NELSON, Robin Laura 1971-

PERSONAL: Born September 20, 1971, in New Ulm, MN; daughter of David and Tamra (Merritt) Nesheim; married Cory Nelson, 1995; children: Zachary, Maren. Education: Hamline University, B.A. (summa cum laude), 1994, eertification in elementary education, 1995; College of St. Catherine, St. Paul, MN, certificate for pre-K, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Home—Minneapolis, MN. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Lerner Publishing Group, 241 First Ave., N., Minneapolis, MN 55401.

CAREER: Children's book author. St. Mark's Lutheran School, Hacienda Heights, CA, fourth-grade teacher, 1995-97; Sylvan Learning Center, Bloomington, MN, lead teacher, 1997-2000; substitute teacher, 1997-99; Lerner Publishing Group, Minneapolis, MN, curriculum product developer, 2000-2002.

WRITINGS:

nonfiction

A Cloudy Day, Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 2001.

A Rainy Day, Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 2001.

A Snowy Day, Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 2001.

A Sunny Day, Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 2001.

A Windy Day, Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 2001.

Where Is My Home? Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 2001.

Where Is My Town? Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 2001.

Where Is My State? Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 2001.

Where Is My Country? Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 2001.

Where Is My Continent? Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 2001.

A Day, Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 2001.

Months, Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 2001.

A Week, Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 2001.

Hearing, Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 2001.

Seeing, Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 2001.

Smelling, Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 2001.

Tasting, Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 2001.

Touching, Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 2001.

Pet Fish, Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 2002.

Pet Frog, Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 2002.

Pet Guinea Pig, Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 2002.

Pet Hamster, Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 2002.

Pet Hermit Crab, Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 2002.

Earth Day, Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 2002.

Independence Day, Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 2002.

Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 2002.

Memorial Day, Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 2002.

Presidents' Day, Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 2002.

From Flower to Honey, Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 2002.

Being a Leader, Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 2002.

Being Fair, Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 2002.

Being Responsible, Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 2002.

Following Rules, Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 2002.

Respecting Others, Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 2002.

Freezing and Melting, Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 2003.

The Water Cycle, Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 2003.

We Use Water, Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 2003.

What Is Water? Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 2003.

Where Is Water? Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 2003.

Communication Then and Now, Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 2003.

Home Then and Now, Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 2003.

School Then and Now, Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 2003.

Toys and Games Then and Now, Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 2003.

Transportation Then and Now, Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 2003.

Dairy, Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 2003.

Fats, Oils, and Sweets, Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 2003.

Fruits, Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 2003.

Grains, Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 2003.

Meat and Protein, Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 2003.

Vegetables, Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 2003.

From Cocoa Bean to Chocolate, Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 2003.

From Cotton to T-Shirt, Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 2003.

From Egg to Chicken, Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 2003.

From Foal to Horse, Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 2003.

From Kernel to Corn, Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 2003.

From Sea to Salt, Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 2003.

From Sheep to Sweater, Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 2003.

From Wax to Crayon, Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 2003.

From Peanut to Peanut Butter, Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 2004.

Float and Sink, Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 2004.

Gravity, Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 2004.

Magnets, Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 2004.

Push and Pull, Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 2004.

Ways Things Move, Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 2004.

Happy, Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 2004.

Sad, Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 2004.

Angry, Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 2004.

Afraid, Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 2004.

Food, Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 2004.

Clothing, Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 2004.

Shelter, Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 2004.

Jobs, Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 2004.

Circle, Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 2004.

Rectangle, Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 2004.

Square, Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 2004.

Triangle, Lerner Publications (Minneapolis, MN), 2004.

SIDELIGHTS: Author of over seventy titles for Minnesota's Lerner Publications, Robin Nelson has written on science topics including weather, time, water, and the senses; on social-science topics such as values, emotions, and holidays; and on a variety of other themes from history to the story of where food comes from. "There is a growing need for nonfiction books in the classroom, particularly at the primary grades," Nelson told CA. "Nonfiction books for emergent readers were scarce. I am happy to be writing books that address this need in our schools. I hope that my books help students develop the nonfiction reading skills that they need to be successful."

