Nancy Bond facts for kids

Nancy Barbara Bond, born on January 8, 1945, is an American writer who creates books for children. Her first book, A String in the Harp, came out in 1976. It's a fantasy story with old folk tales mixed in, and it takes place in West Wales. This book won a special award called the Newbery Honor and also the Welsh Tir na n-Og Award. It is still available today.

About Nancy Bond

Nancy Barbara Bond was born in Bethesda, Maryland. She grew up near Concord, Massachusetts. When she was eight, her family lived in London for a year. Her father was there on a special scholarship.

Her Education

Nancy finished high school in Concord. She then went to Mount Holyoke College. In 1966, she earned a degree in English literature. Later, in 1972, she got another degree. This was from the Welsh College of Librarianship in Aberystwyth, Wales.

Her Interests

Nancy Bond has always loved three main things. These are nature, books (especially children's books), and Britain. These interests have often shown up in her stories.

Her Career Journey

Nancy Bond worked in publishing for a short time. From 1966 to 1967, she was at Houghton Mifflin in Boston. Then, she spent two years in London. She worked for Oxford University Press.

Working as a Librarian

From 1969 to 1971, Nancy was an assistant librarian. She worked at the Lincoln, Massachusetts Public Library. After her year in Wales, she looked for a new job. This is when she started writing her first book. She decided to set the story in Wales. In 1973, she became the head librarian in Gardner, Massachusetts.

Becoming an Author

Nancy Bond's first children's novel, A String in the Harp, was published in 1976. The story mostly takes place in Borth. This is near Aberystwyth, where Nancy went to college. The book is about an American family. They spend a year in Wales after their mother passes away.

Nancy once explained that her stories are always connected to a real place. She said the setting is very important to how the book develops. From 1976 to 1977, she worked for the Massachusetts Audubon Society. Her second book, The Best of Enemies, came out in 1978.

Teaching and Writing

From 1979 to 2001, Nancy Bond taught at a special center. It was the Simmons College Center for the Study of Children's Literature. After that, she worked as a bookseller. She also continued to write books in Concord.

Nancy Bond's Books

Here are some of the books Nancy Bond has written:

• A String in the Harp, 1976
• The Best of Enemies, 1978
• Country of Broken Stone, 1980
• The Voyage Begun, 1981
• A Place to Come Back To, 1984
• Another Shore, 1988
• Truth To Tell, 1994
• The Love of Friends, 1997