Diane Swanson (born 5 April 1944, died 19 Nov 2021) was a Canadian writer of science books for children."Swanson, Diane, 1944–2021”
Library of Congress Authorities. Retrieved 2015-03-19.

Biography

Swanson was born and raised in Lethbridge,

Alberta Alberta ( ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is part of Western Canada and is one of the three prairie provinces. Alberta is bordered by British Columbia to the west, Saskatchewan to the east, the Northwest Ter ...

. As a child, she and her terrier Sammy would spend summers looking for ladybugs and spiders outside. She graduated from the

University of Alberta The University of Alberta, also known as U of A or UAlberta, is a Public university, public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. It was founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford,"A Gentleman of Strathcona – Alexande ...

with an Honours Bachelor of Arts in the social sciences. She taught in the

West Indies The West Indies is a subregion of North America, surrounded by the North Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea that includes 13 independent island countries and 18 dependencies and other territories in three major archipelagos: the Greate ...

for two years. She researched water resources for the Canadian government while living in Ottawa. Swanson's first book was published when she was 18. She has written over 70 books and 450 magazine articles. Swanson lived in Victoria, British Columbia. Her hobbies were hiking, piano-playing, and reading. She was married with two children.

Reception

The Toronto ''Globe and Mail'' described Swanson's ''A Crash of Rhinos, A Party of Jays'' as providing "a cheerfully educational vantage point from which to view the natural world and its denizens". ''Booklist'' called it "part science and part English lesson", deeming it "great for individual or classroom consumption". The ''Globe and Mail'' called ''The Wonder in Water'' a "well-laid-out and attractively illustrated book". Nzong Xiong, writing for ''The Fresno Bee'', described ''The Dentist & You'' as an "easy-to-read" book designed to help make dentist visits for children ages 4 to 7 "easier and less fearful". ''Resource Links'' found it to be useful for "parents wanting to prepare their children for their first visit to the dentist" or teachers, but found the book "a bit too long and detailed" for the target audience. ''School Library Journal'', however, tagged it as "excellent in relation to other titles on the same subject". ''Buffalo Sunrise'' was called "a full-bodied photo essay" and an "exemplary book" that "ably" recounts the history of the

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by the ''San Francisco Chronicle''. ''Booklist'' called it "a useful resource for middle-graders". Reviewing ''Alligators and Crocodiles'', ''Frogs and Toads'' and ''Penguins'' from the ''Welcome to the World of Animals'' series for the ''School Library Journal'', Arwen Marshall of the Minneapolis Public Library criticized the narrow scope of the books, saying "These serviceable overviews might be useful for brief reports, but they don't cover any new ground." ''Resource Links'' found the series to provide "enough information to satisfy tudents'curiosity while also meeting their research needs", recommending the books "for any elementary school library".

Published works

''Animals Can Be So ...'' series

''Canada Close Up'' series

''Mysterious You'' series

''Nature Detectives — The Living World'' series

''True Stories from the Edge'' series

''Up Close'' series

''Welcome to the World'' series

Other books

Authored Co-authored

Awards

Bugs Up Close -Finalist, Silver Birch Express Award, 2009 -Finalist, Children's Literature Roundtables of Canada Information Book Award, 2008 The Wonder in Water - shortlisted for the Silver Birch Award, 2006/07 Turn It Loose - shortlisted for the 2006/07 Red Cedar Award Tunnels! True stories from the edge, Winner of the Hackmatack Award, 2004–05 Nibbling on Einstein's Brain - Short-listed, B.C. Red Cedar Book Award, 2003/2004 - White Raven,

International Youth Library The International Youth Library (IYL) (, IJB) in Munich is a library that specializes in the collection of children and youth literature from around the world in order to make them available to the public, focusing on the international community. ...

