FRIEDA WISHINSKY

         

Frieda Wishinsky loves humour, history and exploring new ways to tell a story.  In her presentations, she uses drama, group participation, chants and storytelling to engage her audience. 

Frieda was raised and educated in New York City, where she earned a B.A. in International Rights with honours in History and a Master of Science in Special education.  She taught children and adults with learning disabilities in New York, Israel and Canada.  She also established a number of school libraries.

Frieda began writing in the 1980s.  She wrote book reviews, profiles and articles for magazines and newspapers.  In 1990, her first picture book, Oonga Boonga was published by Little Brown and was voted "Pick of the List" by American Booksellers.  Frieda has published over thirty trade and educational books.  Her books have been translated into French, Danish, Swedish, Dutch, Spanish and Catalan.

Frieda's books have earned critical praise, starred reviews and have been reviewed in magazines and newspapers around the world including The London Times, The Observer and The New York Times.  Many of her titles have been praised by the CBC's prestigious book panel.  Her book, Each One Special, was nominated for a 1999 Governor General Award for text and won the 1999 Print Braille Book of the Year Award.

Forthcoming Books:

You're Mean, Lily Jean
illustrated by Kady Macdonald Denton
(Scholastic Canada, 2009)

The Canadian Flyer Adventures Series

• Vol. 11
  Maple Tree Press
• Vol. 10
  Maple Tree Press
• Vol. 9
  Maple Tree Press
• Vol. 8: A Whale Tale
  Maple Tree Press

Give Maggie a Rose
Fitzhenry and Whiteside

A Frog in Your Throat
Orca Books

Books:

Everything but the Kitchen Sink!
With Elizabeth MacLeod,
Scholastic US, 2008

The Canadian Flyer Adventures Series

Microsite by Maple Tree Press:
Canadian Flyer Adventures

• Vol. 7: Hurry, Freedom
  Maple Tree Press, 2008
• Vol. 6: Pioneer Kids
  Maple Tree Press, 2007
• Vol. 5: Flying High
  Maple Tree Press, 2007
• Vol. 4: Yikes! Vikings!
  Maple Tree Press, 2007
• Vol. 3: Crazy for Gold
  Maple Tree Press, 2007
• Vol. 2: Danger, Dinosaurs
  Maple Tree Press, 2006
  • 2008, Selection, Great Books of the Year
    Canadian Toy Testing Council
• Vol. 1: Beware, Pirates
  Maple Tree Press, 2006

Queen of the Toilet Bowl
Orca Books, 2005

• Video Review: Booktalker 920.04 on YouTube

Please Louise
House of Anansi Press, 2007

• Kids' Book of the Year, 2007, Picture Book
  Quill & Quire
• Selected, First & Best Booklist 2007
  Toronto Public Library
• Nominee, Blue Spruce, 2008
  Ontario Library Association

It's Your Room:
A Decorating Guide for Real Kids
with Janice Weaver, illustrated by Claudia Davila
Tundra (Can), 2006

• Honour Book, 2007 Red Maple Award, Non-fiction

Dimples Delight
Orca Books, 2006

Albert Einstein
DK Biography, 2005

• Starred selection, 2006 Our Choice,
  Canadian Children's Book Centre

A Bee In Your Ear
Orca Echoes, Fall 2004

A Noodle Up Your Nose
Orca Books, 2004

• Nominated, 2005 Shining Willow Award,
  Saskatchewan Young Readers' Choice
• 2005 Great Book Award, Canadian Toy Council

Just Call Me Joe
Orca Books, Fall 2003

• Nominated, 2005/2006 Red Cedar Award - Fiction
  Young Readers' Choice Awards (YRCA) Society of BC
• Shortlisted for the 2004 Book of the Year Award,
  Canadian Library Association

Jennifer Jones Won't Leave Me Alone
Random House UK and Carolrhoda US, 2003,
(Harper Collins (Can) 1995. Over 25,000 copies sold in 12 months)

• 2005 Portsmouth Book Award (UK)
  
• 2004 Stockport Schools' Book Award (UK)
  
• 2004 Sheffield Children's Book Award, Picture Books Category (UK)
  

The Great Scientist Biography Series
Manya's Dream:
A Story of Marie Curie
Maple Tree Press, 2003

• Children’s Literature Roundtables of Canada
  Information Book Award, 2004, Preliminary Shortlist

What's the Matter with Albert?
A Story of Albert Einstein
Maple Tree Books, 2002

Give Maggie a Chance
Fitzhenry and Whiteside, Canada, 2002

• Nominated for the Tiny Torgi Print Braille Literary Award, 2003 Canadian National Institute for the Blind
• Shortlisted for the Blue Spruce Award, 2003 Ontario Library Association
• Shortlisted for the Chocolate Lily Award, 2003 British Columbia

Just Mabel
Kingfisher UK 2001, Kingfisher US, (I am Reading), 2004

A Quest in Time
Owl Books (Can) 2000

Nothing Scares Us
Bloomsbury (UK) 2000

• Book of the Week London Sunday Times (UK)
• IRA/CBC Children's Choice 2001
• Best of Children's Fiction, Yorkshire Libraries (UK)

So Long, Stinky Queen
Fitzhenry & Whiteside (Can) 2000

Review: "written for grades three and up (this) is a short chapter book about Samantha's struggles with a mean classmate. Wishinsky obviously has inside knowledge about school relationships..." -
     - The StarPhoenix, Saskatoon August 2000

No Frogs for Dinner 
Fitzhenry & Whiteside (Can) 1999

• On 100 Best Books List, Toronto Public Library

The Man Who Made Parks
Tundra Books (Can) 1999

• Voted an "Outstanding" book by the Parents Council of the U.S. , 1999

Each One Special
Orca Books, 1998

• Shortlisted for the Washington Children's Choice Award 2000
  "...this excellent book can serve as an effective springboard
  for discussion about how a child might go ahead exploring
  her or his unique talents and abilities."
• Shortlisted for the Governor-General's Award 1999
• Winner of the tiny TORGI (PrintBraille Book of the Year) Award 1999

Oonga Boonga
Transworld (UK) 1998, Dutton (US) 1999,
Forlaget Sesam (Den) 1999, Juventud (Spain) 1999,
Scholastic (Can) 1998, Little Brown (US), 1990 (rights reverted 1995)

• Pick of the List, American Bookseller, 1990

Crazy for Chocolate
Scholastic (US & Can) 1997

Why Can't You Fold Your Pants Like David Levine?
Harper Collins (Can), 1993