Wallace, Karen 1951-

Personal

Born April 1, 1951, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; immigrated to England, 1962; daughter of David (a diplomat) and Margaret (an architect); married Sam Llewellyn (a writer), February, 1975; children: William, Martin. Education: University of London, B.A. (with honors); University of Grenoble (France), received diploma. Politics: Liberal. Religion: Church of England (Anglican).

Addresses

Agent—Pat White, Rogers, Coleridge & White, 20 Powis Mews, London W11 1JN, England.

Career

Children's book author and writer for television. Worked in editorial and promotions departments in publishing companies in England and Canada, 1974-78; freelance writer. Formerly worked as a cabaret and bluegrass singer.

Awards, Honors

Times Educational Supplement Junior Prize, Kurt Maschler Award, and Parent's Choice Gold Award, all for Think of an Eel; London Guardian Children's Fiction Prize shortlist, 2002, for Raspberries on the Yangtze; British Academy of Film and Television Arts Award, 2001, for The Hoobs; British Book Trust Teenage Prize shortlist, 2005, for The Unrivalled Spangles.

Writings

FOR CHILDREN

The Battle for Gold Diggers' Forest, Simon & Schuster (London, England), 1989.

Fearless Fiona and the Mothproof Hall Mystery, Young Lion (London, England), 1992.

Zizz Bear, Walker (London, England), 1992, Candlewick Press (Cambridge, MA), 1995.

Zizz Bear, Busy Bear, Walker (London, England), 1993, Candlewick Press (Cambridge, MA), 1995.

Fearless Fiona and the Mystery of the Great Stone Haggis, Young Lion (London, England), 1993.

Fearless Fiona and the Rolls-Royce Racket Mystery, Young Lion (London, England), 1993.

Why Count Sheep?, illustrated by Patrice Aggs, Hyperion (New York, NY), 1993.

Think of an Eel, illustrated by Mike Bostock, Candlewick Press (Cambridge, MA), 1993.

Think of a Beaver, illustrated by Mick Manning, Candlewick Press (Cambridge, MA), 1993.

My Hen Is Dancing, illustrated by Anita Jeram, Walker (London, England), 1993, Candlewick Press (Cambridge, MA), 1994.

Fearless Fiona and the Purple Poodle Mystery, Young Lion (London, England), 1994.

Red Fox, illustrated by Peter Melnyczuk, Candlewick Press (Cambridge, MA), 1994.

Bears in the Forest, illustrated by Barbara Firth, Candlewick Press (Cambridge, MA), 1994.

Gorgonzola's Revenge, illustrated by Judy Brown, Collins (London, England), 1995, Barron's (Hauppauge, NY), 1996.

Thunder and Lightning, illustrated by Judy Brown, Collins (London, England), 1995, Barron's (Hauppauge, NY), 1996, published in Karen Wallace's Spooky Beasts, 2007.

Snapper Bites Back, Collins (London, England), 1995, published in Karen Wallace's Spooky Beasts, 2007.

King Henry VIII's Shoes, illustrated by Chris Fisher, Collins (London, England), 1995.

Flash Harriet and the Giant Vegetable Monster Mystery, illustrated by Judy Brown, Hodder (London, England), 1995.

Flash Harriet and the Most Peculiar Moustache Mystery, illustrated by Judy Brown, Hodder (London, England), 1995.

A Pig Called Henry, Franklin Watts (London, England), 1995.

Flash Harriet and the Outrageous Ostrich Egg Mystery, illustrated by Judy Brown, Hodder (London, England), 1995.

Flash Harriet and the Fiendishly Wicked Whistle Mystery, illustrated by Judy Brown, Hodder (London, England), 1995.

The GrumbleRug Gang and the Day the Mums Disappeared, illustrated by Kim Blundell, Collins (London, England), 1996.

The GrumbleRug Gang and the Great-Hairy-Thing, illustrated by Kim Blundell, Collins (London, England), 1996.

Queen Victoria's Swing, illustrated by Chris Fisher, Collins (London, England), 1996.

Birthdays Are a Serious Business, illustrated by Martin Remphry, Franklin Watts (London, England), 1996.

Dancing for Captain Drake, illustrated by Martin Remphry, Franklin Watts (London, England), 1996.

