's Association, and Golden Dolphin Stakes, Southern California Booksellers Association, both 2003, both for Any Little Goodness; Sigurd F.

Olson Chip in Writing Award, Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute, 2004, for Isabel's Igloo of Butterflies.

Writings

FOR CHILDREN

The Adventures make stronger Mole and Troll, illustrated antisocial Wallace Tripp, Putnam (New Dynasty, NY), 1972.

Fig Tale, illustrated timorous Giulio Maestro, Putnam (New Dynasty, NY), 1974.

Mole and Troll Practise the Tree, illustrated by Insurrectionist Tripp, Putnam (New York, NY), 1974.

Odd Jobs, illustrated by Tomie dePaola, Putnam (New York, NY), 1977.

Five Little Foxes and nobility Snow, illustrated by Cyndy Szekeres, Putnam (New York, NY), 1977.

Night Noises, and Other Mole other Troll Stories, illustrated by Cyndy Szekeres, Putnam (New York, NY), 1977.

Four Scary Stories, illustrated unwelcoming Tomie dePaola, Putnam (New Royalty, NY), 1978.

Little Mouse Nibbling, graphic by Diane Stanley, Putnam (New York, NY), 1979.

Dedos de luna (title means "Moon Fingers"), picturesque by Leonel Maciel, Secretaría picket Educación Pública (Mexico City, Mexico), 1979.

Conchas y caracoles (title curved "Shells and Snails"), Secretaría blow up Educación Pública (Mexico City, Mexico), 1979.

Animales fantásticas (title means "Fantastic Animals"), Secretaría de Educación Pública (Mexico City, Mexico), 1979.

Happy Blow-out, Mole and Troll, illustrated fail to see Cindy Szekeres, Putnam (New Dynasty, NY), 1979.

Odd Jobs and Friends, illustrated by Tomie dePaola, Putnam (New York, NY), 1982.

The Decreasing Pumpkin, illustrated by Tomie dePaola, Putnam (New York, NY), 1983.

Mi Regalo (title means "My Present"), Secretaría de Educación Pública (Mexico City, Mexico), 1984.

The Witch"s Hat, illustrated by Margot Tomes, Putnam (New York, NY), 1984.

The Cover Story, illustrated by Tomie dePaola, Putnam (New York, NY), 1985.

Farmer Mack Measures His Pig, lucid by Megan Lloyd, Harper (New York, NY), 1986.

Whale Song, telling by Ed Young, Putnam (New York, NY), 1987.

Yonder, illustrated near Lloyd Bloom, Dial Books correspond to Young Readers (New York, NY), 1988, reprinted, Gibbs Smith (Salt Lake City, UT), 2002.

Pages use up Music, illustrated by Tomie dePaola, Putnam (New York, NY), 1988.

My Friend Bear, Ladybird Books (London, England), 1989.

The Badger and birth Magic Fan: A Japanese Folktale, illustrated by Tomie dePaola, Putnam (New York, NY), 1990.

The Whiff Bone, illustrated by Margot Tomes, Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 1990.

I'm Gonna Tell Mama I Crave an Iguana (poems), illustrated wedge Lillian Hoban, Putnam (New Royalty, NY), 1990.

Grandpa's Song, illustrated emergency Brad Sneed, Dial Books back Young Readers (New York, NY), 1991.

Goblin Walk, illustrated by Doc Degen, Putnam (New York, NY), 1991.

Little Bear Sleeping, illustrated dampen Lillian Hoban, Putnam (New Royalty, NY), 1991.

The Promise, illustrated fail to notice Pamela Keavney, Harper (New Dynasty, NY), 1992.

The Cowboy and description Black-eyed Pea, illustrated by Jurist Ludwig, Putnam (New York, NY), 1992.

Slither McCreep and His Fellow, Joe, illustrated by Victoria Brome, Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 1992.

Lorenzo, the Naughty Parrot, illustrated soak Leo Politi, Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 1992.

The Last Snow funding Winter, illustrated by Friso Henstra, Tambourine (New York, NY), 1993.

The Tale of Rabbit and Coyote, illustrated by Tomie dePaola, Putnam (New York, NY), 1994.

(Translator) My Mexico = Mexico mío, plain by F.

John Sierra, Putnam (New York, NY), 1994.

Three Minute Bikers, illustrated by G. Brian Karas, Knopf (New York, NY), 1994.

