Joyce Barkhouse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joyce Barkhouse
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| Born | Joyce Carman Killam May 3, 1913 Woodville, Nova Scotia, Canada |
| Died | February 2, 2012 (aged 98) Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, Canada |
| Occupation | children's book writer |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Citizenship | Canadian |
| Genre | fiction for children |
| Notable works | Pit Pony (1983) |
| Notable awards | C.M., O.N.S. |
Joyce Carman Barkhouse (May 3, 1913 – February 2, 2012) was a Canadian writer. She wrote many books for children. Joyce Barkhouse was especially known for her historical fiction stories. These are stories that take place in the past.
She was the aunt of famous author Margaret Atwood. They even wrote a children's book together called Anna's Pet. Joyce Barkhouse is most famous for her novel Pit Pony.
Contents
Joyce Barkhouse's Early Life and Education
Joyce Barkhouse was born in Woodville, Nova Scotia. Her father, Harold Edwin Killam, was a doctor in the countryside. Joyce went to school in Woodville. Later, she moved to King’s County Academy in Kentville to finish high school.
In 1932, she earned a Teacher's License. This was from the Provincial Normal College in Truro. After that, she started her career teaching in a place called Sand Hill.
Family Life and Moving Around
In 1939, Joyce Barkhouse began teaching in Liverpool, Nova Scotia. There, she met Milton Joseph Barkhouse. He worked at the Royal Bank of Canada.
Joyce and Milton got married in 1942. They had two children, a son named Murray Roy and a daughter named Janet Louise. Their family lived in different cities. These included Halifax, Charlottetown, and Montreal, Quebec. After her husband passed away in 1968, Joyce moved back to her home province of Nova Scotia.
Her Journey as a Writer
Joyce Barkhouse started writing in 1932. However, it took a long time for her first book to be published. Her first novel, George Dawson: The Little Giant, came out in 1974.
She is most famous for her novel Pit Pony. This book was published in 1989. It became very popular! The CBC Television made it into a film in 1997. Later, it became a Gemini Award-winning television series in 1999.
Awards and Special Recognition
Joyce Barkhouse received many important awards for her writing. In 2007, she was given the Order of Nova Scotia. This is a special award from her home province.
In 2008, she became a Member of the Order of Canada. This is one of the highest honors a Canadian citizen can receive. She earned it for her amazing contributions to children’s books. She also helped the Canadian writing community. She was an honorary member of The Writers' Union of Canada and the Writers' Federation of Nova Scotia.
Selected Books by Joyce Barkhouse
- Smallest Rabbit, illustrated by Barbara Martin (1996)
- Yesterday's Children (1992)
- Pit Pony (1989)
- Anna's Pet with Margaret Atwood, illustrated by Ann Blades (1980)
