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Jo
Ellen Bogart |
 
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A native Texan, Jo
Ellen Bogart moved to Guelph, Ontario, more than thirty
years ago and finds it a good place to live and work.
She is a certified teacher and did substitute teaching
for several years. Her first books came out in 1988, and
she has now published eighteen books as well as pieces
in periodicals. These range from poetry and picture books
to non-fiction to biography, for ages from birth to about
twelve, although she would like to think they are for
everyone.
Jo Ellen’s best-known books might
be Gifts and Jeremiah Learns to Read, or perhaps
Ten for Dinner. Her newest book, which was published
by Tundra Books in April, 2009, is Big and Small,
Room for All. In this work, Jo Ellen tries to express
the awe she feels for the world we live in, with its beauty
and complexity, and so many things we can’t even
see. She also writes song lyrics and has six songs on
Eddie Douglas’s JUNO-nominated CD for kids, “Gonna
Keep Dancing.”
Jo Ellen loves giving school and library
presentations for kids and adults, as well as writing
workshops. She is pleased to be the proud grandmother
of two little sweeties.
Website: http://www.canscaip.org/bios/bogartj.html
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Big
and Small, Room for All
by Jo Ellen Bogart
illustrated by Gillian Newland
Tundra Books, 2009.
ISBN 978-0-88776-891-0 (hardcover)
32 pages
"Big
sky, big sky, what is bigger than the sky?"
In this clever concept book, award-winning author Jo
Ellen Bogart explores the size of animate and inanimate
objects and their place in the universe. She introduces
children to the concept of “we”—the
idea that humans are a big part of the world, but a
small part of existence.
With simple words printed on the darkness, the book
begins in the vastness of the universe, with galaxies
swirling through space. Moving closer to our world,
we see the solar system, our sun at the center. Closer
still, we see the huge ball of fire that is the sun.
Next, the third planet out—our blue Earth—looms
huge on the page. Young readers then view smaller and
smaller objects, from mountain to tree to man to child
to kitten to mouse to flea to the amazing complexity
of microscopic beings.
Accompanied by Gillian Newland’s lavish watercolor
paintings, Big and Small, Room for All places
the immensity and wonder of space in perspective to
help young readers comprehend that while they are part
of creation, they are only a small part of all that
exists.
The book has received starred reviews in Quill
& Quire and Kirkus. Illustrator Newland’s
work in this, her first picture book, has been highly
praised.
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The
Big Tree Gang
by Jo Ellen Bogart
illustrated by Dean Griffiths
Orca Book Publishers, 2005.
ISBN 1-55143-345-1 pbk.
64 pages
Reg and Keely are twins. Keely loves painting
and bugs. Reg loves rocks. Keely sings crazy rhymes.
Reg plays softball. Shawna and Burt are their friends.
In this series of linked stories, the
children’s deep involvement in their daily activities
never falters. The action takes them from a bug walk,
through flying a kite and dividing labor at clean-up
time, to a chance to swim in the river on a hot summer’s
day.
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Capturing
Joy
by Jo Ellen Bogart
Illustrated by Mark Lang
Tundra Books, 2002.
ISBN 0-88776-568-8
This picture book biography of Nova Scotia
folk artist Maud Lewis features drawings illustrating
her life. Samples of her beautiful paintings reflect
the joys of simple country living.
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Crazy
for Puppies
by Jo Ellen Bogart
illustrated by Mark Raycroft
Scholastic Canada Ltd., 2006.
ISBN 0-439-94915-7
40 pages
Crazy for Puppies features full-colour
portraits and interesting facts about sixteen popular
dog breeds. Readers will learn where the breeds originated,
what characteristics and talents they have, and what
care they need. Five pages at the end of the book offer
further information and fascinating tidbits about man's
best friend.
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Emily
Carr : At the Edge of the World
by Jo Ellen Bogart
illustrated by Maxwell Newhouse
Tundra Books, 2003.
ISBN 0-88776-640-4
British Columbia artist Emily Carr overcame
isolation, lack of encouragement, and a restrictive
social environment to leave a legacy of evocative paintings
and writings.
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The
Night the Stars Flew
by Jo Ellen Bogart
Illustrated by Ginette Beaulieu
North Winds Press, 2001.
The story of a little girl who sees
fireflies for the first time and helps her parents share
the wonder.
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Out
and About with the Big Tree Gang
by Jo Ellen Bogart
Illustrated by Dean Griffiths
Orca Book Publishers, 2006.
ISBN: 1-55143-603-5
60 pages.
Keely
and Reg, twin skunks, are back for more adventures with
their friends, Shawna and Burt from the Big Tree Gang.
The foursome takes hikes, races tobaggans, goes on treasure
hunts, takes part in a school play, and does much more.
". . . ideal for young readers venturing into
chapter reading. . . . The language is easily accessible
. . . the penciled illustrations are detailed and wonderfully
drawn. Highly recommended."
——CM Magazine (February 1, 2007)
" . . . a fine choice for readers who have just
graduated to chapter books. Recommended."
——Canadian Book Review Annual (June
1, 2008)
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Be sure to visit our Author
/ Illustrator Index or Title
Index to view books published by other talented members.
To see books published in the last year, vist our New
Leaves page.
If you are an SCBWI member living in eastern
Canada, please follow the appropriate link to add or update
your biography,
or to add books
or illustration
samples to your listing.
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