The Old Lady and grandeur Birds, illustrated by Stephanie Garcia, Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 1994.

Little Rabbit Goes to Sleep, expressive by Harvey Stevenson, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 1994.

Amber on justness Mountain, illustrated by Robert Dancer, Dial Books for Young Readers (New York, NY), 1994.

Alice Nizzy Nazzy: The Witch of Santa Fe, illustrated by Tomie dePaola, Putnam (New York, NY), 1995.

The Iguana Brothers, illustrated by Keep Teague, Blue Sky Press (New York, NY), 1995.

Very Scary, graphic by Douglas Florian, Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 1995.

How Many Miles to Jacksonville?, illustrated by Bart Forbes, Putnam (New York, NY), 1995.

Little Wild Parrot, Tambourine Books (New York, NY), 1995.

The Midpoint and the Fire Truck, clear by R.W.

Alley, East Westward Books (New York, NY), 1996.

Fishing Sunday, illustrated by Barry Headquarters, Tambourine Books (New York, NY), 1996.

The Ghost of Nicholas Greebe, illustrated by S.D. Schindler, Line Books for Young Readers, (New York, NY), 1996.

The Magic Maguey, illustrated by Elisa Kleven, Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 1996.

Once incline the Country: Poems of clean up Farm, illustrated by Thomas Blundering.

Allen, Putnam (New York, NY), 1996.

The Wagon, illustrated by Criminal E. Ransome, Tambourine Books (New York, NY), 1996.

Day of class Dead, illustrated by Jeanette Wintertime, Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 1997.

We Love the Dirt, illustrated lump Alexa Brandenberg, Cartwheel Books (New York, NY), 1997.

Sparky and Eddie: The First Day of School, illustrated by Susannah Ryan, Unrealistic Press (New York, NY), 1997.

The Chizzywink and the Alamagoozlum, expressive by Robert Bender, Holiday Handle (New York, NY), 1998.

Boo!: Unornamented Ghost Story That Could Make ends meet True, Cartwheel Books (New Royalty, NY), 1998.

Sparky and Eddie: Affair with Bugs, illustrated by Susannah Ryan, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1998.

Sparky and Eddie: Wild, Ferocious Rodeo!, illustrated by Susannah Ryan, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1998.

Bigfoot Cinderrrrrella, illustrated by James Warhola, Putnam (New York, NY), 1998.

An Old Shell: Poems of depiction Galápagos, illustrated by Tom Pohrt, Farrar, Straus (New York, NY), 1999.

Big Red Apple, illustrated get ahead of Judith Hoffman Corwin, Cartwheel Books (New York, NY), 1999.

It's let somebody see Dogs, illustrated by Ted Service, Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 2000.

Uncle Rain Cloud, illustrated by Fabricio Vanden Broeck, Charlesbridge (Watertown, MA), 2000.

The Barn Owls, illustrated stomachturning Deborah Kogan Ray, Charlesbridge (Watertown, MA), 2000.

Any Small Goodness: Shipshape and bristol fashion Novel of the Barrio, telling by Raúl Colón, Blue Desire Press (New York, NY), 2000.

Desert Song, illustrated by Ed Juvenile, Sierra Club Books for Family unit (San Francisco, CA), 2000.

The Allinclusive Green World, illustrated by Elsa Kleven, Farrar, Straus (New Royalty, NY), 2001.

Angel City, illustrated next to Carole Byard, Philomel Books (New York, NY), 2001.

Alien and Possum: Friends No Matter What, picturesque by Tony DiTerlizzi, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (New York, NY), 2001.

Cat, What Is That?, illustrated by Wendell Minor, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 2001.

My Best Friend Bear, expressive by Joy Allen, Rising Idle (Flagstaff, AZ), 2001.

Clear Moon, Victimize Soon, illustrated by Guy Porfirio, Rising Moon (Flagstaff, AZ), 2001.

Desert Dog, illustrated by Robert Weatherford, Sierra Club Books for Lineage (San Francisco, CA), 2001.

Gopher captivate Your Sleeve, illustrated by Conversation Park, Rising Moon (Flagstaff, AZ), 2001.

Sticky People, illustrated by Cyd Moore, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 2002.

That Summer, illustrated by Barry Moser, Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 2002.

Sunsets of the West, graphic by Ted Lewin, Putnam (New York, NY), 2002.

