Ann M. Martin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ann M. Martin
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Ann M. Martin at the 2019 National Book Awards
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| Born | Ann Matthews Martin August 12, 1955 Princeton, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Occupation | Writer |
| Language | English |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Smith College |
| Genre | Children's books and young adult fiction |
| Subject | English |
| Notable works | The Baby-Sitters Club series (1986–2000) |
| Notable awards | Newbery Honor (a Newbery Medal runner-up) Josette Frank Award (winner) |
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Ann Matthews Martin (born August 12, 1955) is an American writer who creates books for children. She is most famous for her popular book series, The Baby-Sitters Club.
Contents
Ann M. Martin's Early Life
Ann Matthews Martin grew up in Princeton, New Jersey. Her mom, Eden Martin, was a preschool teacher. Her dad, Henry Martin, drew cartoons for The New Yorker magazine. Ann's family history goes way back to the pilgrims who sailed on the Mayflower in 1620. She also has a younger sister named Jane.
Discovering a Love for Writing
Ann became interested in writing when she was very young. Before she could even write herself, she would tell stories to her mom, who would write them down. Some of her favorite authors as a child were Lewis Carroll and Roald Dahl.
She loved creative writing in elementary school. In second grade, she found her true passion for writing. Her fourth-grade teacher even wrote on her folder that Ann would be a wonderful writer. This was because Ann spent so much free time writing in her notebooks. In middle school and high school, her favorite subjects were English and French.
Helping Children and College Years
As a teenager, Ann loved working with kids. She decided she wanted to become a teacher. During the summer, she worked at the Eden Institute, a school for children with autism. She wanted to help kids with special needs.
After finishing Princeton High School in 1973, Ann went to Smith College. She studied how children learn and grow. Her final project in college was about using children's books in the classroom. She felt that Smith College, with its strong, independent women, helped her become a feminist. This inspired her to write about strong female characters in her books.
Ann M. Martin's Writing Career
After college, Ann taught fourth and fifth graders at Plumfield School in Noroton, Connecticut. Her students were 8 to 13 years old and had learning challenges like dyslexia. Ann has said that working with these children influenced her writing.
From Teacher to Editor to Full-Time Writer
After teaching for a year, Ann decided to work in publishing. She started as an assistant and worked her way up to a senior editor. She worked for well-known children's book companies like Pocket Books and Scholastic. Now, she is a full-time writer.
In 1983, Ann published her first book, Bummer Summer. It won the Children's Choice Award in 1985. She started writing The Baby-Sitters Club series in 1985 while working at Scholastic. Ann wrote the first 35 books in the series. After that, other writers continued the series. In 2010, she wrote a book called The Summer Before, which tells what happened before The Baby-Sitters Club series began.
Award-Winning Books and Inspiration
Ann now focuses on writing single novels. Many of these books are set in the 1960s. One of her novels, A Corner of the Universe, received a Newbery Honor in 2003. This is a special award for excellent children's books. In 2015, she won the Josette Frank Award for her book Rain Reign. This book was also listed as an "Outstanding Merit" book by the Children's Book Committee.
Ann gets ideas for her books from many places. Some ideas come from her own experiences or childhood memories. Many of her stories are about problems and feelings that kids face today. All her characters, including those in The Baby-Sitters Club, are made up. However, many are inspired by real people she knows.
Helping Others Through Books
In 1990, Ann and her friends started "The Lisa Libraries." This group gives new books to children and creates libraries in places that don't have many books. They did this to remember their friend Lisa Novak. In the same year, Ann also started the Ann M. Martin Foundation. This foundation helps art, education, and reading programs. It also supports programs for animals that have been hurt or are lost.
In 2020, Ann helped produce the Netflix TV show based on The Baby-Sitters Club.
Ann M. Martin's Personal Life
Ann M. Martin likes to keep her life private. She lived in New York City for many years. Now, she lives in the Hudson Valley in upstate New York. She enjoys being in nature and taking care of foster kittens. Ann shares updates and photos of her life on her Facebook page. She also stays busy with author events and new versions of her books, like the Baby-Sitters Club graphic novels. She has also written books with Laura Godwin, including The Doll People series.
Ann M. Martin's Books
Standalone Novels
- Bummer Summer (1983)
- Inside Out (1984)
- Missing Since Monday (1986)
- With and Without You (1986)
- Just a Summer Romance (1987)
- Slam Book (1987)
- Yours Turly, Shirley (1988)
- Ma and Pa Dracula (1989)
- Belle Teal (2001)
- A Corner of the Universe (2002)
- On Christmas Eve (2006)
- Rain Reign (2014)
Novels and Sequels
- Stage Fright (1984)
- Me and Katie (The Pest) (1985)
- Ten Kids, No Pets (1988)
- Eleven Kids, One Summer (1991)
- P.S. Longer Letter Later (1998), with Paula Danziger
- Snail Mail No More (1999), with Paula Danziger
- A Dog's Life: The Autobiography of a Stray (2005)
- Everything for a Dog (2009)
- Ten Rules for Living with My Sister (2011)
- Ten Good and Bad Things About My Life (So Far) (2012)
Picture Books
- Rachel Parker, Kindergarten Showoff (1992)
- Leo The Magnificat (1996)
Short Stories
- 8 x 2 = Sweet Sixteen (2000)
- The Lost Art of Letter Writing (2011)
Other Works
- Because of Shoe and Other Dog Stories (edited) (2012)
Book Series
- The Baby-Sitters Club (1986–1990 and 2010)
- The Baby-Sitters Little Sister (1988 to 2000)
- The Kids in Ms. Colman's Class (1995 to 1998)
- California Diaries (1997 to 2000)
- Main Street (2007 to 2011)
- Welcome to Camden Falls (2007)
- Needle and Thread (2007)
- 'Tis the Season (2007)
- Best Friends (2008)
- The Secret Book Club (2008)
- September Surprises (2008)
- Keeping Secrets (2009)
- Special Delivery (2009)
- Coming Apart (2010)
- Staying Together (2011)
- The Doll People (2000 to 2008) – with Laura Godwin
- The Doll People (2000)
- The Meanest Doll in the World (2003)
- The Runaway Dolls (2008)
- The Doll People Set Sail (2014)
- Family Tree (2013-2014)
- Better to Wish (2013)
- The Long Way Home (2013)
- Best Kept Secret (2014)
- Home Is the Place (2014)
- Missy Piggle-Wiggle (2016 to 2018) – with Annie Parnell
- Missy Piggle-Wiggle and the Whatever Cure (2016)
- Missy Piggle-Wiggle and the Won't-Walk-the-Dog Cure (2017)
- Missy Piggle-Wiggle and the Sticky-Fingers Cure (2018)
See also
In Spanish: Ann M. Martin para niños
