Monica Shannon facts for kids

Monica G. Shannon Wing (born March 7, 1893 – died August 13, 1965) was a writer for children. She was born in Canada but became an American author. Her most famous book, Dobry, came out in 1934. It won the important Newbery Medal in 1935.

About Monica Shannon

Early Life and Inspiration

Monica Shannon was born in Canada in 1893. Her parents were Irish immigrants. She moved to the United States before she was one year old. Her family first lived in Seattle. Later, they settled in Montana's Bitterroot Valley.

Monica grew up on large ranches where her father worked. The ranch-hands were from Bulgaria. Their stories greatly influenced Monica's writing. She also loved nature very much. Even as a child, her writing showed her love for nature. She also wrote about the shepherds on her family's ranch.

For a school assignment, she wrote about her favorite Bible character. She chose Joseph of the Old Testament. He was a shepherd when he was young. Her teacher was very impressed. Monica won a special award for her story.

Life in California

Later, Monica Shannon moved to California. She worked at the Los Angeles Public Library. She was a librarian there from 1915 to 1925. After that, she lived in Three Rivers, California.

In 1925, Monica married Elbert Wing in Santa Barbara. She passed away on August 13, 1965.

Her Books and Dobry

Monica Shannon's first book was California Fairy Tales. It was published in 1926. This book included stories from the US, Spain, and Ireland.

Her most famous book, Dobry, was published in 1934. It tells the story of a young peasant boy. His name is Dobry, and he dreams of becoming a sculptor. A sculptor is an artist who makes statues.

Dobry's father had died. His mother wanted him to work on their farm. But his grandfather supported his dream. He encouraged Dobry to follow his artistic path. Some of Dobry's experiences in the book came from real life. They were inspired by Atanas Katchamakoff. He was a Bulgarian-born sculptor who drew the pictures for the book.

Awards and Recognition

Monica Shannon's book Dobry won a major award. It received the 1935 Newbery Medal. This medal is given for the "most distinguished contribution to American literature for children." It is one of the highest honors for children's books in the United States.

List of Works

• California in Print (1919)
• California Fairy Tales (1926)
• Eyes for the Dark (1928) – This book was later reissued as More Stories from California (1935).
• Goose Grass Rhymes (1930)
• Tawnymore (1931)
• Dobry (1934)