Jean little biography

Canadian children’s book author Jean Little, internationally recognized for her novels featuring characters who realistically deal with adversity, died on April 6 at Hospice Wellington in Guelph, Ontario. She was

Jean Little was born January 2, in Taiwan, where her physician parents were serving as missionaries. From birth, Little’s corneas were scarred and it was determined she was legally blind, able to respond to light. She regained some sight throughout her childhood, and her parents, who routinely read to Little and her siblings, taught her to read on her own.

The family returned to Canada in , moving to Toronto, and seven-year-old Jean was in a class for visually impaired students. A year later, in , they settled in Guelph, and Little learned to adapt to a regular classroom, and was elevated to the fourth grade.

In her autobiography, Little by Little: A Writer’s Education (Viking, ), Little recalled that she wrote her first story at age From then on, she found great joy in writing stories and poems, and also in the attention she received from her parents, who supported her burgeoning talent.

Little’s passion for writing led her to Victoria College’s English language and literature program at the University of Toronto. She tried her hand at writing a novel after completing her freshman year, and took encouragement from a Canadian publisher’s rejection letter that stated she had talent. During the summer between her junior and senior year, Little was a volunteer counselor at a camp for handicapped children.

Little earned her B.A. from the University of Toronto in and shortly after graduation became a teacher at a nearby treatment facility for handicapped children. She spent the next six years teaching there as well as taking positions as a visiting instructor at the Institute of Special Education in Salt Lake City and at Florida University, while continuing h

Canadian writer (–)

For the Australian Aboriginal leader and community advocate, see Jean Aileen Little.

Jean Little, CM (January 2, – April 6, ) was a Canadian writer of over 50 books. Her work mainly consisted of children's literature, but she also wrote two autobiographies: Little by Little and Stars Come Out Within. Little was partially blind since birth as a result of scars on her cornea and was frequently accompanied by a guide dog.

Life and career

Little was born in Formosa, the daughter of Flora (Gauld), a doctor, and John Llewellyn Little, a physician. 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 , moving to Guelph in Although Little was legally blind from birth, she attended elementary and secondary school in regular classes. She went to the University of Toronto and obtained a Bachelor of Arts in English Language and Literature.

After teaching disabled children for several years, 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 She has subsequently written over 50 published works, which include novels, picture books, poetry, short stories, and two autobiographical books. Her novel His Banner Over Me is based on her mother's childhood. Little won literary awards for her work and has been published internationally.

Her novel Mama's Going to Buy You a Mockingbird won the Canadian Library Association Book of the Year for Children Award in , and was later adapted into a television film by Sandy Wilson.

Little taught Children's Literature at the University of Guelph, where she was an adjunct professor in the Department of English. She had six honorary degrees, was a Member of the Order of Canada an

Jean Little

Jean Little (January 2, – April 6, ) was a Canadian writer. She was a key author in creating and writing the Dear Canada series. Her novels included Orphan at My Door, Brothers Far from Home, If I Die Before I Wake, Exiles from the War, and All Fall Down and she was a contributor to several Dear Canada story collections.

Biography[]

Little was born in Taiwan to Canadian doctors working as medical missionaries in The Little family returned to Canada in and settled in Guelph, Ontario. Little has been partially blind since birth as a result of scars on her cornea and is frequently accompanied by a guide dog.

After teaching disabled children for several years, 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 She has subsequently written numerous published works, which include novels, picture books, poetry, short stories, and two autobiographical books. Her novel, His Banner Over Me, was based on her mother's childhood. Little has won literary awards for her work and has been published internationally.

Little has taught Children's Literature at the University of Guelph, where she was an Adjunct Professor in the Department of English. She has six honorary degrees and was 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 , she went to India and in November to Bulgaria. Little gave the Margaret Lawrence Lecture at the Canadian Writers Summit in June. She was also a recipient of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal.

Little resided in Guelph, Ontario with her sister Pat, her great-niece Jeanie, and her great-nephew Ben. She