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Eve Bunting and Ann Rinaldi

© Sue Reichard

Eve Bunting

Eve Bunting was born in Ireland and grew up in a tradition steeped in the art of storytelling. In Ireland the Sanachies were the storytellers who went from house to house telling old Irish folktales. Eve believes she is a bit of a Shanachie herself.

Eve and her husband and three children moved to California in 1958. She enrolled in a writing class at the local college and has been writing ever since. Eve writes for all ages from pre-school to young adult novels. Eve loves to write picture books. She likes to write books that make young people ask questions. Finding an idea to write about is never a problem for her.

Eve's first book, The Two Giants, was published in 1972. It is about an Irish man named Finn McCool. Eve has since written more than 150 books, including picture books and novels for young adults.

In addition to her writing career, Eve has also taught at the University of California, in Los Angeles. She is a member of the board of directors for the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators and The Writer magazine. She currently lives in Los Angeles with her husband.

Eve Bunting has been awarded many honors for her books. She has been the recipient of the Golden Kite Award, given by the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. She has also received the Southern California Council on Literature for Children and Young People Award, the PEN Los Angeles Center Literary Award for Special Achievement in Children's Literature. Also awarded has been the Edgar Award which is given by the Mystery Writer's of America.

Some of Buntings books are pure fun such as Sunflowers House, and Scary and the Dog Detective. Some books are what she calls "tender topics" and are about issues such as poverty, racial prejudice, war and other social problems. Two of her latest books include I Am the Mummy HEB-NEFERT and SOS Titanic and On Call Back Mountain.

Ann Rinaldi

Ann Rinaldi is best known for her wonderful works of historical fiction. Her books have brought history alive for many young people.

Ann was born in New York City in 1934. Her mother died soon after she was born so she was raised by an aunt and uncle who lived in Brooklyn. Her father remarried and Ann was then taken to live with him and her new step-mother in New Jersey.

Ann started writing poetry when she was a young girl. Reading the book Little Women inspired her to write. In 1969, she began a career as a newspaper columnist. She had her first novel Term Paper published in 1979.