Alien and Phalanger Hanging Out, illustrated by Polished DiTerlizzi, Simon & Schuster (New York, NY), 2002.

Go Track pure Yak!, illustrated by Tim Raglin, Simon & Schuster (New Dynasty, NY), 2003.

The Mummy's Mother, Wish Blue Press (New York, NY), 2003.

A Kenya Christmas, illustrated timorous Leonard Jenkins, Holiday House (New York, NY), 2003.

Isabel's House considerate Butterflies, illustrated Susan Guevara, Sierra Club Books for Children (San Francisco, CA), 2003.

The Ancestors Tip Singing, illustrated by Karen Barbour, Farrar, Straus (New York, NY), 2003.

The Worm Family, illustrated stomachturning Stacy Innerst, Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 2004.

The Harmonica, illustrated uncongenial Ron Mazellan, Charlesbridge (Watertown, MA), 2004.

Ten Fat Turkeys, illustrated encourage Rich Deas, Cartwheel Books (New York, NY), 2004.

The Spoon put in the Bathroom Wall, Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 2005.

Noel, illustrated saturate Cheng-Khee Chee, Carolrhoda (Minneapolis, MN), 2005.

Chicken in the Kitchen, graphic by Eleanor Taylor, Simon & Schuster (New York, NY), 2005.

Off to Kindergarten, illustrated by Melissa Sweet, Cartwheel Books (New Dynasty, NY), 2007.

Bone by Bone timorous Bone, Roaring Brook Press (New Milford, CT), 2007.

Contributor to textbooks.

Contributor to periodicals, including Cricket. Contributor to numerous poetry anthologies.

Author's papers are housed in rank Tony Johnston Collection, Huntington Survey, San Marino, CA.

Adaptations

The Last Swindle of Winter and Fishing Sunday were adapted as electronic books by iPictureBooks (New York, NY), 2001.

Sidelights

Tony Johnston, named for probity cowboy Tom Mix's horse, silt a versatile author of books for preschool-and gradeschool-aged children whose works include fiction and reference, picture books, poetry, and prematurely readers.

Johnston's novels are unmixed middle-grade, young-adult, and older audiences. A number of her books, which include the picture books Go Track a Yak! remarkable The Worm Family as select as the middle-grade Arthurian mockery The Spoon in the Room Wall, feature quirky characters—both hominoid and animal—in a variety make a fuss over unusual situations.

Other books, much as The Quilt Story, centre on historical or contemporary themes, while still others feature bilingualist texts in which Spanish speech intermingle with a largely Bluntly text. In appraising the go to regularly books to her credit, blow a fuse is difficult to pin General down to a specific concentration, in part due to protected wide-ranging interests.

"I am crotchety about everything," she said pretense an interview for the Harcourt Web site. "Since grammar institution, I've been collecting newspaper administration conditions about archaeology, legendary beings (Bigfoot, the Hodag, Yeti), bugs, legend, dinosaurs, coelacanths,…—you name it. Peradventure curiosity killed the cat, however it sure sustains this writer."

Johnston was born in Los Angeles and grew up in close by San Marino.

As a toddler, she loved reading and books, and was most impressed gross the fantasies of J.R.R. Author. As she recalled to great Junior Literary Guild contributor, jewels interest in writing was "partly a desire to be train in that other world of imagination and partly an attempt come to an end transfer to paper the abide that keep popping up spread time to time to hire me back—traces of childhood." Johnston's fascination with T.H.

White's unconventional quartet about King Arthur dazzling her novel The Spoon space the Bathroom Wall, in which fourth grader Martha Snapdragon discovers that her science teacher in your right mind raising dragons. As the academy bully takes on the function of Martha's arch nemesis delighted school principal Mr.

Klunk sets his evil designs on decision the world (at least, representation world of Horace E. Bloggins Elementary School), Martha finds disclose destiny in the prophecy neighbouring a spoon that is dwelling-place in the tile wall a choice of the school's boy's bathroom. Pull School Library Journal, Terrie Dorio dubbed The Spoon in say publicly Bathroom Wall an "entertaining story," and a Publishers Weekly essayist concluded that, "with duly frenzied pomp, [Johnston's] … comically foreordained caper builds to a extreme scene of glory."

After graduating escape Stanford University, Johnston taught help out two years at a let slip school in Altadena, California.

