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Author of thirteen books for young readers, Bonnie Graves was born in Racine, Wisconsin and educated in California, receiving a B.A. in English Literature from California State University at Long Beach. A former elementary school teacher, she writes full time—when she's not skiing, hiking, biking, reading, cooking, or visiting classrooms, that is! "Writing is such an adventure," Graves says. "You never know exactly where your story characters will take you, even though you THINK you do. Often what they say and do and the people they meet on their journeys is a complete surprise! That's one of the things that makes writing stories so fun." In her fiction for children, Graves combines her own childhood experiences with those she had as both a teacher and a mother to explore the universal themes of friendship, family, growing up, and learning to accept and appreciate one's own uniqueness. Mary Lou Burkett, reviewer for the Minneapolis Star Tribune, says Graves "has a knack for reaching newly independent readers" and the Library School Journal a "style and humor of which will appeal to emergent readers." Her most recent chapter book, Taking Care of Trouble, was praised by Booklist as a chapter book that "offers laughs as well as a likeable character in a sticky, but believable situation." Trouble has landed on several recommended reading lists for emergent readers in Canada and the U.S and has been nominated for the South Carolina Children's Book Award. In addition to writing fiction, Graves also has two books on endangered species—The Whooping Crane and California Condor: Flying Free—which reflect both growing up in a family of nature-lovers and living on a nature preserve. California Condor: Flying Free has been praised by Ron Jurek of the California Department of Fish and Game as "intriguing, well-researched," and New Books for Young Readers recommends The Whooping Crane as a "must for any elementary unit on endangered species." Graves has received several awards and honors for her work, including the 2003 Pacific Northwest Writers Association Zola Award, the Loft Children's Literature Prize, and grants from the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators and the Minnesota State Arts Board. Since the publication of her first children's book in 1996, Graves has spoken about her work and the craft of writing to dozens of audiences around the U.S. and in Canada, both to educators and to groups of children. "When I talk to children about writing, about being an author, I want to share with them the delight of creating story and sharing it with someone else, and, hopefully, inspire them to discover for themselves the great joy of writing. The thrill is in the process, always, and publication is only a small part of that process." |
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Fiesta Inch and Miles are in need of a large dose of Enthusiasm! When Miles blows the silver whistle, where will the two friends find themselves this time? Rhonda's eyes opened wide in surprise. "Inch and Miles! What are you doing here?" "Ah-choo!" Inch sneezed as he crawled out of the leaves. Miles dusted himself off. "Where are we?" he asked. At that moment, a parrot wearing a sombrero zipped by and landed on a branch just above them. "Mexico, muchachos. You are in beautiful Mexico. Ole!" squawked the parrot. "And who are you?" Miles asked the parrot. "Senor Dude, at your service," he said, tipping his hat and bowing. "But just call me Dude." |
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Heroes of Beesville Inch and Miles and their classmates Pepper and Lily have a group project to plan and complete before Open House, which is just three weeks away. But they have a problem. Each of the four wants to do something different. Looks like they need a lesson on Cooperation! |
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Adventure Underground Why are Inch and Miles always on the sidelines watching as their classmates play soccer? Why can't they get chosen to be on the team? Who can help them? |
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Taking Care of Trouble It’s the summer after fifth-grade and Joel wants nothing to do with babies. His main concern is passing his Emergency Preparedness test so he can go mountain biking in the Rockies with the Junior Adventurers. The last thing he needs is a real-life crisis to mess up his chances. But when his best friend's popular older sister begs him to help her out by taking care of a toddler named Tucker (aka Trouble), he can't say no. And, boy, is he sorry. During this hair-raising—and hilarious—adventure in baby-sitting, Joel battles putrid diapers, an escaped cockatoo, and a best friend obsessed with capturing footage for the World's Funniest Videos. Joel copes with each disaster in his own offbeat way, making this a story that will ring true with baby-sitters everywhere.> Awards |
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The Best Worst Day When Lucy tries unsuccessfully to make friends with the new girl at her school, what threatens to be her worst day, turns out to be her best yet. |
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Mystery of the Tooth Gremlin After his tooth is stolen, reluctant reader Jesse finds a way to uncover the identity of the tooth gremlin and also help his class earn a field trip to the police station. |
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No Copycats Allowed! After being labeled "copycat," Gabrielle learns the hard way what it takes to make friends at her new school. |
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California Condor: Flying Free Story of the 1967 capture of TopaTopa, which heralds the beginning of the recovery program for this endangered species. History of the recovery program and California condor facts also given. |
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The Whooping Crane While sharing a plane ride with a biologist transporting a whooping crane chick, Megan discovers many fascinating things about this endangered species. |
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Books in the LifeMatters series from Capstone Press Anorexia |
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