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Jennifer Lanthier

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Jennifer Lanthier
Jennifer Lanthier August 2012
Jennifer Lanthier August 2012
BornJennifer Deirdre Jane Lanthier
(1964-02-29) February 29, 1964 (age 60)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
OccupationChildren's Author, Journalist
Alma materUniversity of Toronto
Notable worksThe Stamp Collector (2012)
SpouseStephen Rogers m. 1987
Website
www.jenniferlanthier.com

Jennifer Deirdre Jane Lanthier (born February 29, 1964[1]) is a Canadian children's author and journalist. She is currently Director, U. of T. News at the University of Toronto.[2][3]

Early life

Lanthier was born in Toronto, Ontario[1] to father Jim Lanthier and mother Jane McDougall,[4] and spent her early years in Toronto,[5] St. Catharines and Sudbury, Ontario. She attended secondary school first at Loyalist Collegiate Institute[5] in Kingston, Ontario and then at North Toronto Collegiate Institute.[2]

Lanthier studied Political Science and History at the University of Toronto,[1] University College, graduating with her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1985. While at U. of T. she was a council member of the college student government, The University College Literary and Athletic Society ("the Lit"), and a contributor to student newspapers The Gargoyle and The Newspaper. She then studied Journalism at Ryerson University in Toronto where she served as Editor of the Ryerson School of Journalism's student newspaper, The Ryersonian, and interned at the Ottawa Citizen[1] before joining the newswire service United Press International.[6]

She has also worked for The Financial Post[5] (now The National Post) covering first Labour[7] and then Biotechnology.[5] She has been a speechwriter for the Premier of Ontario[5][7] and a freelance writer for magazines such as Canadian House & Home and Canadian Living.[6]

Writing

Lanthier's first book, a middle grade novel called The Mystery of the Martello Tower, was published by HarperCollins Canada in 2007 and nominated for a Snow Willow Award.[8] A revised version aimed at younger, American readers was published by Laura Geringer Books (also an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers) in 2008. Martello has been included in numerous competitive reading programs in Canadian and American schools including the British Columbia School District 22 (Vernon) Battle of the Books 2008, the Durham Region (Oshawa, Ontario) Public Libraries Battle of the Books 2009, 2011 & 2013 and the New Mexico Battle of the Books 2009/2010. These motivational reading programs involve teams of children from numerous schools reading books from lists compiled each year by teachers and librarians and answering questions about their content in quiz show-style competitions.

In 2008, HarperCollins Canada published the sequel, The Legend of the Lost Jewels, and the Ontario Library Association's Canadian Materials Committee named it to that year's "Best Bets - Fiction Books for Kids" list.[9] Jewels has been featured in school reading competitions including Woozles' (Halifax, Nova Scotia) Battle of the Books 2009 and the Durham Region Public Libraries Battle of the Books 2010.

Both The Mystery of the Martello Tower and The Legend of the Lost Jewels follow the adventures of heroine Hazel Frump and her younger brother Ned. Lanthier has said the books’ settings, "Ile du Loup" and "Frontenac", were directly inspired by Wolfe Island, Ontario and nearby Kingston. The Martello tower of the first book's title was based on Cathcart Tower on Cedar Island, just south of Fort Henry National Historic Site.[5]

Volunteering with PEN Canada, the Canadian arm of International PEN, Lanthier met the exiled journalist Jiang Weiping, who had spent six years in a Chinese prison for a series of investigative articles he wrote exposing the corruption of the government official, Bo Xilai.[2][10] That encounter led Lanthier to write her first picture book, The Stamp Collector, published by Fitzhenry & Whiteside in September 2012, with illustrations by Quebec illustrator François Thisdale.[11][12]

A 1,300-word prose poem, The Stamp Collector is a picture book about two boys – one who grows up to become a writer and one who grows up to become a prison guard – and the power of friendship and stories. An afterword explains the concept of freedom of expression and the work done by PEN and other charities on behalf of writers and journalists at risk in countries around the world. A portion of all proceeds from the book goes to PEN Canada.[13]

In July 2012 Lanthier was selected to participate as a touring author with the TD Canadian Children's Book Week 2013 (May 4–16, 2013).[14] Organized by the Canadian Children's Book Centre, the TD Canadian Children's Book Week is a major national literary festival celebrating Canadian children's books and the importance of reading. Selected authors and illustrators participate in events and activities held in hundreds of schools, public libraries, bookstores and community centres across the country in all provinces and territories.