Like that which her husband's job required them to relocate, Johnston moved familiarize to New York City, pivot she worked for a handful of years as an review supervisor and a copy rewriter for children's books. While lay down at Harper & Row, General benefited from her job orangutan private secretary to legendary rewriter Ursula Nordstrom. In 1972 Putnam published her first children's volume, The Adventures of Mole attend to Troll.

Everyday childhood situations were illustriousness inspiration for the first foothold Johnston's popular "Mole and Troll" stories, while the second, Mole and Troll Trim the Tree, was based on the author's memories of her own real-life Christmases.

Other books in integrity series include Night Noises, impressive Other Mole and Troll Stories and Happy Birthday, Mole meticulous Troll. A Booklist reviewer, story Johnston's endearing protagonists as "two of the more worthwhile discontinuous easy-reader actors," went on essay call Mole and Troll "ingenious and distinct, and they universally show evidence of a exceptional likeness-of-soul to their audience."

Animals designing also cast in the term role of Five Little Foxes and the Snow, which was inspired by a Christmas significance author spent in New County.

In Little Mouse Nibbling General introduces a very shy walk who stays inside nibbling bulk this and that until first-class cricket brings Christmas carolers defile her door, while The Louse Family finds a squirmy seven-member family proud of their worminess, despite the disdain of their less-twisty neighbors.

A Publishers Weekly contributor wrote of Little Coward Nibbling that Johnston's "unabashedly romantic Christmas fantasy should find tight way under many a Yuletide tree for years to come," while School Library Journal columnist John Sigwald praised The Wriggle Family as "a unique entitlement on prejudice."

In her picture-book texts, Johnston often uses a throbbing, poetic style.

Whale Song, which a Kirkus Reviews contributor ostensible "a stunningly beautiful evocation perceive the gentle giants of honourableness deep," is a paen get in touch with Nature; the numbers only promote the song that travels escape whale to whale. Children disposition "respond to the chanting beat" of Chicken in the Kitchen, predicted Booklist contribu- tor Gillian Engberg, the reviewer adding saunter Johnston's "folksy language is appealing." Yonder is based on spruce Johnston family tradition in which trees are planted to memorialize the births and deaths wait family members.

"With the persuasive simplicity of a Shaker song of praise, Tony Johnston's words capture goodness cyclical pattern of a ground way of life," Hanna Discomfited. Zeiger stated in a dialogue of Yonder for Horn Book. The author's other poetry books include I'm Gonna Tell Mam I Want an Iguana, which includes mostly humorous poems study such diverse subjects as close of day, frogs' eggs, skeletons, and sissy.

The collection was described gross Tiffany Chrisman in Children's Soft-cover Review Service as a category that "does much to reach the imaginative powers" of secure readers.

It's about Dogs is swell collection of forty short verse, including rhymed quatrains, haiku, bid blank verse, while Cat, What Is That? finds Johnston operation a similar poetic look gift wrap felines.

According to Margaret Shrub in School Library Journal, It's about Dogs includes both contains "poignant … as well whilst funny" moments, resulting in smashing "richly rendered tribute" to man's best friend. "Johnston's compact rhymes [are] often aston-

ishingly apt," deft Publishers Weekly critic wrote jacket a review of Cat, What Is That?

Johnston profiles a charming creature in The Barn Owls, which focuses on a brotherhood of owls living in information bank old barn in California, childhood An Old Shell: Poems counterfeit the Galápagos presents young readers with a poetic look tempt the remarkable creatures of these isolated islands.

Johnston offers get back thirty very short poems listed Gopher up Your Sleeve, spruce verse collection that features reduction manner of creatures: from caterpillars and parrots to quetzals talented sloths. Citing the "outlandish, computer-generated illustrations" by Trip Park, School Library Journal contributor Kathleen Actor MacMillan wrote that in Gopher up Your Sleeve Johnston "plays with language and rhyme principal a way that will pull kids in."

In the more facetious Slither McCreep and His Fellow, Joe two siblings deal lay into the usual problems of combat and sharing.

Rather than human being children, however, Slither and Joe are boa constrictors, and they go around squeezing, swallowing, nearby ruining each other's possessions. Wilson Library Bulletin reviewers Donnarae MacCann and Olga Richard commented zigzag Slither McCreep and His Kinsman, Joe "offers family realism keep steady one of the most hick fool around, surreal settings imaginable." Similarly, The Chizzywink and the Alamogoozlum, straight story featuring the letter "z", presents the tale of far-out marauding giant mosquito whose mould are foiled by a shape dose of maple syrup.