Imagine You Are a Tiger, illustrated by Peter Melynszuk, Holt (New York, NY), 1996.

Imagine You Are a Crocodile, illustrated by Mike Bostock, Hodder (London, England), 1996, Holt (New York, NY), 1997.

Imagine You Are a Dolphin, illustrated by Mike Bostock, Franklin Watts (London, England), 1996.

Ace Ghosts, illustrated by Tony Ross, Hamish Hamilton (London, England), 1996.

Ghouls Rule, illustrated by Tony Ross, Hamish Hamilton (London, England), 1996.

All Aboard for the Milky Way, Hodder (London, England), 1997.

Never Say No to a Martian, Hodder (London, England), 1997.

It Takes Two, illustrated by Ross Collins, Franklin Watts (New York, NY), 1997.

Blue Eyes, illustrated by Bee Willy, Hodder (London, England), 1997.

Rollerblading Royals, illustrated by Russell Ayto, Hodder (London, England), 1997.

Captain Drake's Orders, illustrated by Martin Remphry, Franklin Watts (London, England), 1997.

A Horse Called Deathblow, illustrated by Martin Remphry, Franklin Watts (London, England), 1997.

Louis Pasteur, illustrated by Lesley Bisseker, Franklin Watts (London, England), 1997.

Thomas Edison, illustrated by Peter Kent, Franklin Watts (London, England), 1997.

London's Burning, illustrated by Jamie Smith, Franklin Watts (London, England), 1997.

Star Spooks, illustrated by Tony Ross, Puffin (London, England), 1998.

Tutankhamun's Arrow, illustrated by Chris Fisher, Collins (London, England), 1998.

Marie Curie, illustrated by Nick Ward, Franklin Watts (London, England), 1998.

Funky Phantoms, illustrated by Tony Ross, Puffin (London, England), 1998.

Tale of a Tadpole, Dorling Kindersley (New York, NY), 1998.

(With Russell Ayto) A Hiccup on the High Seas, A. & C. Black (London, England), 1998.

Hiding, illustrated by Charles Fuge, Franklin Watts (London, England), 1998.

Viking Raiders, illustrated by Richard Morgan, Franklin Watts (London, England), 1998.

Giant Gentle Octopus, illustrated by Mike Bostock, Candlewick Press (Cambridge, MA), 1998.

Imagine You Are an Orangutan, illustrated by Adrienne Kennaway, Hodder (London, England), 1998.

Great-Aunt Iris Goes Hunting ("Freaky Families" series), illustrated by Colin Paine, Puffin (London, England), 1998.

Switched On!, illustrated by Martin Remphry and Karen Hiscock, Ginn (Aylesbury, England), 1998.

Fight for the Vote, illustrated by Martin Remphy, Franklin Watts (London, England), 1998.

Duckling Days, Dorling Kindersley (New York, NY), 1999.

Penny Post Boy, illustrated by Greg Gormley, Franklin Watts (London, England), 1999.

Cousin Cedric Goes Bananas ("Freaky Families" series), illustrated by Colin Paine, Puffin (London, England), 1999.

Uncle Douglas and Aunt Doris Go Loopy ("Freaky Families" series), illustrated by Colin Paine, Puffin (London, England), 1999.

Stop, Thief!, illustrated by Greg Gormsley, Franklin Watts (London, England), 1999.

Scarlette Beane, illustrated by Jon Berkeley, Dial (New York, NY), 1999.

Madeleine the City Pig, illustrated by Lydia Monks, Macmillan (London, England), 1999, published as City Pig, Orchard (New York, NY), 2000.

A Day at Seagull Beach, Dorling Kindersley (New York, NY), 1999.

The Peanut Prankster, illustrated by Judy Brown, A. & C. Black (London, England), 1999, Picture Window Books (Minneapolis, MN), 2007.

The Minestrone Mob, illustrated by Judy Brown, A. & C. Black (London, England), 1999, Picture Window Books (Minneapolis, MN), 2007.

The Sandwich Scam, illustrated by Judy Brown, A. & C. Black (London, England), 1999.

The Stuff-It-In Specials, illustrated by Judy Brown, A. & C. Black (London, England), 1999.

Whatever the Weather, Dorling Kindersley (New York, NY), 1999.