In October 2012 Indigo Books and Music, Canada's largest book retailer, announced it had selected The Stamp Collector as a "Heather's Pick". The designation, named for the firm's founder and C.E.O. Heather Reisman, bestows featured placement in hundreds of stores nationwide including Indigo, Chapters and Coles.

In January 2013 the United States Board on Books for Young People named The Stamp Collector to its USBBY 2013 Outstanding International Books Honor List.[15] The USBBY is the U.S. national section of the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY). The following month the Ontario Library Association's Canadian Materials Committee named it to the OLA's 2012 "Best Bets" list.[16] Also in February 2013, The Stamp Collector was selected for the Notable Books for a Global Society Award 2013 by the Children's Literature and Reading Special Interest Group, a nonprofit organization chartered by the International Reading Association (IRA).

In March 2013 The Ezra Jack Keats Foundation awarded Lanthier its New Writer Honor for The Stamp Collector. The Ezra Jack Keats Foundation is a non-profit organization founded by the late Keats and dedicated to enhancing the love of reading and learning in all children.[17]

In April 2013 The Stamp Collector won The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators' Crystal Kite Award - Americas Division.[18] The Crystal Kite Awards are chosen by other children's book writers and illustrators, making them the only peer-given awards in publishing for young readers. Each member of The SCBWI is allowed to vote for their favorite book from a nominated author in their region that was published in the previous calendar year.

In September 2013 The Stamp Collector was named a finalist for both the TD Canadian Children's Literature Award and the Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award. Both awards are administered by The Canadian Children's Book Centre.[19]

Lanthier's second picture book, Hurry Up, Henry was published September, 2016 by Puffin Books Canada, an imprint of Penguin Random House.[20] The book is illustrated by award-winning Quebec illustrator Isabelle Malenfant. In January 2017 the United States Board on Books for Young People named Hurry up, Henry to its USBBY 2017 Outstanding International Books Honor List.[21]

Lanthier's third picture book, By the time you read this, was published in 2017 by Clockwise Press. It was illustrated by Patricia Storms. [22]

Professional associations and personal life

Lanthier is currently Communications Chair on the Board of Directors of PEN Canada,[23] and has served as a judge for Canada's National Newspaper Awards.[24] She is also a member of CANSCAIP (The Canadian Society of Children's Authors, Illustrators and Performers), Authors Guild, The Canadian Children's Book Centre (CCBC), The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) and The Writers' Union of Canada.[25]

Lanthier married investment fund manager Stephen Rogers June 30, 1987. They have three children. They reside in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.[1]

She is an avid runner[26] and has a black belt (1st Dan) in Taekwondo.

