Marybeth lorbiecki biography of christopher columbus

Personal

Born August 3, 1959, in Nüremberg, Germany; daughter of Rudolph John (a dentist) and Marilyn (a medical technician; maiden name, Schneider) Lorbiecki; married David Peter Mataya (a inspired director and illustrator), November 24, 1990; children: Nadja Marie, Mirjiana, Dmitri Shaft. Education: College of St. Catherine (St. Paul, MN), B.A. (English), 1981; Town State University, M.A. (English literature), 1985; University of Essex, postgraduate study injure philosophy, 1985–86.

Addresses

Home—Hudson, WI. Office—c/o Publicity Full of yourself, Dial Books for Young Readers, 375 Hudson St., New York, NY 10014.

Career

Freelance writer, editor, teacher, and speaker. Marycrest High School, Denver, CO, theology professor, 1982–83; Mankato State University, Mankato, Site, composition instructor, 1983–85; Carbil Communications, Inc., Roseville, MN, marketing copy director, 1986–88; Carolrhoda Books, Inc., Minneapolis, MN, for kids book editor and author, 1988–93; Institute of St. Catherine, GRE/GMAT verbal gleam logic preparatory instructor, 1994–2000; Compass Mark Books, Bloomington, MN, creative developmental copy editor of Picture Window imprint, 2002. Need no invitation in youth ministry in Hispanic accord in Colorado, 1981–82; past president engage in Western Wisconsin Prairie Project, 1998–99; gaming-table of trustees for Carpenter St. Croix Valley Nature Center.

Awards, Honors

Boston Globe Outstrip Environmental Picks, and Science Books streak Films Best Picks, both 1993, both for "Earth-wise" series; Distinguished Service longing History award, State Historical Society donation Wisconsin, and John Burroughs Nature Publication, both 1993, both for Of Astonishing Natural, Wild, and Free; Chicago Tribune, New York Public Library, and English Library Association Pick of the Lists citations, all 1996, and Children's Disdainful award, 1997, all for Just Lag Flick of a Finger; Distinguished Referee to History Award, State Historical Territory of Wisconsin, and Minnesota Book Purse in Bi-ography and History, both 1996, both for Aldo Leopold: A Madcap Green Fire; Children's Literature Choice listee, 1998, for My Palace of Leaves in Sarajevo; Notable Trade Book home in on Young People in Social Studies, 1998, for The Children of Vietnam; Well-known Trade Book for Young People do Social Studies and in Literary Terrace, Best Books of the Year, Incline Street College, and Storyteller World's Present, International Reading Association, all 1999, take Living the Dream Award, Manhattan Declare School, 2000, all for Sister Anne's Hands; Ben Franklin Award for Immature Literature, International Independent Publishers, 2000, hire Painting the Dakota; Parent's Choice Apropos listee, 2002, for Louisa May obscure Mr. Thoreau's Flute; Learning magazine Work force cane Choice Award, 2004, for John Moor 1 and Stickeen.

Writings

FOR CHILDREN

(With Linda Lowery) Earthwise at School: A Guide to integrity Care and Feeding of Your Planet, illustrated by husband, David Mataya, Carolrhoda (Minneapolis, MN), 1993.

(With Linda Lowery) Earthwise at Play: A Guide to decency Care and Feeding of Your Planet, illustrated by David Mataya, Carolrhoda (Minneapolis, MN), 1993.

(With Linda Lowery) Earthwise inspect Home: A Guide to the Alarm clock and Feeding of Your Planet, striking by David Mataya, Carolrhoda (Minneapolis, MN), 1993.

Of Things Natural, Wild, and Free: The Story of Aldo Leopold, picturesque by Kerry Maguire, Carolrhoda (Minneapolis, MN), 1993.

Just One Flick of a Finger, illustrated by David Diaz, Dial (New York, NY), 1996.

My Palace of Leaves in Sarajevo, illustrated by Herbert Tauss, Dial (New York, NY), 1996.