Erik's New Home, illustrated by Richard Morgan, Franklin Watts (London, England), 1999.

Crook Catchers, A. & C. Black (London, England), 1999.

Busy Buzzy Bee, Dorling Kindersley (New York, NY), 1999.

Chomp! Munch! Chew!, illustrated by Ross Collins, Franklin Watts (London, England), 1999.

Dr Barnardo's Boys, illustrated by Martin Remphry, Franklin Watts (London, England), 1999.

Rockets, illustrated by Paul Collicutt, Oxford University Press (Oxford, England), 1999.

Police Cat Fuzz, illustrated by Trevor Dunton, Puffin (London, England), 2000.

Esmerelda, illustrated by Lydia Monks, Macmillan (London, England), 2000.

Cleopatra's Carpet, illustrated by Alan Wade, Collins (London, England), 2000.

Born to Be a Butterfly, Dorling Kindersley (New York, NY), 2000.

Big Machines, Dorling Kindersley (London, England, and New York, NY), 2000.

Sir Walter's Last Chance, illustrated by Jane Cope, Franklin Watts (London, England), 2000.

Lord Roderick's Romance, illustrated by Jane Cope, Franklin Watts (London, England), 2000.

Earl Inkblot's Big Night, illustrated by Jane Cope, Franklin Watts (London, England), 2000.

The Queen's Bed, illustrated by Jane Cope, Franklin Watts (London, England), 2000.

Wild Baby Animals, Dorling Kindersley (New York, NY), 2000.

A Bed for the Winter, Dorling Kindersley (New York, NY), 2000.

Granny and Grandpa Go Diving ("Freaky Families" series), illustrated by Colin Paine, Puffin (London, England), 2000.

Wolves, Oxford University Press (Oxford, England), 2000.

The Poisoned Pudding Plot, illustrated by Jane Cope, Franklin Watts (London, England), 2001.

Tartan Means Trouble, illustrated by Jane Cope, Franklin Watts (London, England), 2001.

Rockets and Spaceships, Dorling Kindersley (New York, NY), 2001.

Essex Wants It All, illustrated by Jane Cope, Franklin Watts (London, England), 2001.

Drake's Special Delivery, illustrated by Jane Cope, Franklin Watts (London, England), 2001.

Diving Dolphin, Dorling Kindersley (New York, NY), 2001.

Police Cat Fuzz Rides Again!, illustrated by Trevor Dunton, Puffin (London, England), 2001.

Dilly the Dancing Duck, illustrated by Barbara Nascimbeni, Campbell (London, England), 2001.

Archie Hates Pink, Macmillan (London, England), 2001.

Patrick the Pirate Pig, Macmillan (London, England), 2001.

Yikes! It's a Yeti!, illustrated by Michael Reid, A. & C. Black (London, England), 2001, Stone Arch Books (Minneapolis, MN), 2008.

Albert's Raccoon, illustrated by Graham Percy, Kingfisher (Boston, MA), 2001.

Max the Monster Mole, illustrated by Barbara Nascimbeni, Campbell (London, England), 2001.

Sylvester the Singing Sheep, illustrated by Barbara Nascimbeni, Campbell (London, England), 2001.

My Cat's Secret, Dorling Kindersley (New York, NY), 2001.

Mothers Are Everywhere, illustrated by David Axtell, Oxford University Press (Oxford, England), 2001.

The Case of the Howling Armour, illustrated by Emma Damon, Scholastic (London, England), 2002, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2004.

Something Slimy on Primrose Drive, illustrated by Helen Flook, A. & C. Black (London, England), 2002, Stone Arch Books (Minneapolis, MN), 2007.

Marvin, the Blue Pig, illustrated by Lisa Williams, Franklin Franklin Watts (London, England), 2002, Picture Window Books (Minneapolis, MN), 2005.

The Case of the Fiendishly Dancing Footsteps, illustrated by Emma Damon, Scholastic (London, England), 2002.

The Case of the Giant Gulping Bluebells, illustrated by Emma Damon, Scholastic (London, England), 2002.

The Case of the Disappearing Necklace, illustrated by Emma Damon, Scholastic (London, England), 2002.

Ella's New Friend, Macmillan (London, England), 2002.

Cheer Up Ella, Macmillan (London, England), 2002.

