Thomas, Peggy

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THOMAS, Peggy
(Margaret Thomas)

PERSONAL:

Born in Buffalo, NY; daughter of Howard F. (a teacher) and Margery (an author) Facklam; married; children: two. Education: State University of New York College at Buffalo, B.A., M.A.

ADDRESSES:

Home—Middleport, NY.

CAREER:

Author. Buffalo News, Buffalo, NY, feature writer. Institute of Children's Literature, West Redding, CT, instructor.

MEMBER:

Society for Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, Rochester Area Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.

AWARDS, HONORS:

New York Public Library Best Book for the Teen Age selection, 1993, for Kid's World Almanac of Amazing Facts about Numbers, Math, and Money, and 1997, for Medicines from Nature; Outstanding Science Trade Book for Children, National Science Teachers Association/Children's Book Council, 2001, for Marine Mammal Preservation.

WRITINGS:

NONFICTION

(With mother, Margery Facklam) Kid's World Almanac of Amazing Facts about Numbers, Math,and Money, illustrated by brother, Paul Facklam, Pharos Books (New York, NY), 1992.

Talking Bones: The Science of Forensic Anthropology, Facts on File (New York, NY), 1995, revised edition published as Forensic Anthropology: The Growing Science of Talking Bones, 2003.

Medicines from Nature, Twenty-first Century Books (New York, NY), 1997.

Bacteria and Viruses, Lucent Books (San Diego, CA), 2004.

Artificial Intelligence, Lucent Books (Detroit, MI), 2005.

(With Margery Facklam) New York: The Empire State, illustrated by Jon Messer, Charlesbridge (Water-town, MA), 2007.

"SCIENCE OF SAVING ANIMALS" SERIES

Big Cat Conservation, Twenty-first Century Books (Brookfield, CT), 2000.

Bird Alert, Twenty-first Century Books (Brookfield, CT), 2000.

Marine Mammal Preservation, Twenty-first Century Books (Brookfield, CT), 2000.

Reptile Rescue, Twenty-first Century Books (Brookfield, CT), 2000.

OTHER

Joshua the Giant Frog, illustrated by Cat Bowman Smith, Pelican Publishing (Gretna, LA), 2005.

Contributor to Cricket and Hopscotch for Girls.

SIDELIGHTS:

Peggy Thomas is the author of highly regarded nonfiction books for children, among them Talking Bones: The Science of Forensic Anthropology, Medicines from Nature, and Big Cat Conservation. She has also penned Joshua the Giant Frog, a tall tale inspired by folklore about the Erie Canal.

Though Thomas grew up in a literary household—her mother is respected children's author Margery Facklam—she initially chose a different career path. "Although I loved to write and read, I dreamt of being a scientist," Thomas noted on her home page. "But I could never decide what kind of scientist to be. I went to college and got my master's degree in anthropology (the study of people and cultures). I loved to dig in the dirt looking for archaeological artifacts. I didn't start writing until after my daughter was born." Thomas made her publishing debut in 1992 with Kid's World Almanac of Amazing Facts about Numbers, Math, and Money, a work written with Facklam and illustrated by Thomas's brother, Paul Facklam.

In Talking Bones, a 1995 book, Thomas examines the world of forensic scientists. The author presents a number of case studies of real-life murders and recounts the investigative methods used to solve the crimes. "Each of the cases is interesting," noted Paul Joseph Cohen in a review for Science Activities, the critic adding that "the details of how the police scientists did their work are equally fascinating." "Although not for the fainthearted, perhaps … the information is intriguing, unusual fare and highly readable in style," remarked Booklist contributor Anne O'Malley.

Thomas looks at the healing powers of the natural world in Medicines from Nature. In this 1997 title she examines how scientists search for and test the medicinal properties of insects, animals, and plants, among them taxol, an extract from the bark of the Pacific yew that is used to fight cancer. "Thomas' account is fascinating," commented Booklist reviewer Frances Bradburn of the nonfiction title.

In 2000 Thomas published four works in the "Science of Saving Animals" series. Big Cat Conservation looks at programs designed to protect panthers, cheetahs, tigers, and other creatures, and Reptile Rescue features conservation efforts involving crocodiles, tortoises, and snakes. In her review of both titles, School Library Journal contributor Cynthia M. Sturgis praised the "well-written texts" and "easy-to-read page design." Bird Alert and Marine Mammal Preservation complete the series.

In 2005 Thomas published her debut picture book, Joshua the Giant Frog. After finding a giant polliwog swimming in the Erie Canal, young Red McCarthy decides to keep bring it home. As Joshua the polliwog grows into an enormous frog, however, he wreaks havoc on the town, shaking the ground with every hop. Just as the townspeople vote to banish Joshua, Red finds a way to make his supersized pet a hero to the community. Linda Staskus, reviewing the work in School Library Journal, called Joshua the Giant Frog a "wonderful read-aloud."

Thomas finds her work as an author both challenging and rewarding. "The best part of being a nonfiction writer is that I don't have to choose just one field of science to concentrate on," she commented on her home page. "I can learn about all of them. I can spend a year learning about bones and bodies from forensic anthropologists, and then hang out with marine mammal veterinarians, reptile rehabilitators or virus hunters."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Booklist, October 15, 1995, Anne O'Malley, review of Talking Bones: The Science of Forensic Anthropology, p. 393; September 15, 1997, Frances Bradburn, review of Medicines from Nature, p. 231; June 1, 2000, Shelle Rosenfeld, reviews of Big Cat Conservation and Reptile Rescue, p. 1888.

Kirkus Reviews, March 15, 2005, review of Joshua the Giant Frog, p. 359.

School Library Journal, January, 1996, Jeanette Larson, review of Talking Bones, p. 137; August, 1997, Ann G. Brouse, review of Medicines from Nature, p. 176; July, 2000, Cynthia M. Sturgis, reviews of Big Cat Conservation and Reptile Rescue, p. 123; December, 2000, Cynthia M. Sturgis, review of Bird Alert, p. 166; January, 2001, Cynthia M. Sturgis, review of Marine Mammal Preservation, p. 157; April, 2005, Linda Staskus, review of Joshua the Giant Frog, p. 113.

Science Activities, summer, 1996, Paul Joseph Cohen, review of Talking Bones, p. 45.

Voice of Youth Advocates, April, 1996, review of Talking Bones, p. 61.