Eleanor Cameron facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Eleanor Cameron
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Cameron and Leonard Wibberley in 1965
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| Born | Eleanor Frances Butler March 23, 1912 Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada |
| Died | October 11, 1996 (aged 84) Monterey, California, US |
| Occupation | Writer, librarian |
| Nationality | Canada |
| Period | 1950–1996 |
| Genre | Children's literature |
Eleanor Frances (Butler) Cameron (born March 23, 1912 – died October 11, 1996) was a talented writer for children. She also worked as a critic, sharing her thoughts on books. During her life, she wrote 20 books. Some of her most famous works include The Wonderful Flight to the Mushroom Planet (1954) and its follow-up stories. She also wrote a collection of essays called The Green and Burning Tree (1969). Her book The Court of the Stone Children (1973) won a special award. It received the U.S. National Book Award for Children's Books.
Contents
About Eleanor Cameron's Life
Eleanor Cameron was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. This happened on March 23, 1912. When she was three, her family moved to South Charleston, Ohio. Later, at age six, they moved to Berkeley, California. A few years after that, her parents divorced.
Early Life and Career
At 16, Eleanor moved to Los Angeles with her mother and stepfather. She studied at UCLA. She also attended the Art Center School of Los Angeles. In 1930, she started working at the Los Angeles Public Library. She later became a research librarian. This job was for the Los Angeles Board of Education. She also worked for two different advertising companies.
In 1934, Eleanor married Ian Cameron. He was a printmaker and publisher. Their son, David, was born in 1944.
Starting Her Writing Journey
Cameron's first book was The Unheard Music (1950). It was partly based on her time as a librarian. Critics liked the book, but it did not sell many copies.
Eleanor did not plan to write for children at first. Her eight-year-old son, David, asked her to write a space story. He wanted to be the main character. This led to her writing The Wonderful Flight to the Mushroom Planet (1954). This book became very popular. It led to four more books and two short stories. These were published over the next 13 years.
Focusing on Children's Books
Because the Mushroom Planet books were so successful, Cameron decided to write mainly for children. From 1959 to 1988, she wrote 12 more children's novels. These included The Court of the Stone Children (1973). She also wrote the Julia Redfern series. This series had five books (1971–1988). They were partly based on her own life.
Writing About Books
Besides her stories, Cameron wrote two books of essays. These books shared her thoughts on children's literature. The first one, The Green and Burning Tree, came out in 1969. This book made her more well-known in the world of children's books.
Through the 1970s, 1980s, and early 1990s, Cameron traveled and gave talks. She also wrote for magazines like The Horn Book Magazine and Wilson Library Bulletin. She helped start the children's magazine Cricket in 1973. Her second book of essays, The Seed and the Vision, was published in 1993. This was her last published book.
From 1967 until she died, Cameron lived in Pebble Beach, California. She passed away in Monterey, California, on October 11, 1996. She was 84 years old.
Eleanor Cameron's Awards and Legacy
Eleanor Cameron won many awards for her writing. She won the National Book Award for Young People's Literature. In 1972, she won the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for A Room Made of Windows. Her book To the Green Mountains was a runner-up for the National Book Award in 1976. In 1985, she received the Kerlan Award for all her work.
Since 1992, an award has been named after her. It is called the Eleanor Cameron Award for Middle Grades. This award is part of the Golden Duck Awards. These awards celebrate great children's science fiction books. The Eleanor Cameron Award is given to authors of English-language novels. These books are for children in elementary school (grades 2 to 6). This award is supported by DucKon. DucKon is a yearly science fiction event in the Chicago area.
Eleanor Cameron's Published Books
The Mushroom Planet Books
- The Wonderful Flight to the Mushroom Planet (1954)
- Stowaway to the Mushroom Planet (1956)
- Mr. Bass's Planetoid (1958)
- A Mystery for Mr. Bass (1960)
- Jewels from the Moon and the Meteor That Couldn't Stay (1964)
- Time and Mr. Bass (1967)
The Julia Redfern Series
- A Room Made of Windows (1971)
- Julia and the Hand of God (1977)
- That Julia Redfern (1982)
- Julia's Magic (1984)
- The Private Worlds of Julia Redfern (1988)
Other Fiction Books
- The Unheard Music (1950)
- The Terrible Churnadryne (1959)
- The Mysterious Christmas Shell (1961)
- The Beast With the Magical Horn (1963)
- A Spell is Cast (1964)
- The Court of the Stone Children (1973)
- To the Green Mountains (1975)
- Beyond Silence (1980)
Nonfiction Books by Eleanor Cameron
- The Green and Burning Tree: On the Writing and Enjoyment of Children's Books (1969)
- The Seed and the Vision: On the Writing and Appreciation of Children's Books (1993)
