Jean Little
Encyclopedia
Jean Little is a Canadian
author born on January 2, 1932. Her work has mainly consisted of children's literature
, but she has also written two autobiographies: Little by Little and Stars Come Out Within. Little has been partially blind since birth as a result of scars on her cornea and is frequently accompanied by a guide dog.
Jean Little was born in Taiwan. Her parents were Canadian doctors serving as medical missionaries under the United Church of Canada
. The Little family came home to live in Canada in 1939, moving to Guelph in 1940. Although Jean was legally blind from birth, she attended elementary and secondary school in regular classes. She went to the University of Toronto
and got her BA in English Language and Literature.
After teaching disabled children for several years, Jean Little wrote her first children’s novel, Mine for Keeps
, about a child with cerebral palsy. It won the Little, Brown Canadian Children’s Book Award and was published in 1962. Since then, Jean has had 44 other books published. She has written novels, picture books, poetry, short stories, and two autobiographical books. She has also written a novel about her mother’s childhood called, His Banner Over Me. She has won literary awards for her work and has been published internationally.
She has taught Children’s Literature at the University of Guelph
where she is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of English. She has six honorary degrees
and is a Member of the Order of Canada
. She has journeyed widely talking to both adults and children themselves about the joys to be found through reading and writing. In March 2004 she went to India
and in November 2006 to Bulgaria
.
She lives in Guelph, Ontario
with her sister Pat, her great niece Jeanie, and her great nephew Ben. She writes with a talking computer and travels with her Seeing Eye dog
Honey. She is at work on a novel.
and From Anna
, focus on children who have a disability or are affected by a person with a disability. As many of her books were written several decades ago, they now serve as examples of how children with disabilites were previously raised and treated by society. Another frequent theme is adoption and foster care, as shown in Home from Far and Willow and Twig. Children often find homes and families throughout the course of the novel, whether it consists of rediscovering the importance of their family, being reunited with family or creating a new family in their new situation. While the novels often touch on very sad events, ranging from serious illness, abuse and death, the endings are usually positive and show the resilence of mankind.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
author born on January 2, 1932. Her work has mainly consisted of children's literature
Children's literature
Children's literature is for readers and listeners up to about age twelve; it is often defined in four different ways: books written by children, books written for children, books chosen by children, or books chosen for children. It is often illustrated. The term is used in senses which sometimes...
, but she has also written two autobiographies: Little by Little and Stars Come Out Within. Little has been partially blind since birth as a result of scars on her cornea and is frequently accompanied by a guide dog.
Jean Little was born in Taiwan. Her parents were Canadian doctors serving as medical missionaries under the United Church of Canada
United Church of Canada
The United Church of Canada is a Protestant Christian denomination in Canada. It is the largest Protestant church and, after the Roman Catholic Church, the second-largest Christian church in Canada...
. The Little family came home to live in Canada in 1939, moving to Guelph in 1940. Although Jean was legally blind from birth, she attended elementary and secondary school in regular classes. She went to the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
and got her BA in English Language and Literature.
After teaching disabled children for several years, Jean Little wrote her first children’s novel, Mine for Keeps
Mine for Keeps
Mine for Keeps is a 1962 book by the Canadian children's author Jean Little. At the time she wrote Mine for Keeps, Little was teaching in a school for the disabled...
, about a child with cerebral palsy. It won the Little, Brown Canadian Children’s Book Award and was published in 1962. Since then, Jean has had 44 other books published. She has written novels, picture books, poetry, short stories, and two autobiographical books. She has also written a novel about her mother’s childhood called, His Banner Over Me. She has won literary awards for her work and has been published internationally.
She has taught Children’s Literature at the University of Guelph
University of Guelph
The University of Guelph, also known as U of G, is a comprehensive public research university in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. It was established in 1964 after the amalgamation of Ontario Agricultural College, the Macdonald Institute, and the Ontario Veterinary College...
where she is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of English. She has six honorary degrees
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
and is a Member of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
. She has journeyed widely talking to both adults and children themselves about the joys to be found through reading and writing. In March 2004 she went to India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and in November 2006 to Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
.
She lives in Guelph, Ontario
Guelph, Ontario
Guelph is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada. Known as "The Royal City", Guelph is roughly east of Waterloo and west of downtown Toronto at the intersection of Highway 6 and Highway 7. It is the seat of Wellington County, but is politically independent of it...
with her sister Pat, her great niece Jeanie, and her great nephew Ben. She writes with a talking computer and travels with her Seeing Eye dog
Seeing Eye Dog
Seeing Eye Dog is the seventh studio album by Helmet, released on September 7, 2010 via Work Song, the label imprint shared by singer/songwriter Joe Henry and Helmet mainman Page Hamilton's manager...
Honey. She is at work on a novel.
Themes
Several of Little's books, such as Mine for KeepsMine for Keeps
Mine for Keeps is a 1962 book by the Canadian children's author Jean Little. At the time she wrote Mine for Keeps, Little was teaching in a school for the disabled...
and From Anna
From Anna
From Anna is a children's novel written by Canadian children's author Jean Little. It is the story of Anna Solden, a visually impaired child who moves from Germany to Canada with her family, on the eve of Hitler's rise to power in Germany. The book is one of Jean Little's most popular...
, focus on children who have a disability or are affected by a person with a disability. As many of her books were written several decades ago, they now serve as examples of how children with disabilites were previously raised and treated by society. Another frequent theme is adoption and foster care, as shown in Home from Far and Willow and Twig. Children often find homes and families throughout the course of the novel, whether it consists of rediscovering the importance of their family, being reunited with family or creating a new family in their new situation. While the novels often touch on very sad events, ranging from serious illness, abuse and death, the endings are usually positive and show the resilence of mankind.
Works
- Little by Little
- Mine for KeepsMine for KeepsMine for Keeps is a 1962 book by the Canadian children's author Jean Little. At the time she wrote Mine for Keeps, Little was teaching in a school for the disabled...
- Spring Begins in March (sequel to Mine for KeepsMine for KeepsMine for Keeps is a 1962 book by the Canadian children's author Jean Little. At the time she wrote Mine for Keeps, Little was teaching in a school for the disabled...
) - Mama's Going to Buy You a Mockingbird
- Different Dragons
- Lost and Found'
- From AnnaFrom AnnaFrom Anna is a children's novel written by Canadian children's author Jean Little. It is the story of Anna Solden, a visually impaired child who moves from Germany to Canada with her family, on the eve of Hitler's rise to power in Germany. The book is one of Jean Little's most popular...
- Hey World, Here I Am!
- Willow and Twig
- I Know an Old Laddie
- Brothers Far from Home (Dear Canada)
- If I Die Before I Wake (Dear Canada)
- His Banner Over Me
- Look Through My Window
- Kate
- Stand in the wind
- One to Grow On
- What will the Robin do then?
- Listen for the Singing (sequel to From Anna)
- Little by Little - her autobiography
- Stars Come Out Within- the sequel to her autobiography
- Somebody Else's Summer
- Dancing Through The Snow
- Love in Paris
- Orphan at My DoorOrphan at My DoorOrphan at My Door, written by Jean Little, is the first book in the Dear Canada series of novels written by various artists. The book is a diary about a fictional character named Victoria. There is an epilogue, historical note and some black and white pictures in the back of the book. There is also...
(Dear Canada) - Growing Pains
- Home from Far
- Revenge of the small Small
- Take Wing