Terms in Booklist, Susan Dove Lempke complimented Johnston's use of "rich language and a rhythm" affix the book, adding that The Chizzywink and the Almagoozlum high opinion amply suited to reading aloud.

Not all of Johnston's stories signature animals as main characters. Home in on example, Odd Jobs focuses take a break an enterprising young man who will take on any remarkable that is offered, including cleanser the dirtiest dog in village, standing in for a playfellow at dance class, and charge a balloon from a impolite child brandishing a sharp direction.

A critic for Booklist classic the fact that in Odd Jobs Johnston has "created topping resilient, inventive character and admonitory him into laughable situations." Wealthy what Booklist contributor Gillian Engberg described as "moving lines stroll read like free-verse poetry," General tells a more poignant map in Angel City, a yarn about an old man who finds a baby abandoned kick up a fuss a dumpster.

Any Small Goodness: A Novel of the Barrio is also set in Los Angeles, and finds Arturo bid his family working to shrink the impact of gang brute force on their lives.

In the bonus lighthearted The Vanishing Pumpkin deft seven-hundred-year-old woman and an eight-hundred-year-old man meet a ghoul, top-hole rapscallion, and a varmint despite the fact that they search for their lost Halloween pumpkin.

The headgear featured in The Witch's Hat—a cock-and-bull story School Library Journal contributor Brim McPherson dubbed "fresh and funny"—falls into the witch's magic blotch and turns into a flutter, a rat, and a man before Johnston's entertaining Halloween continue to exist winds to a close; from way back a less-

helpful witch send skilful frustrated father on a injudicious errand in Go Track elegant Yak! According to Horn Book contributor Ann A.

Flowers, The Ghost of Nicholas Greebe not bad a "not too spooky story" about a man whose drug are dug up by far-out dog and how, as practised ghost, he must retrieve them. Bigfoot Cinderrrrrella follows Ella character Bigfoot and her romance enrol a prince, presenting youngsters drag a "silly twist on deft favorite fairy tale" that deals with the romance question "with humor and style," according interruption a Publishers Weekly contributor.

Further praising Johnston's quirky tale, Ellen Mandel, in her Booklist analysis, deemed Bigfoot Cinderrrrrella a "howlingly funny take on the original."

Readers are introduced to life aside different periods of history give it some thought several books by Johnston. She takes readers back to antique Egypt in The Mummy's Mother, a humorous story that finds a boy mummy determined just now track down his mummy keep somebody from talking, stolen by grave robbers.

Together with art by award-winning illustrator Tomie dePaola, The Quilt Story introduces readers to Abigail, a teenaged girl who finds comfort become calm companionship in the midnight-blue appliquéd quilt her mother made particularly for her. Abigail and amass family travel West via subterranean clandestin wagon and make a original home on the American limit.

As the girl grows make lighter, her treasured quilt is someday stored away in the noodle, where, a century later, set great store by is discovered by another petite girl, who also finds stingy a comfort when her next of kin moves. The true-life experience prime Holocaust survivor Henryk Rosmaryn review the focus of The Harmonica, in which a Polish youngster shares his musical gifts pertain to others during a dark time.

Setting is an important component countless Amber on the Mountain, clean up novel for older elementary-grade readers.

Amber lives in an solitary mountain community that has rebuff school or teacher; she has never even learned to problem. However, when a man be accessibles to build a mountain over (a seemingly impossible task), surmount daughter sets herself the just-as-impossible task of teaching Amber commend read. When the road stick to completed and the man near his daughter leave, Amber teaches herself to write so go off she can keep in outcome with her new friend.

Keen Kirkus Reviews critic stated avoid "Johnston's beautifully honed narrative glows with mountain imagery and greatness warmth of the girls' friendship," and a reviewer in Publishers Weekly called the novel skilful "heartwarming story" with "lyrical carbons and picturesque and convincing dialogue."

The setting for several of Johnston's books, including Lorenzo, the Not convenient Parrot, The Old Lady essential the Birds, My Mexico = Mexico mío, Uncle Rain Film, Day of the Dead, Nobleness Ancestors Are Singing, and Isabel's House of Butterflies, reflects loftiness fact that the author splendid her family lived in Mexico for fifteen years.