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, 2002 - Nonfiction Honor List,

Voice of Youth Advocates ''Voice of Youth Advocates'' (''VOYA'') is a bimonthly magazine that provides book reviews and information for librarians with a focus on young adult materials. History and profile ''VOYA'' was established in 1978. The founders are Dorothy Brode ...

(VOYA), American Library Association, 2002 - Notables 2002, Canadian Library Association - Short-listed, Science in Society Award, 2002 - Los Angeles' 100 Best Books, 2001 Hmm? (Kids Can Press, 2001, illustrated by Rose Cowles) - Short-listed, B.C. Red Cedar Book Award, 2003/2004 - Short-listed, Utah Children's Informational Book Award, 2002–03 - Short-listed, Ontario Silver Birch Award, 2002 - Winner, Informal Education Product of the Year Award for Linguistic Intelligence, 2002 Burp! (Kids Can Press, 2001, illustrated by Rose Cowles) - Notables 2002, Canadian Library Association - Children's Choices for 2002, International Reading Association and Children's Book Council - Short-listed, Children's Literature Roundtables of Canada Information Book Award, 2002 - Short-listed, Rocky Mountain Award, 2002–03 - Short-listed, Atlantic Provinces Hackmatack Award, 2002–03 - Winner, Informal Education Product of the Year Award for Linguistic Intelligence, 2002 Up Close: Skin That Slimes and Scares, (Greystone Books, 2001) - Short-listed, B.C. Red Cedar Book Award, 2003/2004 Animals Eat the Weirdest Things (Whitecap Books & Henry Holt, 1998, illus. by Terry Smith) - Short-listed, Rocky Mountain Book Award, 2001 Welcome to the World of Rabbits and Hares, 2000 Our Choice, Canadian Children's Book Centre Welcome to the World of Octopuses, 2000 Our Choice, Canadian Children's Book Centre Feet That Suck and Feed, 2000 Our Choice, Canadian Children's Book Centre Teeth That Stab and Grind, 2000 Our Choice, Canadian Children's Book Centre Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children, 1995, for Safari Beneath the Sea Animals Eat the Weirdest Things (Whitecap Books & Henry Holt, 1998, illus. by Terry Smith) * Our Choice, Canadian Children's Book Centre * Short-listed, B.C. Red Cedar Book Award, 2000/2001 * Short-listed, Mr. Christie's Book Award, 1999 * Short-listed, Ontario Silver Birch Award, 1999 * Short-listed, Children's Literature Roundtables of Canada Information Book Award, 1999 Bug Bites (Whitecap Books, 1997, illustrated by the Royal British Columbia Museum) * Our Choice, Canadian Children's Book Centre * Short-listed, B.C. Red Cedar Book Award, 1999/2000 * Short-listed, Children's Literature Roundtables of Canada Information Book Award, 1998 * Short-listed, Ontario Silver Birch Award, 1998 Buffalo Sunrise (Whitecap Books and Sierra Club Books for Children, 1996) * Our Choice, Canadian Children's Book Centre * Short-listed, International Reading Association's Young Adult Choice Award, 1998 * Short-listed, Ontario Silver Birch Award, 1997 The Day of the Twelve-Story Wave (Whitecap Books/Longstreet Press, 1995, illus. by Laura Cook) * Our Choice, Canadian Children's Book Centre Sky Dancers (Whitecap Books and Voyageur Press, 1995, illustrated by Doug Penhale) * Our Choice, Canadian Children's Book Centre * Short-listed, B.C. Red Cedar Book Award, 1997/98 Safari Beneath the Sea (Whitecap Books & Sierra Club Books for Children, 1994, photography by the Royal British Columbia Museum) * Winner, Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children (USA), 1995 * American Library Association Recommended Book for Reluctant Young Adult Readers * Our Choice, Canadian Children's Book Centre * Short-listed, Garden State (New Jersey) Children's Book Award, 1997 * Short-listed, Children's Literature Roundtables