Dennis Lee (author) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dennis Lee
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Lee at the Eden Mills Writers' Festival in 2018
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| Born | Dennis Beynon Lee August 31, 1939 Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Education | Master of Arts, English |
| Alma mater | University of Toronto |
| Genre | Poetry, essays |
| Notable works | Civil Elegies, The Gods, The Ice Cream Store, Alligator Pie |
| Notable awards | Governor General's Award, Order of Canada |
| Spouse | Susan Perly |
Dennis Beynon Lee OC (born August 31, 1939) is a famous Canadian poet, teacher, and editor. He was born in Toronto, Ontario. He is especially well known as a children's writer. His book of children's rhymes, Alligator Pie, is loved by many. He also helped write songs for the TV show Fraggle Rock.
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About Dennis Lee's Life
Dennis Lee went to high school at the University of Toronto Schools. Later, he studied English at the University of Toronto. He earned both a bachelor's and a master's degree there.
From 1963 to 1967, he taught English at Victoria College. In 1967, Dennis Lee helped start a publishing company called House of Anansi Press. He worked as its editorial director until 1972. He also worked as an editor for Macmillan of Canada from 1974 to 1979.
Dennis Lee was a writer in residence at Trent University in 1975. He also held this role at the University of Toronto from 1978 to 1979. He is married to Susan Perly, who is also a writer. She used to be a journalist for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
Dennis Lee's Writing Journey
Dennis Lee's first book of poetry was Kingdom of Absence, published in 1967. It was a collection of 43 sonnet poems. The next year, he wrote a long poem called "Civil Elegies". A revised version of this work, Civil Elegies and Other Poems, won him the prestigious Governor General's Award in 1972.
Writing for Children
Dennis Lee started writing for children because he wanted to make language fun. He also wanted to help children use their imaginations more. His poems are about things kids do every day. He turns these everyday activities into exciting imaginary games and fantasy worlds. His most famous children's book is the rhyming book Alligator Pie (1974).
Songs and Movies
Dennis Lee wrote the words for the theme song of the 1980s TV show Fraggle Rock. He also wrote many other songs for the show with composer Philip Balsam. Some of these songs were released on albums. One album, Jim Henson's Muppets present Fraggle Rock, was even nominated for a Grammy Award. It won jointly with another famous children's book, Where the Sidewalk Ends.
Balsam and Lee also wrote songs for a TV special called The Tale of the Bunny Picnic. Dennis Lee also helped write the story for the movie Labyrinth, released in 1986.
Other Works
Dennis Lee also co-edited a book called The University Game (1968). He also wrote an essay called Savage Fields: An Essay in Literature and Cosmology (1977). This essay explored how nature and civilization connect.
A famous line from Lee's poem "Civil Elegies" was adapted by writer Alasdair Gray. The line, "Work as if you live in the early days of a better nation," became a well-known slogan. It is even carved on a wall at the Scottish Parliament.
Awards and Recognition
Dennis Lee has received many awards for his writing.
- In 1972, he won the Governor General's Award for Civil Elegies and Other Poems.
- He won the CACL Bronze Medal for children's books twice. He won in 1974 for Alligator Pie and in 1977 for Garbage Delight.
- In 1986, he received the Vicky Metcalf Award. This award is given for a writer's entire body of work for children.
- He won the Mr. Christie's Book Award in 1991 for his book The Ice Cream Store.
In 1993, Dennis Lee was made an Officer of the Order of Canada. This is one of Canada's highest honors. In 1995, he received an honorary doctorate from Trent University. He also won a Toronto Arts Award for Lifetime Achievement that year.
From 2001 to 2004, Dennis Lee was Toronto's first Poet Laureate. This means he was the official poet for the city of Toronto. In 2009, he received another honorary doctorate from Victoria College at the University of Toronto.
Recordings of His Work
- Dennis Lee [selections]. [Sound recording]. Toronto: High Barnet, 1970.
- Alligator Pie and Other Poems. [sound recording]. New York: Caedmon, 1978.