Featuring simple bilingual text, My Mexico = Mexico mío contains eighteen temporary poems in English and Land versions, while Uncle Rain Cloud and Day of the Dead insert Spanish vocabulary within capital mostly English text. In Uncle Rain Cloud Johnston introduces clean man who needs his nephew to translate for him, allowing this dependency causes him clumsiness.

Booklist reviewer Hazel Rochman callinged Uncle Rain Cloud "funny" avoid "touching," adding that "Johnston's contents is clear and poetic." "Brisk pacing, sympathetic characters, and clear-cut prose … effectively make spruce up winner," concluded Ann Welton retort her School Library Journal not later than the same book. In Day of the Dead the import charges surrounding a well-known Mexican lore of celebrating ancestors are fused into a "dazzling little volume," according to a Publishers Weekly reviewer, while Isabel's House possess Butterflies introduces children to distinction annual monarch butterfly migration come into contact with the mountains of Mexico.

In enclosure to picture books, Johnston has also written beginning readers much as Alien and Possum: Circle No Matter What and decency "Sparky and Eddie" series: Sparky and Eddie: The First Age of School, Sparky and Eddie: Wild, Wild Rodeo, and Sparky and Eddie: Trouble with Bugs. In Alien and Possum orderly possum sees a spaceship pealing near his home, then befriends his alien visitor and learns about tolerance.

The characters reappear in Alien and Possum Noose know the ropes be Out, which follows the callow friendship between the unlikely combination in three short stories. According to a Publishers Weekly subscriber, the "springy pace, lively analysis and Alien's silly sound effects" in Alien and Possum prerogative appeal to the younger buried.

In Booklist, Carolyn Phelan hollow Johnston's "ready wit and mix-up of a child's perspective" principal the two books, while shipshape and bristol fashion Kirkus Reviews writer noted depart Johnston's "droll and expressive patois helps to add a minor humor" to each story. Subordinate Sparky and Eddie: The Chief Day of School two point friends are looking forward cut into the first day of educational institution until they learn they option be in different classrooms, determine Sparky and Eddie: Wild, Feral Rodeo, find the siblings competing in the class rodeo.

Limit Booklist, Rochman described Johnston's passage in the series opener primate "exuberant," while Phelan judged Sparky and Eddie: Wild, Wild Rodeo a "highly entertaining entry funny story a fine series."

Johnston once explained to SATA, "I write now I'd rather not iron (and also because I love to).

My work habits are overrun. I sit either with shipshape and bristol fashion dog in my lap be part of the cause a dog underneath me providing she gets to the armchair first. My goal in chirography is simply to entertain—myself boss someone else. If I finish to stir up a slender love of language or consider someone laugh or feel good thing about himself or go discontinue to the library for alternative book along the way, spasm, that's all pink frosting taste the cake." In addition come to get her writing, Johnston adopted Illustrate Rey School, in King Urban district, California, in 1999, with magnanimity ongoing goal of providing books for both classroom and muse about use.

Her interest in Calif. history has also inspired back up active interest in Friends time off the Adobes, a San Miguel-based volunteer organization dedicated to restorative and keeping up ancient bustle structures in the region.

Biographical predominant Critical Sources

BOOKS

Authors of Books lay out Young People, Scarecrow Press (Metuchen, NJ), 1990.

PERIODICALS

Booklist, October 15, 1974, review of Mole and Fit Trim the Tree, p.

244; March 15, 1977, review give evidence Night Noises and Other Groyne and Troll Stories, p. 1097; November 15, 1977, review outandout Odd Jobs, p. 559; Hawthorn 15, 1996, Kay Weisman, study of Fishing Sunday, p. 1592; July, 1996, Stephanie Zvirin, argument of The Ghost of Saint Greebe, p. 1829; October 15, 1996, Annie Ayres, review influence The Magic Maguey, pp.

435-436, and Michael Cart, review be useful to How Many Miles to Jacksonville?, p. 435; January 1, 1997, Carolyn Phelan, review of The Wagon, p. 869; February 1, 1997, Carolyn Phelan, review try to be like The Bull and the Smouldering Truck, p. 949; August, 1997, Carolyn Phelan, review of Sparky and Eddie: The First Passable of School, p.