Born in New Ulm, Minnesota, in 1971, Nelson trained as an elementary school and pre-kindergarten teacher, then taught in Minnesota schools for five years before going to work for Lerner Publishing Group as a curriculum product developer. After two years of researching, writing, and editing nonfiction books for emergent readers and teaching guides for the K-6 classroom, Nelson decided to branch out as a freelance writer for primary school children.

Nelson's publications began with 2001's A Cloudy Day, the first of five introductory titles on weather. Other books in the series focus on rain, snow, sun, and wind. Reviewing A Snowy Day and A Sunny Day for School Library Journal, Holly T. Sneeringer felt that these small beginning readers have "just the right dose of fact and fun." Sneeringer further praised the "simple sentences" as well as the photographic illustrations for making the message clear and effective. Repetition also comes into play in the books, allowing emergent readers to establish a rhythm to their reading.

The "Where Is?" series focuses on "geopolitical concepts," according to Be Astengo writing in a School Library Journal review of Where Is My Continent? Again, Nelson mixes simple sentences with descriptive photographs, yet Astengo felt that the writing is so "simplistic" that little information was imparted in the seventeen sentences in the book. However, Astengo also felt the book will "fill a niche" for kindergarten children. The calendar is introduced in Nelson's A Day, Months, and A Week. Reviewing the first title for School Library Journal, Karen Land found that the book combines "fun facts and a simple math activity."

The senses take center stage in another series from Nelson, with titles including Hearing, Seeing, Smelling, Tasting, and Touching. The one-sentence-per-page format was again in use in these titles, in conjunction with full-color illustrations. Geared for kindergartners, the syntax and information is kept basic. However, Lisa Gangemi Kropp, reviewing Smelling in School Library Journal, felt that such measures go too far, and that the book contains "little information, and [is] too simplistic."

A further series from Nelson deals with pets, including frogs, hamsters, and even the hermit crab. Reviewing Pet Frog for School Library Journal, Cathie Bashaw remarked on the fact that "children of various ethnic backgrounds" are caring for the animals. Simple factual sentences on each page combine with a "Fun Facts" section, and in some cases labeled diagrams. Information imparted in the sixteen-sentence books includes reasons why the animal is a good pet, the requirements of feeding and cleaning, and the appropriate living environment for each pet. Booklist's Kathy Broderick, in a review of Pet Fish, noted that new readers "may enjoy reading these books on their own."

Nelson has also written about important public holidays in such titles as Earth Day, Independence Day, and Presidents' Day, noting both why and how such days are celebrated. Civic values and morals are presented in such books as Being a Leader and Being Responsible. Everything young readers might want to know about water is presented in Freezing and Melting, The Water Cycle, We Use Water, and other titles about H2O. Children also find out about the production cycle in such books as From Cocoa Bean to Chocolate, which traces the sweet stuff from the plant to the chocolate bar. From Sheep to Sweater does the same for wool, tracing it from sheep to shearing to wool spinning to knitting. Other products from honey to T-shirts are examined in the same series.

"I enjoy writing nonfiction for children," Nelson concluded to CA. "I hope that children learn as much from my books as I do while researching them. I expect to continue writing nonfiction for young readers as well as eventually writing nonfiction for older children. I also look forward to crossing into new territory and a new genre and write fiction for children someday."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

periodicals

Booklist, October 15, 2002, Kathy Broderick, review of Pet Fish, p. 433.

School Library Journal, January, 2002, Karen Land, review of A Day, p. 122; February, 2002, Be Astengo, review of Where Is My Continent?, p. 125; April, 2002, Hilly T. Sneeringer, review of A Snowy Day and A Sunny Day, p. 138; August, 2002, Lisa Gangemi Kropp, review of Smelling, p. 178; October, 2002, Cathie Bashaw, review of Pet Frog, p. 150.