Awards and honours

  • USBBY Outstanding International Books List, 2017 for Hurry up, Henry[21]
  • Poet Laureate - 2014 Quebec Peter Gzowski PGI Dinner for Literacy [27]
  • Winner - 2014 Golden Oak Award, OLA Forest of Reading, Ontario Library Association, for The Stamp Collector[28]
  • IBBY Honour List 2014 for The Stamp Collector, International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY)[29]
  • Winner - 2014 Great Books Award, Canadian Toy Testing Council (CTTC),for The Stamp Collector[30]
  • Finalist - 2013 TD Canadian Children's Literature Award, Canadian Children's Book Centre (CCBC),for The Stamp Collector[19]
  • Finalist - 2013 Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award, Canadian Children's Book Centre (CCBC),for The Stamp Collector[19]
  • Nominee - 2014 Silver Birch Express Award, OLA Forest of Reading, Ontario Library Association, for The Stamp Collector[31]
  • Winner - Huguenot Society of Canada Award, Ontario Historical Society, for The Stamp Collector[32]
  • Finalist - 2013 Libris Award – Young Readers' Book of the Year, Canadian Booksellers Association (CBA), for The Stamp Collector[33]
  • Winner - 2013 Crystal Kite Award, Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) - Americas Division, for The Stamp Collector
  • Ezra Jack Keats 2013 New Writer Honor, Ezra Jack Keats Foundation,[34] for The Stamp Collector
  • Notable Books for a Global Society Award 2013, International Reading Association (IRA):Children's Literature and Reading Special Interest Group, for The Stamp Collector
  • "Best Bets 2012" designation, Ontario Library Association - Canadian Materials Committee, for The Stamp Collector[16]
  • USBBY Outstanding International Books List, 2013 for The Stamp Collector[15]
  • Canada Council for the Arts Grant, 2008[35]
  • Saskatchewan Snow Willow Award nominee, 2008 for The Mystery of the Martello Tower
  • "Best Bets - Fiction Books for Kids" designation, Ontario Library Association - Canadian Materials Committee, 2008, for The Legend of the Lost Jewels

Books

  • Jennifer Lanthier and Patricia Storms (2017). By the time you read this. Clockwise Press (Toronto, Ontario, Canada). ISBN 978-1-988347-05-9
  • Jennifer Lanthier and Isabelle Malenfant (2016). Hurry Up, Henry. Puffin/Penguin Random House Canada (Toronto, Ontario, Canada). ISBN 978-0670068371
  • Jennifer Lanthier and Francois Thisdale (2013). Le Collectionneur de Timbres. Fitzhenry & Whiteside (Toronto, Ontario, Canada). ISBN 978-1-55455-325-9
  • Jennifer Lanthier and Francois Thisdale (2012). The Stamp Collector. Fitzhenry & Whiteside (Toronto, Ontario, Canada). ISBN 978-1-55455-218-4
  • Jennifer Lanthier (2008). The Legend of the Lost Jewels. HarperTrophyCanada (Toronto, Ontario, Canada). ISBN 978-0-06-202670-5
  • Jennifer Lanthier (2007). The Mystery of the Martello Tower. Harper Collins Canada (Toronto, Ontario, Canada). ISBN 0-06-125712-5, Laura Geringer Books, (New York, New York)(2008).