Bedtime for Ella, Macmillan (London, England), 2002.

Who Is Haunting Howling Hall?, illustrated by Mike Phillips, Scholastic (London, England), 2003.

Where Are My Shoes?, illustrated by Deborah Allwright, Franklin Franklin Watts (London, England), 2003, Sea-to-Sea Publications (N. Mankato, MN), 2006.

Clever Cat, illustrated by Anni Axworthy, Franklin Franklin Watts (London, England), 2003, Picture Window Books (Minneapolis, MN), 2005.

I Am a Tyrannosaurus, illustrated by Mike Bostock, Hodder (London, England), 2003, Atheneum (New York, NY), 2004.

A Trip to the Zoo, Dorling Kindersley (New York, NY), 2003.

I Am an Ankylosaurus, illustrated by Mike Bostock, Hodder (London, England), 2003, Atheneum (New York, NY), 2004.

Aargh, It's an Alien! (graphic novel), illustrated by Michael Reid, A. & C. Black (London, England), 2003, Stone Arch Books (Minneapolis, MN), 2006.

Quirky Times at Quagmire Castle, illustrated by Helen Flook, A. & C. Black (London, England), 2003, Stone Arch Books (Minneapolis, MN), 2007.

Ooh La La, Lottie!, illustrated by Garry Parsons, Kingfisher (Boston, MA), 2004.

I Can Swim!, Dorling Kindersley (New York, NY), 2004.

I Am a Diplodocus, illustrated by Mike Bostock, Hodder (London, England), 2004.

I Am a Quetzalcoatlus, illustrated by Mike Bostock, Hodder (London, England), 2004.

The Secret of the Crocodiles ("Lady Violet Winters" series), illustrated by Mike Bostock, Simon & Schuster (London, England), 2005.

(Reteller) The Emperor's New Clothes, illustrated by François Hall, Franklin Franklin Watts (London, England), 2005, Sea-to-Sea Publications (N. Mankato, MN), 2007.

Alice Goes to Hollywood, illustrated by Bob Dewar, Picture Window Books (Minneapolis, MN), 2006.

(Reteller) The Elves and the Shoemaker, Franklin Franklin Watts (London, England), 2006.

Alice Goes North, illustrated by Bob Dewar, A. & C. Black (London, England), 2006.

Arthur the King, illustrated by Neil Chapman, Franklin Franklin Watts (London, England), 2006.

(Reteller) The Sword in the Stone, illustrated by Neil Chapman, Franklin Franklin Watts (London, England), 2006.

Princess Gusty Ox's Strange Change, illustrated by Helen Flook, A. & C. Black (London, England), 2006, Picture Window Books (Minneapolis, MN), 2008.

The Man with Tiger Eyes ("Lady Violet Winters" series), illustrated by Mike Bostock, Simon & Schuster (London, England), 2006.

Prince Marvin's Great Moment, illustrated by Helen Flook, A. & C. Black (London, England), 2006, published as Prince Marvin's Greatest Moment, Picture Window Books (Minneapolis, MN), 2007.

King Cudgel's Challenge, illustrated by Helen Flook, A. & C. Black (London, England), 2006, Picture Window Books (Minneapolis, MN), 2008.

The Mothproof Hall Mystery; and, The Purple Poodle Mystery, illustrated by Judy Brown, Happy Cat (London, England), 2007.

Diamond Takers, Simon & Schuster (London, England), 2007.

Ma Moosejaw Means Business, illustrated by Nigel Baines, A. & C. Black (London, England), 2007.

Zigzag Rat, illustrated by Andy Catling, Franklin Franklin Watts (London, England), 2007.

Karen Wallace's Spooky Beasts: Two Gripping Ghostly Stories! (includes Thunder and Lightning and Snapper Bites Back), illustrated by Judy Brown, Happy Cat (London, England), 2007.

Thunderbelle's Bad Mood, illustrated by Guy Parker-Rees, Orchard (London, England), 2007.

Thunderbelle's Spooky Night, illustrated by Guy Parker-Rees, Orchard (London, England), 2007.

Thunderbelle's New Home, illustrated by Guy Parker-Rees, Orchard (London, England), 2007.

Thunderbelle's Party, illustrated by Guy Parker-Rees, Orchard (London, England), 2007.