of Canada Information Book Award, 1995 * Short-listed, Utah Children's Informational Book Award, 1995–96 Coyotes in the Crosswalk (Whitecap Books, 1994 and Voyageur Press, 1995, illustrated by Doug Penhale); French edition: Attention! Coyote Au Carrefour (Heritage jeunesse, 1995) * Our Choice, Canadian Children's Book Centre * Short-listed, Ontario Silver Birch Award, 1996 * Short-listed, Children's Literature Roundtables of Canada Information Book Award, 1995 Squirts and Snails and Skinny Green Tails (Whitecap Books, 1993, 1997 and Bob Adams, 1994, illustrated by Warren Clark); French edition: Coquilles, Coquillages Et Tresors De La Plage (Heritage jeunesse, 1995) * Our Choice, Canadian Children's Book Centre The Emerald Sea (Whitecap Books and Alaska Northwest Books, 1993, photography by Dale Sanders) * Short-listed for the Bill Duthie Booksellers' Choice, B.C. Book Prizes, 1994 Why Seals Blow Their Noses (Whitecap Books, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1997 and Voyageur Press, 1994, illustrated by Doug Penhale); French edition: Pourquoi Les Phoques Ont-Ils Un Ballon Sur Le Nez? (Heritage jeunesse, 1995) * Winner, Best Illustrated Book, One Color, Mid-America Publishers Association Awards, 1995 * Short-listed, Children's Literature Roundtables of Canada Information Book Award, 1993 * Our Choice, Canadian Children's Book Centre * Book-of-the-Month Club Selection A Toothy Tongue and One Long Foot (Whitecap Books, 1992, 1993 and Bob Adams, 1994, illustrated by Warren Clark and Carolyn Swanson) * Our Choice, Canadian Children's Book Centre Welcome to the World series (Whitecap Books) Welcome to the World of Porcupines, 1999 * Our Choice, Canadian Children's Book Centre * B.C. 2000 Book Award Welcome to the World of Skunks, 1999 * Our Choice, Canadian Children's Book Centre * B.C. 2000 Book Award Welcome to the World of Beavers, 1999 * Our Choice, Canadian Children's Book Centre * B.C. 2000 Book Award Welcome to the World of Moose, 1999 * Our Choice, Canadian Children's Book Centre * B.C. 2000 Book Award Welcome to the World of Bats, 1998 * Our Choice, Canadian Children's Book Centre Welcome to the World of Raccoons, 1998 * Our Choice, Canadian Children's Book Centre Welcome to the World of Foxes, 1998 * Our Choice, Canadian Children's Book Centre Welcome to the World of Eagles, 1998 * Our Choice, Canadian Children's Book Centre Welcome to the World of Owls, 1997 * Our Choice, Canadian Children's Book Centre Welcome to the World of Wild Cats, 1997 * Our Choice, Canadian Children's Book Centre Welcome to the World of Bears, 1997 * Our Choice, Canadian Children's Book Centre * Winner of a

Parents' Choice Award The Parents' Choice Award was an award presented by the non-profit Parents' Choice Foundation to recognize "the very best products for children of different ages and backgrounds, and of varied skill and interest levels." It was considered a "prest ...

, US, 1998 Welcome to the World of Otters, 1997 * Our Choice, Canadian Children's Book Centre * Winner of a Parents' Choice Award, US, 1998 Welcome to the World of Wolves, 1996 * Our Choice, Canadian Children's Book Centre * Book-of-the-Month Club Selection Welcome to the World of Whales, 1996 * Our Choice, Canadian Children's Book Centre * Book-of-the-Month Club Selection

Other memberships

CWILL B.C. Canadian Children's Book Centre

References

External links

About Diane Swanson
at JacketFlap * {{DEFAULTSORT:Swanson, Diane 1944 births Canadian children's writers Canadian nature writers Canadian women non-fiction writers Children's non-fiction writers Writers from Lethbridge Writers from Victoria, British Columbia Living people Canadian women children's writers Women science writers