Janice N. Harrington facts for kids

Janice N. Harrington is an American writer. She is known for her stories, poems, and children's books. She has won many awards for her creative writing.

Life Story of Janice Harrington

Janice Harrington was born in Vernon, Alabama, in 1956. When she was eight years old, her family moved to Lincoln, Nebraska. They moved to escape racial segregation. This was a system that unfairly separated people based on their race. Today, she lives in Illinois.

Her writings have appeared in many different literary magazines and collections.

Janice Harrington's Career

Janice Harrington used to work as a public librarian in Champaign, Illinois. A public librarian helps people find books and information. She was also a professional storyteller. She even performed at the National Storytelling Festival. This festival brings together the best storytellers.

She also helped coordinate services for young people at the Champaign Public Library. Now, she is a professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She teaches creative writing to students there.

Awards and Honors

Janice Harrington has received many important awards for her writing.

• 2009 Rona Jaffe Foundation Writers' Award: This award helps women writers.
• 2008 Kate Tufts Discovery Award: She won this for her poetry book, Even the Hollow My Body Made Is Gone.
• 2008 A. Poulin, Jr. Poetry Prize: Another award for her poetry.
• 2007 National Endowment for the Arts Literature Fellowship for Poetry: This is a special grant for poets.
• 2007 TIME Magazine's top 10 children's books: Her work was recognized by TIME magazine.
• 2007 Cybils Award for the year's best fiction picture book: This award is chosen by children's book bloggers.
• 2005 Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Award: She won this for her children's book, Going North.
• Illinois Arts Council Literary Award: An award from her home state.

Janice Harrington's Works

Poetry Books

• "Shaking the Grass" (a poem)

Children's Books

• Going North