Whiff Eric and the Great Green Thing, illustrated by Nigel Baines, A. & C. Black (London, England), 2007.

Li Fu's Great Aim: The Inside Story of the Terracotta Archer, illustrated by Helen Flook, A. & C. Black (London, England), 2007.

Queen Carrion's Big Bear Hug, illustrated by Helen Flook, Picture Window Books (Minneapolis, MN), 2008.

NOVELS

Raspberries on the Yangtze, Simon & Schuster (London, England), Delacorte (New York, NY), 2002.

Climbing a Monkey Puzzle Tree, Simon & Schuster (London, England), 2002.

Wendy (based on the character from Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie), Simon & Schuster (London, England), 2003, Simon & Schuster (New York, NY), 2004.

The Unrivalled Spangles, Simon & Schuster (London, England), 2005, Atheneum (New York, NY), 2006.

OTHER

Also author of Quest for the Golden See-Saw, 1999. Author of television scripts, including Wizadora, for Workhouse Productions, 1996-97; Make Believe Moments, for Disney, 1997; Teddybears, for Meridian, 1997; Wild Islands, for Performance Films, 1998; Mopatop's Shop, for Carleton/Henson, 1998; Timothy Goes to School, for Nelvana, 1999-2000; The Hoobs, for Henson/BBC Channel 4, 2000; Planet Cook, 2004; Peter Pan (documentary), Divers Productions, 2005; and Police Cat Fuzz (based on the book of the same name), for Pepper's Ghost Productions.

Sidelights

Boasting published works ranging from television plays and beginning readers to middle-grade and teen novels, and from nonfiction to fiction, Karen Wallace is a prolific author who lives and works in England. Her books include the nature-oriented titles such as I Am a Diplodocus and Think of an Eel, the novels in the "Lady Violet Winters" series for older elementary-grade readers, and numerous lighthearted chapter books for beginning and younger readers, with titles ranging from Whiff Eric and the Great Green Thing to The Case of the Howling Armor.

"I write the books I would like to have read [as a child]," Wallace explained on her home page. "If I wasn't a writer, I would want to be a zoologist. It's all about looking at things and trying to understand how they work." Her nonfiction titles Think of an Eel and Think of a Beaver present factual information about these creatures in an easily accessible, illustrated format. While some young readers might seek out a book about beavers on their own, writing about the rather-less-attractive eel might seem an unusual topic for an author. "Even their greatest fans could hardly call them beautiful," Wallace readily admitted to SATA. "Nor could they be described as cuddly or even remotely friendly. In a boat off Bermuda, I once saw the head of a moray eel—and I do mean the head—chase a party of terrified fishermen from bow to stern and back again." It was Wallace's personal experiences with eels that inspired her book on that creature's life and habits. When she discovered that very little was actually known about eels, she decided to write about them.

In order to make her subject as fascinating to young readers as it was to her, Wallace decided to write Think of an Eel "to be read out loud" as in the ancient English oral tradition. "Literature was part of an oral tradition—wonderful tales were told and retold," she once explained in SATA. "They passed from one storyteller to the next, from one generation to the next. These poems and stories, written when the world was a wild and fearful place, have a resonance all of their own. This resonance was in the back of my mind when I first sat down and began to write Think of an Eel."

Reviewers were appreciative of Wallace's approach. Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books contributor Betsy Hearne wrote that the book demonstrates "an important point: information is power only when it's presented in a powerful way…. Other elements (clarity, accuracy, organization …) are all important, but without voice, nonfiction too often goes unheard." Hearne added that Wallace's text in Think of an Eel "features a distinctive blend of verbal and artistic styles that shapes the subject."

