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Nancy Loewen

Here are some facts about me. Some of them would be considered biographically important. Others, not so much. I'll let you decide which are which!

• I've published more than 100 books for children and young adults. Sometimes people marvel at that number, but I tell I'm not really that prolific, I'm just old.

• Two of my books have been finalists for Minnesota Book Awards: Four to the Pole! : the American Women's Expedition to Antarctica (2002) and The LAST Day of Kindergarten (2012). (I'm hoping that I'll be up for another award in 2022.)

• Here are some other awards: 2011 Bank Street's Best Children's Books of the Year (Share a Scare: Writing Your Own Scary Story); 2010 Distinguished Achievement Award from the Association of Educational Publishers (Writer's Toolbox Series), plus awards for older books from The American Library Association, the New York Public Library, the Independent Book Publishers Association, and the Society of School Librarians International.

• I was born in Mt. Lake, a town of about 2,000 in southwestern Minnesota. I grew up on a farm. My parents raised corn, soybeans, and cats.

• I graduated from Mankato State University with a BA in English, thinking I'd go back for a master's degree within a few years. That was in 1986. In 2007 I finally earned that MFA, from Hamline University.

• Most of my published work has been children's nonfiction, but I also like writing fiction, for both children and adults. One of my short stories won an award and was published in Mid-American Review. I've also published essays in Minnesota Parent and Child magazines.

• We live in Prior Lake, which is a southern suburb of Minneapolis. "We" means me; my husband; a son and daughter (both teenagers); a beagle named Dorie; a Jack Russell terrier named Blossom; and two cats, Cyrus and Obi. (I would also like to pay tribute here to our late guinea pig, Freddie, who died in May 2012 at an advanced age. A little of his spirit lives on in the book Goodbye Jeepers: What to Expect When Your Pet Dies.)

• I usually start a project by writing longhand, using my kids' partially used notebooks from school. Often the covers of my notebooks have stickers or rhinestones or the names of cute boys on them. As my children grow up, though, there are fewer notebooks to scavenge, and they aren't nearly as decorative. That makes me a little sad.

• My best writing-related investment: a two-inch-thick thesaurus that I bought at a garage sale for a quarter, a quarter-century ago. What's funny is that I hardly ever use the synonyms that I look up—but going through the process lets me think of just the right word, all on my own.

• Besides reading, my hobbies include gardening, cooking, and collecting weird things from thrift stores. Oh, and allowing the dogs to take me out for a walk almost every day.

Baby Wants Mama
written by Nancy Loewen
illustrated by Deborah Melmon
Amazon Children's Publishing, 2013
ages 1 to 4, ISBN 978-1477816516

Baby wants Mama
Cat wants fish
Daddy wants supper
Pup wants dish

In this fun picture book for babies and toddlers, another busy day has come to an end. Everyone in the family wants something. But what do they ALL want? Supper! The simple rhyming text, great for reading aloud, is paired with adorable watercolor, colored pencil and digital artwork.

Baby Wants Mama
The LAST Day of Kindergarten
illustrated by Sachiko Yoshikawa
Marshall Cavendish Children, 2011
ages 4 to 6, ISBN 9780761458074

A little girl is sad that kindergarten is coming to an end. She wishes it were the first day again, when everything was exciting and new and there was such a fun year ahead. But then she realizes that graduating is exciting, too, and maybe first grade won’t be so bad after all!

Awards & Recognition
2012 Minnesota Book Award finalist

The Last Day of Kindergarten
The Other Side of the Story series
Picture Window Books, 2011
ages 4 to 8

Believe Me, Goldilocks Rocks! The Story of the Three Bears as told by Baby Bear
illustrated by Tatevik Avakyan
ISBN 978-1404866720

OF COURSE you think Goldilocks was a brat who broke in and trashed our house. You don't know the other side of the story. Well, let me tell you...

Believe Me, Goldilocks Rocks!
Life's Challenges series
Picture Window Books, 2011
ages 4 to 8

Animal characters gently explore difficult situations, helping children deal with life’s tougher lessons. Sidebars offer important and empowering coping tips.

Good-bye, Jeepers:
What to Expect When Your Pet Dies

illustrated by Christopher Lyles
ISBN 978-1404866805

Saying Good-bye to Uncle Joe:
What to Expect When Someone You Love Dies

illustrated by Christopher Lyles
ISBN 978-1404866775

Good-bye, Jeepers
Writer's Toolbox series
Picture Window Books, 2010
ages 7 to 9

Turn readers into writers! Each title carefully examines one or more genre-specific writing examples. Readers will discover the tools and techniques that writers use to create plays, poems, fairy tales, journals, picture books, and more. The books include a review list of key concepts, at least four exercises for getting started, and numerous writing tips.

Action! Writing Your Own Play
illustrated by Dawn Beacon
ISBN 9781404860179

It’s All About You: Writing Your Own Journal
illustrated by Christopher Lyles and Todd Ouren
ISBN 9781404855205

Just the Facts: Writing Your Own Research Report
illustrated by Dawn Beacon
ISBN 9781404855199

Make Me Giggle: Writing Your Own Silly Story
illustrated by Cori Doerrfeld
ISBN 9781404855182

Once Upon a Time: Writing Your Own Fairy Tale
illustrated by Christopher Lyles
ISBN 9781404853355

Share a Scare: Writing Your Own Scary Story
illustrated by Christopher Lyles
ISBN 9781404855175

Show Me a Story: Writing Your Own Picture Book
illustrated by Christopher Lyles
ISBN 9781404853416

Sincerely Yours: Writing Your Own Letter
illustrated by Christopher Lyles
ISBN 9781404853386

Words, Wit, and Wonder: Writing Your Own Poem
illustrated by Christopher Lyles
ISBN 9781404853447

Awards & Recognition
Distinguished Achievement Award, American Educational Publishers, 2010

Action!
Ways to Say It series
Picture Window Books, 2011
grades 2 to 4

Even if you're as sharp as a tack, the English language can be confusing! From ants in your pants to talking turkey, this silly and entertaining set will engage readers, while teaching them about various figures of speech.

Stubborn as a Mule and Other Silly Similes
illustrated by Adam Watkins
ISBN 978-1404862715

Awards & Recognition
2011 Book of Note, The Tri State Young Adult Review Committee (Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New Jersey)

You're Toast and other Metaphors We Adore
illustrated by Donald Wu
ISBN 978-1404862708

Talking Turkey and Other Clichés We Say
illustrated by Adam Watkins
ISBN 978-1404862722

She Sells Seashells
and Other Tricky Tongue Twisters

illustrated by Donald Wu
ISBN 978-1404862739

Stubborn as a Mule
Ready! Set! Count! series
illustrated by Ronnie Rooney
Child’s World, 2010
ages 4 to 7

Ready, Set, Count! teaches readers numbers one through ten by exploring fictional towns based on each number. With colorful artwork, hilarious characters, and fun number games, these books make counting a blast!

Six Town
ISBN 9781602535039

Seven Town
ISBN 9781602535022

Eight Town
ISBN 9781602534971

Ten Town
ISBN 9781602535046

Six Town
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