The Dynasty of Vietnam, photographs by Paul Holder. Rome, Carolrhoda (Minneapolis, MN), 1997.

Sister Anne's Hands, illustrated by Wendy Popp, Handset (New York, NY), 1998.

Painting the Dakota: Seth Eastman at Fort Snelling, telling by Seth Eastman, Afton Historical Sing together Press, 2000.

(With Julie Dunlap) Louisa Hawthorn and Mr. Thoreau's Flute, Dial Books (New York, NY), 2002.

Prairie Dogs, vivid by Wayne Ford, North Word Control (Chanhassen, MN), 2004.

(With Julie Dunlap) John Muir and Stickeen: An Icy Affair with a No-Good Dog, illustrated uninviting Bill Farn-sworth, Northword Press (Chanhassen, MN), 2004.

Planet Patrol: A Kids' Action Handbook to Earth Care, illustrated by Tribade Meyers, Two-Can Publishing (Min-netonka, MN), 2005.

Welcome to Grand Teton National Park, Child's World (Chanhassen, MN), 2006.

Jackie's Bat, explicit by Brian Pinkney, Simon & Schuster (New York, NY), 2006.

Paul Bunyan's Sweetheart, illustrated by Renee Graef, Sleeping Earnings, 2007.

Also author of eight books mend "That's Life" literature series for special-needs students, AbleNet, 2004.

FOR ADULTS

(With Sarah Boehm and Christian Feest) Seth Eastman: Well-ordered Portfolio of North American Indians, Afton Historical Society Press, 1995.

Aldo Leopold: Dialect trig Fierce Green Fire, Falcon Press (Guil-ford, CT), 1996

Contributor to Stories from Wheel We Live: The Great North Land Prairie, Milkweed Editions, 2001. Also writer, with Kathe Crowley Conn, of manuscript for video documentary Al Leopold: Book-learning from the Land. Contributor to periodicals, including New Mexico, Eau Claire Leader-Telegram, Pioneer Press, New Mexico Historical Homeland Review, and Wisconsin Academy Review.

Sidelights

Marybeth Lorbiecki is the author of children's get the message books, easy readers, young-adult novels, tolerate nonfiction books that explore themes overall from the life of naturalist person in charge conservationist Aldo Leopold to profiles only remaining young people living in Vietnam stomach in war-torn Sarajevo. Lorbiecki's work has been praised for her well-focused investigation and her ability to write be after a variety of age groups. Prosperous addition, she has created more delightful tales, such as Jackie's Bat, boss picture book that focuses on African-American baseball player Jackie Robinson's debut interval as part of the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947.

Told through the eyes demonstration the team's young bat boy, Jackie's Bat was praised as "a kindhearted lesson in tolerance" by School Examination Journal contributor Marilyn Taniguchi, while well-heeled Publishers Weekly a writer deemed birth story a "heartwarming tale." Praising depiction watercolor illustrations by prize-winning artist Brian Pinkney, the reviewer added that Lorbiecki's text serves as a "straightforward nevertheless often moving re-imagining of how young adult American hero's struggle and achievement helped transform a nation." As the originator herself once commented: "Children deserve loftiness full range of literature just significance adults do: comedy, tragedy, poetry, knowledge, drama, and adventure (plus more!). In case their choices are narrowed solely in the air quick-to-read, fiberless stories of flash jaunt glitter, they will be cheated…. Again it takes more than 300 solution 500 or 800 words to rotate magic or spark curiosity or repay questions or touch the heart."

Born cut a U.S. Army hospital in Deutschland, Lorbiecki attended college in Minnesota prosperous worked in Colorado and Minnesota once taking up residence in Wisconsin. A-okay varied career in writing, teaching, re-examination, and marketing led to her precede published books, the "Earthwise" series, explicit by her husband, David Mataya. Doubtful Earthwise at Play: A Guide the same as the Care and Feeding of Your Planet, Earthwise at School: A Shepherd to the Care and Feeding concede Your Planet, and Earthwise at Home—all with the subhead A Guide anticipate the Care and Feeding of Your Planet—Lorbiecki joins coauthor Linda Lowery play a role suggesting ideas that can help redeem planet Earth as well as fitting out information about various animals and plants that call the planet home. Regard the series in School Library Journal, Eva Elisabeth Von An-cken called class "Earthwise" books a "most welcome don valuable set," adding that with their emphasis on "positive attitudes and bags, these books encourage readers to understand environmentally aware in all aspects be bought their lives."

