Jan Thornhill (born 1955 in Sudbury,

Ontario Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...

) is a Canadian writer and illustrator of educational books on science and nature for children. She was the 2015 winner of the

Vicky Metcalf Award for Literature for Young People The Vicky Metcalf Award for Literature for Young People, colloquially called the Vicky, is given annually at the Writers' Trust Awards to a writer or illustrator whose body of work has been "inspirational to Canadian youth". It is a top honour for ...

, a lifetime achievement award presented by the

Writers' Trust of Canada The Writers' Trust of Canada (french: La Société d'encouragement aux écrivains du Canada) is a registered charity which provides financial support to Canadian writers. Founded by Margaret Atwood, Pierre Berton, Graeme Gibson, Margaret Laure ...

, and won the

Norma Fleck Award The Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children’s Non-Fiction is a lucrative literary award founded in May 1999 by the Fleck Family Foundation and the Canadian Children's Book Centre, and presented to the year's best non-fiction book for a youth aud ...

in 2007 for her book ''I Found a Dead Bird: The Kids’ Guide to the Cycle of Life & Death''. A graduate of the

Ontario College of Art Ontario College of Art & Design University, commonly known as OCAD University or OCAD, is a public art university located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus is spread throughout several buildings and facilities within do ...

, Thornhill has illustrated many but not all of her own works. She won

UNICEF UNICEF (), originally called the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund in full, now officially United Nations Children's Fund, is an agency of the United Nations responsible for providing Humanitarianism, humanitarian and Devel ...

's Ezra Jack Yeats International Award for illustration in 1990 for ''The Wildlife 123'', and has been a three-time nominee for the

Governor General's Award for English-language children's illustration The Governor General's Award for English-language children's illustration is a Canadian literary award that annually recognizes one Canadian illustrator for a children's book written in English. It is one of four children's book awards among the Go ...

at the 1988 Governor General's Awards for ''The Wildlife ABC'', the

1989 Governor General's Awards Each winner of the 1989 Governor General's Awards for Literary Merit received $5000 and a medal from the Governor General of Canada. The winners and nominees were selected by a panel of judges administered by the Canada Council for the Arts. Eng ...

for ''The Wildlife 123'' and the

2017 Governor General's Awards The shortlisted nominees for the 2017 Governor General's Awards for Literary Merit were announced on October 4, 2017,

for ''The Tragic Tale of the Great Auk''. She has also published the adult short story collection ''Drought'', which was a shortlisted nominee for the

ReLit Awards The ReLit Awards are Canadian literary prizes awarded annually to book-length works in the novel, short-story and poetry categories."Three indie writers honoured by ReLit Awards". ''The Globe and Mail'', July 19, 2007. Founded in 2000 by Newfoundl ...

in 2001, and has drawn illustrations for general interest magazines including ''The Idler''.

Works

*''The Wildlife ABC'' (1988) *''The Wildlife 123'' (1989) *''A Tree in a Forest'' (1991) *''Crow & Fox and Other Animal Legends'' (1993) *''Wild in the City'' (1996) *''Before & After: A Book of Nature Timescapes'' (1997) *''Drought'' (2001) *''Folktails: Animal Legends from Around the World'' (2007) *''This Is My Planet: The Kids' Guide to Global Warming'' (2007) *''Who Wants Pizza?: The Kids' Guide to the History, Science and Culture of Food'' (2010) *''Is This Panama? A Migration Story'' (2013) *''Kyle Goes Alone'' (2015) * ''The Tragic Tale of the Great Auk'' (2016), received the

TD Canadian Children's Literature Award The TD Canadian Children's Literature Award is an annual Canadian literary award, presented to the year's best work of children's literature. Sponsored by TD Bank Financial Group and the Canadian Children's Book Centre, the award carries a moneta ...

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Thornhill, Jan 1955 births Canadian children's writers Canadian science writers Canadian nature writers Canadian women short story writers Canadian children's book illustrators Writers from Greater Sudbury Living people OCAD University alumni 21st-century Canadian women writers 20th-century Canadian women writers 20th-century Canadian short story writers 21st-century Canadian short story writers Canadian women bloggers