Patrick, Jean L.S. 1961-

PERSONAL:

Born May 17, 1961, in Carbondale, IL; daughter of Victor (a professor) and Carolyn (a homemaker and teacher) Streufert; married Michael Patrick (a veterinarian). Education: Luther College, B.A., 1983; Kansas State University, M.A., 1986.

ADDRESSES:

Home—Mitchell, SD. E-mail—[email protected].

CAREER:

Writer, storyteller, and public speaker.

MEMBER:

Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, Children's Literature Network.

AWARDS, HONORS:

Storytelling World Award, stories for adolescent listeners, cited among best children's books of the year, Bank Street College, and kids' pick of the lists, American Booksellers Association, and Laura Ingalls Wilder Award, South Dakota Reading Council, all for The Girl Who Struck Out Babe Ruth; Junior Library Guild selection, 2003, for Cows, Cats, and Kids: A Veterinarian's Family at Work.

WRITINGS:

FOR CHILDREN

The Girl Who Struck Out Babe Ruth, illustrated by Jeni Reeves, Carolrhoda Books (Minneapolis, MN), 2000.

If I Had a Snowplow, illustrated by Karen Dugan, Boyds Mills Press (Honesdale, PA), 2001.

Dolley Madison, Lerner Publishing (Minneapolis, MN), 2002.

Cows, Cats, and Kids: A Veterinarian's Family at Work, Boyds Mills Press (Honesdale, PA), 2003.

Who Carved the Mountain? The Story of Mount Rushmore, Mount Rushmore History Association (Keystone, SD), 2005.

SIDELIGHTS:

Jean L.S. Patrick told CA: "When I was eight years old, I had two dreams. I wanted to play major league baseball for the Chicago Cubs and write books for children. Although I'm still waiting for my chance to play in the big leagues, I have been able to pursue my dream of being a children's author.

"My interest in writing began with my love of reading. In fact, when I was growing up, the only discipline that worked was my parents' threat to take away my books! As an adult, I'd still rather read than write. I've discovered I'm much more ready to write if I take a few minutes to read, particularly if what I'm reading has a unique tone or voice.

"My writing process is kind of a mess. If I'm working on a nonfiction book, I do a lot of reading, mulling, researching, and scribbling until I begin to 'hear' the style of the book I hope to write. From then on, I continue with a similar mix of researching, writing, scribbling, and thinking. The process is rarely linear! Often, I'm still researching late in the writing process, still searching through primary sources for the perfect concrete details. Meanwhile, the house gets overrun by drafts, research notes, piles of laundry, and unwashed dishes, but somehow it all gets done.

"I've been surprised by how much I like writing nonfiction, particularly history. I love finding true stories about people who possessed mammoth amounts of perseverance. In the process, I hope to write books that inspire young people to live their lives with joy and determination."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Booklist, April 15, 2000, Kay Weisman, review of The Girl Who Struck Out Babe Ruth, p. 1549.

Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, June, 2000, review of The Girl Who Struck Out Babe Ruth, p. 369.

Library Media Connection, October, 2003, Kay Bowes, review of Cows, Cats, and Kids: A Veterinarian's Family at Work, p. 73.

School Library Journal, August, 2000, Nancy A. Gifford, review of The Girl Who Struck Out Babe Ruth, p. 174; December, 2001, JoAnn Jonas, review of If I Had a Snowplow.

Tribune Books (Chicago, IL), June 1, 2003, review of Cows, Cats, and Kids, p. 5.