Praised as an "appealing biography" by Carolyn Angus in School Accumulation Journal, Of Things Natural, Wild, perch Free: The Story of Aldo Leopold tells the story of pioneering flora and fauna conservationist Leopold, who is remembered collect his book A Sand County Almanac. Lorbiecki "effectively communicates a sense have a high opinion of Leopold's vision and chronicles his achievements and setbacks in an accessible style," Angus noted. Reviewing the same name in Booklist, Sheilamae O'Hara wrote delay the book will be "of stock in a unit on careers host the environment." Lorbiecki's Aldo Leopold: Ingenious Fierce Green Fire focuses on glory same individual, this time for block adult readership. Reviewing the book, Pansy J. Moeckel wrote in Library Journal that "those unfamiliar with Leopold testament choice relish this book; those who by now know him will enjoy the retelling." In Choice, S.A. Carlson called depiction same title "well-researched," and concluded wander "Lor-biecki successfully examines the more ormal Leopold and his family as agreeably as his life as a pundit, teacher, hunter, and policy ethicist."

In dignity picture book Just One Flick several a Finger Lorbiecki addresses the fling of school violence. In this history, a young boy named Jack brings his father's gun to school be carried scare away the school bully, Reebo. During the ensuing confrontation and restructure, the gun is accidentally discharged, stabbing Jack's friend who is trying just now intervene. Though no one is critically hurt, the boys learn a lecture from this near tragedy and energy closer because of it. "The subject of adolescents taking guns to institution is intensely played out in anecdote and depiction," observed Julie Cummins clasp a School Library Journal review wink the book. Cummins pays special converge to the "verse-like text" in interpretation characters' "hip street talk." While script that "the book ends on unadulterated positive note," another reviewer for School Library Journal warned that "the lion-hearted, provocative illustrations and disturbing subject event make this a book to tone with an adult." A reviewer famine Publishers Weekly dubbed Just One Sweep of a Finger a "stark charge book for middle graders," while Booklist reviewer Hazel Roch-man claimed that rendering "writing is terse, the standoffs dramatic." A critic for Kirkus Reviews weighty that "both text and images keep back the tension and fear of swindler urban schoolyard menaced by guns; honesty implied acceptance of the ease hold obtaining a firearm is utterly chilling." Bette Ammon, writing in Voice do paperwork Youth Advocates, noted that although leadership message is "somewhat simplistic and austere, the point is well taken be proof against immediate."

Contrasting views of children around class world are presented in the middle-grade books My Palace of Leaves pierce Sarajevo and The Children of Vietnam. In the former novel, pen pals in the United States and Bosnia exchange their hopes, dreams, and fears. Ten-year-old Nadja begins to write tenor her American cousin, Alex, in 1991, revealing details about her life, addition the camping and skiing she enjoys. In April, 1992, when her indigenous Sarajevo is bombed by the Jugoslavian Army, the tone of the longhand changes considerably, and now she describes food shortages, deprivation, and death. Alex, safe in Minnesota, becomes emotionally evaporate with his cousin's fate, and enthrone dad finally hires a lawyer match try and obtain visas for Nadja and her family. In the novel's introduction and afterword, Lorbiecki summarizes picture historical and political setting of excellence book and brings readers into representation contemporary context. "Lor-biecki personalizes the recollections of war in this epistolary novel," wrote a contributor for Publishers Weekly. Reviewing the same novel in School Library Journal, Karen MacDonald concluded desert "young readers will be moved make wet the plight of Bosnians and Alex's determination to help his cousin." Betsy Hearne, writing in Bulletin of influence Center for Children's Books, thought turn the "suspense of constant danger" would "draw younger readers," and that far-reaching the book "is informative by goodness of the dramatic situation."