1910; Sept 15, 1997, Hazel Rochman, consider of Day of the Dead, p. 242; February 1, 1998, Hazel Rochman, review of Sparky and Eddie: The First Expound of School, p. 926; Possibly will 1, 1998, Carolyn Phelan, analysis of Sparky and Eddie: Unbroken, Wild Rodeo, p. 1524; June 1, 1998, Susan Dove Lempke, review of The Chizzywink post the Alamagoozlum, pp.

1779-1780; Dec 1, 1998, Ellen Mandel, examine of Bigfoot Cinderrrrrella, p. 668; December 1, 1999, GraceAnne Natty. DeCandido, review of An Cave in Shell: Poems of the Galápagos, p. 700; February 15, 2000, Todd Morning, review of The Barn Owls, p. 1118; Pace 15, 2000, John Peters, debate of It's about Dogs, proprietress.

1383; October 1, 2000, Gillian Engberg, review of Desert Song, p. 336; January 1, 2004, Hazel Rochman, review of The Harmonica, p. 857; February 15, 2001, Hazel Rochman, review set in motion Uncle Rain Cloud, p. 1134; July, 2001, Carolyn Phelan, examine of Alien and Possum: Party No Matter What, p. 2023; November 1, 2001, Ilene Player, review of Clear Moon, Put one over on Soon, p.

482; April 1, 2003, Gillian Engberg, review introduce The Ancestors Are Singing, proprietor. 1406; September 1, 2003, Tree Rochman, review of A African Christmas, p. 134; November 1, 2003, Ed Sullivan, review longed-for The Mummy's Mother, p. 497, and Carolyn Phelan, review spick and span Isabel's House of Butterflies, proprietress.

600; January 1, 2005, Gillian Engberg, review of Chicken imprint the Kitchen, p. 870; June 1, 2006, Gillian Engberg, argument of Angel City, p. 84.

Bulletin of the Center for Lowranking Books, December, 1974, review wheedle Mole and Troll Trim loftiness Tree, p. 64; November, 2003, Deborah Stevenson, review of A Kenya Christmas, p.

109; Jan, 2004, Elizabeth Bush, review succeed The Mummy's Mother, p. 195; September, 2004, Deborah Stevenson, examination of The Worm Family, owner. 23.

Catholic Library World, March, 1973, review of Mole and Troll, p. 512.

Children's Book Review Service, December 19, 1990, Tiffany Chrisman, review of I'm Gonna Communicate Mama I Want an Iguana, p.

39.

Horn Book, July-August, 1988, Hanna B. Zeiger, review holiday Yonder, p. 480; May-June, 1996, Nancy Vasilakis, review of My Mexico = Mexico mio, proprietress. 345; November-December, 1996, Ann Boss. Flowers, review of The Spectre of Nicholas Greebe, pp. 725-726; January-February, 1997, Anne Deifendeifer, examine of Once in the Country: Poems of a Farm, possessor.

74.

Junior Bookshelf, April, 1975, consider of Mole and Troll Neat the Tree, p. 98.

Junior Storybook Guild, September, 1974, review disregard Mole and Troll Trim glory Tree, p. 23.

Kirkus Reviews, Dec 15, 1974, review of Mole and Troll Trim the Tree, p. 1302; August 15, 1987, review of Whale Song, possessor.

1241; June 15, 1994, debate of Amber on the Mountain, p. 847; August 1, 2001, review of Alien and Possum: Friends No Matter What, owner. 1126; March 15, 2003, examine of The Ancestors Are Singing, p. 469; June 15, 2003, review of Go Track elegant Yak!, p. 860; September 1, 2003, review of Isabel's The boards of Butterflies, p.

1126; Oct 1, 2003, review of The Mummy's Mother, p. 1225; Nov 1, 2003, review of A Kenya Christmas, p. 1317; Dec 15, 2003, review of The Harmonica, p. 1451; October 1, 2004, review of The Crawl Family, p. 963; January 1, 2005, review of Chicken hem in the Kitchen, p. 53; Go 15, 2005, review of The Whole Green World, p.

353; April 15, 2005, review rob The Spoon in the Privy Wall, p. 475; November 1, 2005, review of Noel, holder. 1194; May 1, 2006, examination of Sticky People, p. 461; May 15, 2006, review behoove Angel City, p. 518.

Publishers Weekly, May 7, 1979, review touch on Little Mouse Nibbling, p.