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Something About the Author, Volume 204, December 2009, Gale Centage Publishing, p. 72.
  2. ^ a b c North Toronto Post, February 1, 2013, Rosie D'souza, "Telling Toronto's Stories", p.52.
  3. ^ http://www.news.utoronto.ca/contacts
  4. ^ The Globe and Mail, June 9, 2006, Obituaries: Jane Frances Lanthier.
  5. ^ a b c d e f Kingston Whig-Standard (The Ticket), April 14, 2007, Brock Harrison, "Unraveling the Mystery of the Martello Tower", p.12.
  6. ^ a b The Canadian Children's Book Centre website, Author Directory, http://www.bookcentre.ca/directory/jennifer_lanthier
  7. ^ a b Ryerson Review of Journalism, Summer 1996, Sarah Burns, "Why Did the Journalist Cross the Road?, http://www.rrj.ca/m3709/ .
  8. ^ Saskatchewan Young Readers' Choice - The Willow Awards, Inc. Website http://www.willowawards.ca/nominated-books/2008/snow-willow/ Archived 2008-10-26 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ Best Bets 2008, Ontario Library Association Home Page, http://www.accessola.org/
  10. ^ The Stamp Collector: A Review and Interview, February 10, 2013, Josanne La Valley, PEN American Center Home Page, http://www.pen.org/interview/stamp-collector-review-and-interview
  11. ^ PEN in the Community, PEN Canada Home Page, http://pencanada.ca/news/connecting-and-sharing-stories-in-the-community/
  12. ^ Authors' Booking Service, Author Profile, http://authorsbooking.com/2043/authors/Jennifer_Lanthier.html Archived 2011-11-19 at the Wayback Machine
  13. ^ The Stamp Collector Gives Proceeds to PEN, August 27, 2012, Kasey Coholan, PEN Canada Home Page, http://pencanada.ca/news/the-stamp-collector-gives-proceeds-to-pen/
  14. ^ The Canadian Children's Book Centre website, http://www.bookcentre.ca/news/tour_roster_announced_td_book_week_2013 Archived 2013-10-17 at the Wayback Machine
  15. ^ a b School Library Journal, February 2013, Maria Salvadore, "The Literary Equation: USBBY's Outstanding International Books connect kids worldwide"
  16. ^ a b Canadian Children's Book Centre website, February 6, 2013, OLA 2012 Best bets
  17. ^ The Stamp Collector selected as 2013 Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Award Honor Book, March 5, 2013, The Canadian Children's Book Centre website, http://www.bookcentre.ca/news/the_stamp_collector_selected_2013_ezra_jack_keats_new_writer_award_honor_book
  18. ^ Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators website, April 30, 2013, "2013 Crystal Kite Award Winners Archived 2013-08-13 at the Wayback Machine"
  19. ^ a b c Canadian Children's Book Centre website, September 6, 2013, "http://www.bookcentre.ca/news/finalists_ccbc_awards_2013"
  20. ^ Fall 2016 Children's Sneak Preview, Jan. 16, 2016, Shannon Maughan, Publishers Weekly,"http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-book-news/article/69225-fall-2016-sneak-previews.html"
  21. ^ a b School Library Journal, January 30, 2017, Holly Johnson, 'Outstanding International Books: Presenting the 2017 USBBY Selections' "[1]"
  22. ^ Clockwise Press website, July 30, 2019, "http://clockwisepress.com/our-books"
  23. ^ PEN Canada Website, Oct. 2014 http://pencanada.ca/news/pen-year-in-review-2014/, http://pencanada.ca/about/board-members/
  24. ^ National Newspaper Awards Website, Oct., 2014 http://www.nna-ccj.ca/judges-2013/
  25. ^ "Jennifer Lanthier". CANSCAIP Members. Canadian Society of Children's Authors, Illustrators, and Performers (canscaip.org). Archived 2010-07-22. Retrieved 2015-07-31.
  26. ^ University of Toronto News, July 20, 2010, "The Writing Life"
  27. ^ Rae, Gwoski, Lanthier: Highlights for national PGI Literacy Gala at TBL, The Sherbrooke Record, Sept. 22, 2014
  28. ^ "Canadian Children's Book Centre website, June 5, 2014". Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
  29. ^ IBBY website, February 19, 2014
  30. ^ Canadian Toy Testing Council website, November 5, 2013
  31. ^ OLA Website, October 15, 2013, https://www.accessola.org/OLAWEB/Forest_of_Reading/Current_Program_Year.aspx Archived 2013-12-04 at the Wayback Machine
  32. ^ 2012 Honours and Awards Recipients Announced, Press Release, Ontario Historical Society website, July 4, 2013 "http://www.ontariohistoricalsociety.ca/user_files/users/56/Media/ohs_honours_and_awards_press_release_2012-13.pdf"
  33. ^ " Canadian Booksellers Association website, May 8, 2013, "
  34. ^ 2013 Ezras Jack Keats New Writer and New Illustrator Book Awards Winners Announced, March 4, 2013, Reuters
  35. ^ Canada Council for the Arts http://www.canadacouncil.ca/en/council/grants-and-prizes/past-recipients?program-code=6133&page=10
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