Ginger Wadsworth facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ginger Wadsworth
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Wadsworth in 2012
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| Born | Virginia Leland Evarts San Diego, California, USA |
| Occupation | Writer |
| Nationality | American |
| Period | 1980s–present |
| Genre | Biography, Western American history, science, natural history, children's literature |
| Notable awards | Western Writers of America Spur Award 2004, 2014 and 2017 |
Virginia "Ginger" Wadsworth is an American author who writes exciting books for young people. She writes about many interesting topics. These include biographies of famous people, the history of the American West, science, and nature. Ginger Wadsworth has written over 30 books, and many of them have won awards!
Growing Up
Her Family and Early Adventures
Ginger Wadsworth was born in San Diego, California. Her mother, Dorothea Abbott Evarts, was an artist and a teacher. Her father, Hal G. Evarts, Jr., was also a writer. He wrote many books about the American West. He also wrote adventure stories for young readers.
Ginger's family loved the outdoors. They often went camping in places like Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. They also explored Baja California and traveled all over the Western United States. This was part of her father's research for his books.
Learning and Exploring
Ginger spent three summers working on a ranch. She also went on an amazing six-week bicycle trip. She rode her bike from San Diego all the way to Canada with her Girl Scout group!
She went to La Jolla High School. Later, she studied at the University of California Davis. She earned a degree in English. She also minored in Western American History, which means she studied a lot about the history of the American West.
Her Life Today
Family Life
In 1967, Ginger married Bill Wadsworth. They have two sons and three grandchildren. Today, Ginger and her husband live in the San Francisco East Bay area.
Helping Others with Dogs
Ginger Wadsworth has special therapy dogs. She takes them to libraries and schools. Here, children, especially those who don't like reading much, can read aloud to the dogs. These programs are called "Paws to Read."
Her dogs are part of the Tony La Russa's Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF). They also visit places where people with Alzheimer's disease receive care. This shows how much Ginger cares about helping both people and animals.
Her Writing Career
Starting as a Writer
Ginger Wadsworth started writing journals and short stories when she was young. When her own children were in elementary school, she began writing articles for magazines. One magazine she wrote for was called Cobblestone. Many of her articles were published. Some of her longer biographies grew from these shorter articles.
Books About Famous People
Her very first book was published in 1990. It was a biography about Julia Morgan. Julia Morgan was a famous architect in California. She was also the first woman to win a special award from the American Institute of Architects.
Ginger Wadsworth has written biographies about many other important people. These include:
- John Muir, a famous naturalist and conservationist.
- Rachel Carson, who wrote about the environment.
- John Burroughs, another well-known naturalist.
- Laura Ingalls Wilder, who wrote the "Little House" books.
- Susan Butcher, a sled dog racer who won the Iditarod four times.
- Annie Oakley, a famous sharpshooter.
- Benjamin Banneker, a pioneering scientist.
- Cesar Chavez, a leader for farmworkers' rights.
- The Wright Brothers, who invented the airplane.
Stories About Nature and History
More recently, Ginger wrote a true story about John Muir and President Theodore Roosevelt. They went camping together in Yosemite in 1903. She also wrote a biography of Juliette Gordon Low, who started the Girl Scouts of the USA.
She has also written picture books set in Yosemite National Park. One of her picture book biographies is about the person who created the famous Peanuts cartoon strip. Ginger Wadsworth also wrote a series of books about animal habitats and animal homes.
Published Books and Awards
Many of Ginger Wadsworth's books have been recommended by important groups. These include the Smithsonian and the National Science Teachers Association.
Biographies
- Born to Draw Comics, The Story of Charles Schulz and the Creation of Peanuts, illustrated by Craig Orback
- First Girl Scout, The Life of Juliette Gordon Low (Recognized by the American Library Association)
- Annie Oakley
- Cesar Chavez, illustrated by Mark Schroder
- Benjamin Banneker, Pioneering Scientist, illustrated by Craig Orback
- The Wright Brothers
- Laura Ingalls Wilder, An On My Own Biography, illustrated by Shelley O. Haas
- Laura Ingalls Wilder, Storyteller of the Prairie
- John Burroughs, the Sage of Slabsides (Named a "Book for the Teenager" by the New York Public Library)
- Susan Butcher, Sled Dog Racer
- John Muir, Wilderness Protector (Won an award from the John Burroughs Association)
- Rachel Carson, Voice for the Earth
- Julia Morgan, Architect of Dreams
Western American History
- Camping with the President, illustrated by Karen Dugan (Won the National Outdoor Book Award)
- Survival in the Snow, illustrated by Craig Orback
- Words West, Voice of Young Pioneers (Won the Western Writers of America Juvenile Nonfiction Spur Award)
- Along the Santa Fe Trail, illustrated by James Watling
Science and Natural History
- Seasons of the Bear, A Yosemite Story, illustrated by Daniel San Souci (Won the Western Writers of America Storyteller Spur Award)
- Yosemite's Songster, One Coyote's Story, illustrated by Daniel San Souci (Won the Western Writers of America Storyteller Spur Award)
- Up, Up, and Away, illustrated by Patricia Wynne
- Woolly Mammoths, illustrated by Todd Zalewski
- River Discoveries, illustrated by Paul Kratter
- Tundra Discoveries, illustrated by John Carrozza
- Desert Discoveries, illustrated by John Carrozza
- One Tiger Growls, illustrated by James Needham
- One on a Web, illustrated by James Needham
- Giant Sequoia Trees, with photographs by Frank Staub
Fiction/Picture Book
- Tomorrow is Daddy's Birthday, illustrated by Maxie Chambliss