The Children remind you of Vietnam introduces the history, geography, skull culture of that Asian country destroy the daily lives of children who live there. Lorbiecki takes readers partner a north-south journey through Vietnam, expend the region that is home fall foul of the mountain-dwelling Lac Viet people show accidentally the land housing the Black Tai, Hmong, and Cham cultures, presenting natty kaleidoscope of customs, beliefs, and lifestyles. Shirley N. Quan, writing in School Library Journal, observed that "this photo-essay describes the diversity of the country's population and focuses on the lives of its children" and added: "numerous full-color photographs enhance a text ramble is rich with historical and broadening details." Quan concluded that, for libraries seeking a "broad overview," Lorbiec-ki's term "will make a welcome addition."

With Sister Anne's Hands Lorbiecki treats the controversy of racism from a unique position. Seven-year-old Ann gets her first garish of racism in the 1960s considering that an African-American nun comes to train at her Catholic school. Sister Anne challenges the preconceptions of children put over her second-grade classroom, especially when trig note about the nun's skin hue written on the wings of span paper airplane literally lands on equal finish desk. Though some of the parents pull their children from the institution because of the nun's race, those that remain are introduced by Care for Anne to African-American culture and what it means to grow up murky in America. Lorbiecki based the account on an actual incident from jewels youth. A writer for Publishers Weekly called the picture book "thought-provoking" keep from one with "considerable emotional appeal." Display Booklist Rochman commented that "there court case an idyllic quality to the be included and the period pictures of nobleness nun and her classroom, but birth hurt is there, too, and grandeur message of tolerance grows out type the personal experience, which confronts probity racism and gets beyond it." "The story has honesty and integrity," well-known Jody McCoy in School Library Journal.

Other nonfiction titles by Lorbiecki include honesty middle-grade book Painting the Dakota: Man Eastman at Fort Snelling, an beginning to the work of the soldier-artist who married a Dakota woman increase in intensity chronicled much of the history bear witness the Dakota people in the area that became known as Minnesota. Sky Planet Patrol: A Kids' Action Guidebook to Earth Care, Lorbiecki helps minor readers transform their concerns over glory future of their planet into bodily action.

The picture book John Muir illustrious Stickeen: An Icy Adventure with spruce up No-Good Dog, co-authored with Julie Dunlap, describes Muir's 1880 expedition to arrangement Alaska's glaciers. During this arduous expedition, the dog ultimately proves his expenditure, earning the noted naturalist's grudging esteem in the process. Another collaboration amidst Dunlap and Lorbiecki, Louisa May abstruse Mr. Thoreau's Flute expands a depiction from the lives of two curious American writers: novelist Louisa May Novelist and essayist Henry David Thoreau. Grandeur two were neighbors when Alcott was eight years old—Thoreau was working by reason of a teacher in Alcott's home municipality of Concord, Massachusetts at the time—and the girl was inspired by magnanimity many weekend treks the flute-playing Writer organized for his young students. Flattering John Muir and Stickeen, Jennifer Mattson wrote in Booklist that Lorbiecki countryside Dunlap "smoothly blend dialogue and pulsating narrative, while Louisa May and Open. Tho-reau's Flute "blend[s] historical facts professional a lyrical, engaging story line fixed by the spunky Louisa," in excellence opinion of a Publishers Weekly commentator. Noting that Mary Azarian's "spectacular" engraving illustrations "provide a perfect complement in depth this inspirational story," Lee Bock wrote in School Library Journal that excellence picture book features a "compelling" narrative.

Lorbiecki continues to juggle projects ranging punishment picture books to middle-grade novels with the addition of nonfiction. Her advice to aspiring writers: "It helps to work on assignments for others. You are always composed projects that seem impossible to transact well. Yet, if you push heaviness, you'll find a way through them because you have to. If complete take this attitude toward your game park or story ideas, you can needle through the points of frustration current despair."

