Bill Wallace (author) facts for kids

William Wallace (born August 1, 1947 – died January 30, 2012) was an American teacher who later became a popular author of children's books. He started writing stories to help his fourth-grade students calm down. His students loved his tales so much that they encouraged him to turn them into "real" books!

About Bill Wallace's Life

William "Bill" Wallace grew up in Chickasha, Oklahoma. He studied writing at the University of Oklahoma. Later, he earned degrees in Elementary Education in 1971 and Elementary Administration in 1974.

Teaching and Becoming a Principal

Bill Wallace began his teaching career in 1971. In 1977, he became the principal and P.E. teacher at West Elementary in Chickasha. This school is now proudly named The Bill Wallace Early Education Center, honoring his work there.

Becoming a Full-Time Author

In 1988, Bill Wallace decided to leave the school system to focus on writing full-time. He wrote an amazing 31 books! Seven of these books were co-written with his wife, Carol.

Bill Wallace's Books for Kids

Bill Wallace wrote many exciting and funny books that kids loved. Here are some of his popular titles:

• A Dog Called Kitty (1980)
• Trapped in Death Cave (1984)
• Shadow on the Snow (1985) (also known as Danger on Panther Peak)
• Ferret in the Bedroom, Lizards in the Fridge (1986)
• Red Dog (1987)
• Beauty (1988)
• Danger in Quicksand Swamp (1989)
• Snot Stew (1989)
• The Christmas Spurs (1990)
• Totally Disgusting (1991)
• The Biggest Klutz in the Fifth Grade (1992)
• Buffalo Gal (1992)
• Never Say Quit (1993)
• Blackwater Swamp (1994)
• True Friends (1994)
• Watchdog and the Coyotes (1995)
• Journey into Terror (1996)
• The Final Freedom (1997)
• Aloha Summer (1997)
• The Backward Bird Dog (1997)
• Upchuck and the Rotten Willy (1998)
• Upchuck and the Rotten Willy: The Great Escape (1998)
• The Flying Flea, Callie, and Me (1999)
• Eye of the Great Bear (1999)
• That Furball Puppy and Me (1999)
• Upchuck and the Rotten Willy: Running Wild (2000)
• Coyote Autumn (2000)
• Chomps, Flea, and Gray Cat (That's Me!) (2001)
• Goosed! (2002)
• Bub Moose (2002)
• Bub, Snow, and the Burly Bear Scare (2002)
• Skinny-Dipping at Monster Lake (2003)
• The Meanest Hound Around (2003)
• No Dogs Allowed! (2004)
• The Pick of the Litter (2005)
• The Legend of Thunderfoot (2006)
• The Dog Who Thought He Was Santa (2009)

Awards and Recognition

Bill Wallace won many awards for his books, showing how much readers and critics loved his stories. Here are some of the awards he received:

• 1983 Oklahoma Sequoyah Children's Book Award (for A Dog Called Kitty)
• 1983 Texas Bluebonnet Award (for A Dog Called Kitty)
• 1985 Nebraska Golden Sower Award (for A Dog Called Kitty)
• 1989 Utah Children's Book Award (for Trapped in Death Cave)
• 1989 Nebraska Golden Sower Award (for Ferret in the Bedroom, Lizards in the Fridge)
• 1989 South Carolina Children's Book Award (for Ferret in the Bedroom, Lizards in the Fridge)
• 1990 Florida Sunshine State Children's Book Award grade 6-8 (for Trapped in Death Cave)
• 1991 Texas Bluebonnet Award (for Danger on Panther Peak)
• 1991 Oklahoma Sequoyah Children's Book Award (for Beauty)
• 1991 Kansas William Allen White Award (for Beauty)
• 1991 Wyoming Soaring Eagle Award (for Trapped in Death Cave)
• 1992 Texas Bluebonnet Award (for Snot Stew)
• 1992 Pacific Northwest Territory Award (for Danger in Quicksand Swamp)
• 1992 South Carolina Children's Book Award (for Snot Stew)
• 1994 Maryland Children's Book Award Intermediate Level (for Danger in Quicksand Swamp)
• 1995 Connecticut Nutmeg Children's Choice Award (for Biggest Klutz in Fifth Grade)
• 1995 Arizona Children's Choice Book Award (for Totally Disgusting)
• 1996 Florida Sunshine State Children's Award (for Blackwater Swamp)
• 1997 Utah Children's Book Award (for Watchdog and the Coyotes)
• 1997 Wyoming Indian Paintbrush Book Award (for Watchdog and the Coyotes)
• 2000 Arrell M. Gibson Lifetime Achievement Award - Oklahoma Center for the Book
• 2004 Maryland Children's Book Award Intermediate Level (for Goosed!)
• 2006 Wyoming Indian Paintbrush Book Award (for No Dogs Allowed!)

When Bill Wallace Passed Away

Bill Wallace passed away on January 30, 2012. He is buried in Rose Hill Cemetery in Chickasha, Oklahoma.