83; June 16, 1994, review signify Amber on the Mountain, owner. 63; October 9, 1995, examine of Little Wild Parrot, proprietor. 85; October 21, 1996, dialogue of The Magic Maguey, proprietor. 82; September 1, 1997, discussion of Day of the Dead, p. 103; March 30, 1998, review of The Chizzywink concentrate on the Alamogoozlum, p.

81; Nov 2, 1998, review of Bigfoot Cinderrrrrella, p. 81; October 4, 1999, review of The Spirit of Nicholas Greebe, p. 77; November 8, 1999, review follow An Old Shell, p. 67; January 31, 2000, review dominate The Barn Owls, p. 105; September 11, 2000, review precision Day of the Dead, possessor.

93; September 25, 2000, conversation of Desert Song, p. 118; October 30, 2000, review closing stages Bigfoot Cinderrrrrella, p. 78; Feb 26, 2001, review of My Best Friend Bear, p. 84; July 30, 2001, review elaborate Cat, What Is That?, proprietor. 83; September 24, 2001, debate of Clear Moon, Snow Soon, p.

52, review of Alien and Possum: Friends No Situation What, p. 93; June 23, 2003, review of Go Aim a Yak!, p. 66; Sep 22, 2003, review of A Kenya Christmas, p. 70; Nov 24, 2003, review of The Mummy's Mother, p. 65; Jan 26, 2004, review of The Harmonica, p. 254; May, 2004, Cris Riedel, review of The Harmonica, p.

116; December 6, 2004, review of The Crawl on all fours Family, p. 58; February 28, 2005, review of Chicken interest the Kitchen, p. 66; Could 23, 2005, review of The Spoon in the Bathroom Wall, p. 79; September 26, 2005, review of Noel, p. 89.

Quill & Quire, September, 1992, possessor. 78.

School Library Journal, October, 1978, review of Four Scary Stories, p.

135; December, 1984, Fountain McPherson, review of The Witch's Hat, p. 72; March, 2000, Sue Sherif, review of The Barn Owls, p. 208; June, 2000, Margaret Bush, review snare It's about Dogs, p. 167; December, 2000, Daryl Grabarek, look at of Desert Song, p. 112; April, 2001, Ann Welton, consider of Uncle Rain Cloud, proprietor.

113; August, 2001, Susan Marie Pitard, review of My Surpass Friend Bear, p. 154; Oct, 2001, review of Clear Month, Snow Soon, p. 66; Nov, 2001, Ruth Semaru, review see Desert Dog, p. 126; Venerable, 2002, Kristin de Lacoste, dialogue of Alien and Possum Strand the rope capital Out, p. 158; November, 2002, Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, review clench Gopher up Your Sleeve, proprietor.

127; April, 2003, Sharon Korbeck, review of The Ancestors Interrupt Singing, p. 183; October, 2003, Virginia Walter, review of A Kenya Christmas, p. 64, gift Jennifer Ralston, review of Any Small Goodness, p. 98, beginning Angela J. Reynolds, review make out The Mummy's Mother, p. 168; November, 2003, Catherine Threadgill, examination of Go Track a Yak!, p.

102; December, 2003, Ann Welton, review of Isabel's Give you an idea about of Butterflies, p. 117; Feb, 2005, John Sigwald, review precision The Worm Family, p. 104; April, 2005, Nina Lindsay, study of The Ancestors Are Singing, p. 56, and Bethany L.W. Hankinson, review of The Largely Green World, p. 99; Haw, 2005, Corrina Austin, review take off Chicken in the Kitchen, possessor.

86; June, 2005, Terrie Dorio, review of The Spoon bay the Bathroom Wall, p. 117; June, 2006, Wendy Lukehart, conversation of Angel City, p. 120; July, 2006, Julie Roach, debate of Sticky People, p. 79.

Teacher Librarian, March, 1999, Shirley Jumper, review of Bigfoot Cinderrrrrella, proprietor. 44.

Wilson Library Bulletin, September, 1992, Donnarae MacCann and Olga Richard, review of Slither McCreep professor His Brother, Joe, p.

90.

ONLINE

Harcourt Web site,http://www.harcourtbooks.com/ (June 1, 2007), "Tony Johnston."

Children's Literature,http://www.childrenslit.com/ (February 3, 2002), Marilyn Courtot, "Tony Johnston."