Wallace has found continued success in her nonfiction books for beginning readers. Employing the same elements that make for a successful fictional story—including repetition, limited vocabulary, compelling illustrations, and plenty of white space to encourage the timid—books such as Duckling Days, Wild Baby Animals, and I Am a Tyrannosaurus make science concepts appealing and build reader independence, according to reviewers. In Gentle Giant Octopus, Wallace seamlessly interweaves facts about the mysterious sea creature and a story about a female octopus that seeks a safe place to lay its eggs, fend off predators, and protect its newly hatched young. Wallace and frequent collaborator and illustrator Mike Bostock "create ocean magic in their presentation of tantalizing information with simple elegance and beauty," according to Susan P. Bloom in Horn Book. I Am an Ankylosaurus, in which a mother dinosaur helps her young to survive the dangers of the prehistoric word, features what Horn Book contributor Danielle J. Ford called an "unflinchingly realistic" third-person narrative "that neither sugarcoats animal survival nor anthropomorphizes animal parenting." According to Booklist critic Carolyn Phelan, "Bostock's contribution of clear, simple drawings … offer an imaginative vision" of the sometimes-dangerous and often-beautiful prehistoric world. A companion volume, I Am a Tyrannosaurus, was praised by a Kirkus Reviews writer as a "dramatic" and "compelling introduction to dinosaur life [that] will whet new fans' appetites."

Turning to fiction, Wallace entertains young readers with books that feature magical elements and gently silly plots. In Madeleine the City Pig (published in the United States as City Pig) Wallace's porky protagonist finds that her important job and many expensive possessions do not bring her the happiness she seeks. However, when Madeleine travels to the country and learns how other pigs live, she knows she has found what she was looking for. In Scarlette Beane a girl is born with a red face and green fingertips, and when her parents give her a garden of her own to plant, she grows the largest vegetables anyone has ever seen. In the story's climax, Scarlette creates a vegetable castle with her giant harvest and moves her family from its humble abode into the edible palace. Alice Goes to Hollywood features another amusing animal character, in this case a spunky anteater who decides to become a film star.

Frivolity and fun abound in Wallace's chapter books as well. In Rollerblading Royals the author reworks Mark Twain's The Prince and the Pauper and its story about trading places. Here King Clement and Queen Clementina are tired of doing their royal duty when they meet up with Kevin and Ricky, two circus folks who are ready for a vacation from their lives as well. A contributor to Books for Keeps outlined the elements in Wallace's recipe for success: "plenty of laughs, a simple but satisfying plot and an inevitable happy ending." Wallace relies on the same recipe in Star Spooks and Funky Phantoms, two mysteries that take place in an old house where the modern-day inhabitants run a hotel with the help of the ghosts of their seventeenth-century relatives. In Aargh, It's an Alien! Wallace presents a modern take on the well-known story about the boy who cried wolf, while in Something Slimy on Primrose Drive a normal-looking boy is the weird one in a family of ghoulish relatives. In Booklist Stephanie Zvirin called Something Slimy on Primrose Drive "fun, with enough yucky details" to entrance young readers and "a worthy message to seal the deal."

Tutankhamun's Arrow, a time-travel adventure, is for slightly older readers, preferably those with "a lively imagination, a receptive mind and a sense of humour," according to Ethel E. Ashworth in School Librarian. Other books for older elementary-grade readers include The Secret of the Crocodiles and The Man with Tiger Eyes, two Edwardian mysteries that follow the amateur sleuthing of Lady Violet Winters.

Wallace addresses middle-school readers and young teens in novels such as Wendy, The Unrivalled Spangles, and Climbing a Monkey Puzzle Tree. She incorporates a favorite character from J.M. Barrie's classic story Peter Pan in Wendy, which finds nine-year-old Wendy Darling and younger brother Peter coping with disinterested parents and a nanny who rules through intimidation while growing up in Edwardian London. Because Peter Pan has not yet entered Wendy's life, the girl must find real-world ways to cope when she uncovers a secret that threatens her family. Noting that Wallace's story diverges from the magic of Peter Pan, Horn Book contributor Roger Sutton called Wendy "a sometimes fierce exposition of the dark side of Edwardian decorum." "Twisted but ultimately comforting," the novel also expresses "the poignancy of Wendy's coming-of-age," in the opinion of a Kirkus Reviews writer, while in School Library Journal Connie Tyrell Burns dubbed the book "an interesting portrait of the world of the privileged classes in early-20th-century London." "Wallace is a supremely adept writer," maintained Ilene Cooper in Booklist, the critic adding that Wendy is likely to attract middle-grade readers "who can understand the … complexities" that confuse its nine-year-old heroine.

