François Gravel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
François Gravel
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| Born | October 25, 1951 Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Occupation | novelist, young adult writer |
| Language | French |
| Notable works | Ostende, Fillion et frères, Adieu, Betty Crocker |
François Gravel (born October 4, 1951) is a famous Canadian writer from Quebec. He is best known for writing exciting books for kids and teenagers, but he has also written many popular novels for adults.
Gravel comes from a very creative family. His partner is the writer Michèle Marineau, and his daughter is the well-known author and illustrator Élise Gravel. Before becoming a full-time writer, he studied economics at the Université du Québec à Montréal and taught the subject at a college until 2006.
Recently, Gravel was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, an illness that affects movement. He used this experience to write a book called À vos ordres, colonel Parkinson!. This book shares his story in a thoughtful and sometimes funny way. It has been translated into English as Colonel Parkinson in Charge: A Wry Reflection on My Incurable Illness.
Contents
Award-Winning Author
François Gravel has won many awards for his amazing books. One of Canada's highest honors for writers is the Governor General's Award.
He won this big award in 1991 for his children's book Deux heures et demie avant Jasmine. He was also a finalist for this award five other times for books like Klonk and Sales crapauds. This shows how much people love his stories!
His books are so good that they have been translated into English for more people to enjoy. The translator, Sheila Fischman, has also been nominated for awards for her excellent work bringing Gravel's stories to a new audience.
Gravel has also won other important prizes, like the Mr. Christie's Book Award and the TD Canadian Children's Literature Award.
Famous Books for Young Readers
Gravel has written dozens of books for young people. Many of them are part of popular series that kids love to collect and read.
The Klonk Series
This is one of his most famous series. It follows the adventures of a character named Klonk. The books are known for being funny and full of surprises. Some titles in the series include:
- Klonk (1993)
- Le Cercueil de Klonk (Klonk's Coffin), 1995
- Le Cauchemar de Klonk (Klonk's Nightmare), 1997
- Coca-Klonk (2001)
- Le Testament de Klonk (Klonk's Will), 2003
The David Series
This series, illustrated by Pierre Pratt, follows a boy named David through spooky and mysterious situations. These books are great for readers who like a little bit of a thrill! Some of the books are:
- David et le Fantôme (David and the Ghost), 2000
- David et les Monstres de la forêt (David and the Forest Monsters), 2001
- David et la Maison de la sorcière (David and the Witch's House), 2002
- David et le Salon funéraire (David and the Funeral Home), 2005
Other Popular Books
Gravel has written many other standalone books for kids and teens. He often writes about sports, adventure, and everyday life with a fun twist. Here are a few of his other well-known titles:
- Zamboni (1990)
- Le Match des étoiles (The All-Star Game), 1996
- L'Été de la moustache (The Summer of the Moustache), 2000
- Du soccer extrême ! (Extreme Soccer!), 2010
- Ok pour le hockey ! (OK for Hockey!), 2011
- Hò (2012)
Novels for Adults
Besides writing for kids, François Gravel is also a respected novelist for adults. His adult books often explore interesting ideas about life, relationships, and society.
One of his most famous novels, Adieu, Betty Crocker, was featured on a popular Canadian book debate show called Le Combat des livres. Some of his other novels include Ostende, Fillion et frères, and Miss Septembre.