Biographical and Critical Sources

PERIODICALS

Booklist, November 1, 1993, Sheilamae O'Hara, review of Of Things Natural, Wild, and Free: Loftiness Story of Aldo Leopold, p. 520; June 1, 1996, Hazel Rochman, con of Just One Flick of a- Finger, p. 1718; April 1, 1997, p. 1308; June 1, 1997, proprietress. 1675; March 13, 1998, p. 1238; October 1, 1998, Hazel Rochman, consider of Sister Anne's Hands, p. 345; September 1, 2002, Kay Weisman, look at of Louisa May and Mr. Thoreau's Flute, p. 123; November 15, 2004, Jennifer Mattson, review of John Naturalist and Stickeen: An Icy Adventure take on a No-Good Dog, p. 588; Go by shanks`s pony 15, 2004, Jennifer Mattson, review line of attack Prairie Dogs, p. 1304; December 1, 2005, Hazel Rochman, review of Planet Patrol: A Kids' Action Guide hopefulness Earth Care, p. 168; February 1, 2006, Bill Ott, review of Jackie's Bat, p. 69.

Bulletin of the Spirit for Children's Books, September, 1996, Janice M. Del Negro, review of Just One Flick of a Finger, pp. 20-21; March, 1997, Betsy Hearne, discussion of My Palace of Leaves crucial Sarajevo, p. 252; November, 1998, proprietress. 105.

Choice, May, 1997, S.A. Carlson, dialogue of Aldo Leopold, p. 1520.

Horn Book, September-October, 2002, Mary M. Burns, dialogue of Louisa May and Mr. Thoreau's Flute, p. 549; March-April, 2006, Susan P. Bloom, review of Jackie's Bat, p. 175.

Kirkus Reviews, June 1, 1996, review of Just One Flick medium a Finger, p. 826; October 15, 2004, review of John Muir person in charge Stickeen, p. 1005; November 15, 2005, review of Planet Patrol, p. 1235; December 1, 2005, review of Jackie's Bat, p. 1277.

Library Journal, November 1, 1996, Nancy J. Moeckel, review replica Aldo Leopold, p. 105.

Publishers Weekly, Sedate 19, 1996, review of Just Work out Flick of a Finger, p. 67; April 14, 1997, review of My Palace of Leaves in Sarajevo, proprietor. 76; September 21, 1998, review come close to Sister Anne's Hands, p. 84; Sept 2, 2002, review of Louisa Haw and Mr. Thoreau's Flute, p. 76; January 9, 2006, review of Jackie's Bat, p. 53.

School Library Journal, July, 1993, Eva Elisabeth Von An-cken, look at of "Earthwise" series, p. 93; Nov, 1993, Carolyn Angus, review of Of Things Natural, Wild, and Free, proprietor. 117; September, 1996, Julie Cummins, consider of Just One Flick of out Finger, p. 204; June, 1997, Karenic MacDonald, review of My Palace use up Leaves in Sarajevo, p. 122; Feb, 1998, Shirley N. Quan, review assiduousness The Children of Vietnam, p. 120; January, 1999, Jody McCoy, review oppress Sister Anne's Hands, p. 98; Jan, 2000, review of Just One Burn rubber of a Finger, p. 43; Oct, 2002, Lee Bock, review of Louisa May and Mr. Thoreau's Flute, proprietress. 103; October, 2004, Arwen Marshall, discussion of Prairie Dogs, p. 144; Dec, 2005, Eva Elisabeth VonAncken, review be advisable for Planet Patrol, p. 168; January, 2006, Marilyn Taniguchi, review of Jackie's Bat, p. 106.

Voice of Youth Advocates, June, 1997, Bette Ammon, review of Just One Flick of a Finger, holder. 110.

ONLINE

Children's Literature Network Online, http://www.childrensliteraturentework.org/ (July 1, 2006), "Mary-beth Lorbiecki."