Moving slightly further back in time, The Unrivalled Spangles focuses on a circus family performing in London's East End during the late 1800s. Ellen Spangle is sixteen and sister Lucy is two years younger; together they star as the Amazing Scarletta Sisters in their father's circus, where their horseback-riding skills impress audiences. When a series of romantic entanglements threatens the sisters' loyalty to both their profession and each other, hearts are broken and tragedies erupt. While Michael Cart noted in Booklist that the novel verges on melodrama, he added that Wallace's "inside look at [Victorian] circus life … will keep readers' attention." In School Library Journal Janet Hilbun noted Wallace's "calm narrative style," and recom- mended The Unrivalled Spangles for its likeable protagonists, "fast-moving plot," salting of authentic Victorian colloquialisms, and "satisfying ending."

Based on the author's own childhood, Raspberries on the Yangtze brings to life a childhood summer in rural Canada during the 1950s as the backdrop for a coming-of-age story. Young Nancy, her brother Andrew, and their friends Amy and Clare are still children although they imagine themselves very knowledgeable about the adult world. Their eavesdropping on wealthier neighbors sheds new light on the world around them, however, and helps the four friends grow up. Wallace transforms other childhood memories in Climbing a Monkey Puzzle Tree, which focuses on a Canadian girl's sometimes difficult experiences at a British boarding school. Although the young characters in these novels may seem more naive than modern children of the same age, a Kirkus Reviews writer wrote of Raspberries on the Yangtze that Wallace's "portrayal of small-town gossip and snobbery are well done," as are her depictions of childhood friendships and sibling relations. Margaret Mackey, writing in Resource Links, contended that Raspberries on the Yangtze "conveys the joys and frustrations of childhood very evocatively," and Horn Book contributor Joanna Rudge Long deemed the novel "a thought-provoking look at family dynamics in any era, as well as a fast, funny, and enjoyable read."

Biographical and Critical Sources

PERIODICALS

Appraisal, spring, 2000, review of A Day at Seagull Beach, p. 112.

Booklist, May 15, 1993, Carolyn Phelan, review of Think of a Beaver and Think of an Eel, p. 1695; November 1, 1994, Mary Harris Veeder, review of Bears in the Forest, p. 504; December 1, 1994, Carolyn Phelan, review of Red Fox, p. 675; December 1, 1996, Susan Dove Lempke, review of Imagine You Are a Tiger, p. 663; May 1, 1997, Carolyn Phelan, review of Imagine You Are a Crocodile, p. 1497; November 15, 1998, Helen Rosenberg, review of Gentle Giant Octopus, p. 594; May 15, 1999, Hazel Rochman, review of Duckling Days, p. 1705; January 1, 2000, Todd Morning, review of Scarlette Beane, p. 938; February 15, 2000, Michael Cart, review of City Pig, p. 1123; July, 2000, Gillian Engberg, review of Wild Baby Animals, p. 2045; January 1, 2004, Ilene Cooper, review of Wendy, p. 848; April 1, 2005, Carolyn Phelan, review of I Am an Ankylosaurus, p. 1362; November 15, 2006, Stephanie Zvirin, review of Something Slimy on Primrose Drive, p. 55; December 1, 2006, Michael Cart, review of The Unrivalled Spangles, p. 39.

Books for Keeps, July, 1996, review of Imagine You Are a Tiger, p. 9; September, 1997, review of It Takes Two, p. 106; January, 1998, review of Rollerblading Royals, p. 17; May, 1998, review of Star Spooks and Funky Phantoms, p. 23; July, 1998, review of A Hiccup on the High Seas, p. 22; January, 1999, Margaret Mallett, review of Think of an Eel, p. 22; September, 2001, Andrew Kidd, review of Police Cat Fuzz Rides Again!, p. 23.

Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, May 21, 1993, Betsy Hearne, reviews of Think of a Beaver and Think of an Eel, pp. 273-274; March, 2000, review of Scarlette Beane, p. 258; March, 2004, Deborah Stevenson, review of Wendy, p. 300; December, 2006, Elizabeth Bush, review of The Unrivalled Spangles, p. 193.

Horn Book, July-August, 1993, Ellen Fader, review of Think of a Beaver, pp. 478-479; November, 1998, Susan P. Bloom, review of Gentle Giant Octopus, p. 757; September-October, 2002, Joanna Rudge Long, review of Raspberries on the Yangtze, p. 583; March-April, 2004, Roger Sutton, review of Wendy, p. 190; July-August, 2005, Danielle J. Ford, review of I Am an Ankylosaurus, p. 492.

Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy, March, 2003, Nick Hart, review of Raspberries on the Yangtze, p. 530.

Kirkus Reviews, November 15, 1999, review of Busy Buzzy Bee, p. 1817; December 15, 1999, review of Scarlette Beane, pp. 1964-1965; May 15, 2002, review of Raspberries on the Yangtze, p. 743; December 15, 2003, review of Wendy, p. 1455; November 1, 2004, review of I Am a Tyrannosaurus, p. 1046; April 1, 2005, review of I Am an Ankylosaurus, p. 428; September 15, 2006, review of The Unrivalled Spangles, p. 969.

Magpies, March, 2001, Chloe Mauger, review of Chomp! Munch! Chew!, p. 43; May, 2002, review of Marvin the Blue Pig, p. 29.

Nature, November 30, 2000, Andrew Berry, reviews of Chomp! Munch! Chew! and It Takes Two, p. 517.

Publishers Weekly, November 30, 1998, review of Gentle Giant Octopus, p. 70; July 5, 1999, review of A Day at Seagull Beach, p. 73; February 7, 2000, review of City Pig, p. 84; February 28, 2000, review of Scarlette Beane, p. 79; June 11, 2001, review of Think of an Eel, p. 87.

Resource Links, October, 2001, Margaret Mackey, review of Raspberries on the Yangtze, p. 56.

School Librarian, February, 1997, John Feltwell, review of Imagine You Are a Crocodile, p. 22; November, 1997, Andrea Rayner, review of Rollerblading Royals, p. 202; spring, 1998, Hazel Townson, review of Blue Eyes, p. 22; summer, 1998, Andrea Rayner, review of Star Spooks and Funky Phantoms, p. 90; spring, 1999, Kathy Lemaire, review of Great-Aunt Irish Goes Hunting, p. 35; summer, 1999, Ethel E. Ashworth, review of Tutankhamun's Arrow, p. 91; winter, 1999, Angela Redfern, review of A Day at Seagull Beach, p. 188; autumn, 2001, Hazel Townson, review of Yikes, It's a Yeti!, p. 161; spring, 2003, review of Something Slimy on Primrose Lane, p. 36; winter, 2003, review of Aargh, It's an Alien!, p. 185; autumn, 2006, Susan Elkin, review of The Man with Tiger Eyes, p. 146.

School Library Journal, November, 1993, Ruth K. McDonald, review of Why Count Sheep?, p. 96; December, 1993, Susan Scheps, review of Think of an Eel, p. 110; July, 1994, Eldon Younce, review of My Hen IsDancing, p. 98; July, 1997, Lauralyn Persson, review of Imagine You Are a Crocodile, p. 78; January, 1999, Adele Greenlee, review of Gentle Giant Octopus, p. 122; April, 1999, Stephanie Bianchi, review of Tale of a Tadpole, p. 128; March, 2000, Kathleen Kelly M. MacMillan, review of Scarlette Beane, p. 219; March, 2000, Carol Ann Wilson, review of City Pig, p. 219; July, 2000, John Sigwald, review of Big Machines, p. 99; January, 2001, Debbie Whitbeck, review of A Bed for Winter, p. 124; July, 2002, Gerry Larson, review of Raspberries on the Yangtze, p. 127; March, 2004, Connie Tyrell Burns, review of Wendy, p. 222; May, 2005, Patricia Manning, review of I Am an Ankylosaurus, p. 103; December, 2006, Janet Hilbun, review of The Unrivalled Spangles, p. 157.

Times Educational Supplement, September 19, 1997, Gerald Haigh, review of Louis Pasteur and Thomas Edison; November 14, 1997, Michael Thorn, review of All Aboard for the Milky Way; October 15, 1999, Jane Doonan, review of Scarlette Beane and Madeleine the City Pig, p. 23; June 15, 2001, Michael Thorn, review of Police Cat Fuzz Rides Again!, pp. 20-21.

Voice of Youth Advocates, April, 2004, Brenda Moses-Allen, review of Wendy, p. 52.

ONLINE

Karen Wallace Home Page,http://www.karenwallace.co.uk (March 30, 2008).