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Polly Horvath facts for kids

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Polly Horvath
Born (1957-01-30) January 30, 1957 (age 67)
Kalamazoo, Michigan, U.S.
Occupation Author
Nationality American-Canadian
Notable awards
Spouse Arnold Keller
Children 2

Polly Horvath (born 30 January 1957 in Kalamazoo, Michigan) is an American-Canadian author of novels for children and young adults. She won the 2003 U.S. National Book Award for Young People's Literature for The Canning Season, published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux. In 2010, Horvath received the Vicky Metcalf Award for Literature for Young People.

Biography

Horvath was born 30 January 1957 in Kalamazoo, Michigan to John Anthony and Betty Ann Horvath. Horvath began writing at the age of eight.

She attended the Canadian College of Dance in Toronto and the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance in New York City. She lived in New York City and Montreal before settling on southern Vancouver Island in British Columbia.

Horvath once declared, "I don't have that much fun writing them. I have the most fun when I'm on the last page."

She is married to Arnold Keller, a professor, with whom she has two daughters: Emily Willa and Rebecca Avery Keller.

Awards and honors

In 2010, Horvath received the Vicky Metcalf Award for Literature for Young People, which is considered a top honour for Canadian children's book writers and illustrators.

Six of Horvath's books are Junior Library Guild selections: My One Hundred Adventures (2009), Northward to the Moon (2010), One Year in Coal Harbor (2013), The Night Garden (2017), Very Rich (2018), and Pine Island Home (2020).

Her books have also landed on many lists of the best books of the year:

  • In 1999, The Horn Book Magazine named The Trolls one of the best children's fiction books of the year.
  • In 2003, Horn Book Magazine named The Canning Season one of the best children's fiction books of the year.
  • In 2004, Horn Book Magazine named The Pepins and Their Problems one of the best children's fiction books of the year.
  • In 2008, Booklist and School Library Journal named My One Hundred Adventures one of the best children's books of the year.
  • In 2013, School Library Journal named One Year in Coal Harbor one of the best children's books of the year.
Awards for Horvath's writing
Year Title Award Result Ref.
1999 The Trolls ALSC Notable Children's Book Selection
Boston Globe–Horn Book Award for Fiction Honor
National Book Award for Young People's Literature Finalist
2001 Everything on a Waffle Boston Globe–Horn Book Award for Fiction and Poetry Honor
Mr. Christie's Book Award: English, Ages 8 to 11 Winner
2002 ALSC Notable Children's Book Selection
Newbery Medal Honor
Sheila A. Egoff Children's Literature Prize Winner
2003 The Canning Season National Book Award for Young People's Literature Winner
2004 ALA Best Fiction for Young Adults Selection
Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults Selection
Canadian Library Association Young Adult Book Award Winner
Sheila A. Egoff Children's Literature Prize Finalist
2006 The Vacation Sheila A. Egoff Children's Literature Prize Finalist
2007 Chocolate Lily Young Readers’ Choice Award Winner
2008 The Corps of the Bare-Boned Plane Sheila A. Egoff Children's Literature Prize Winner
2009 My One Hundred Adventures Sheila A. Egoff Children's Literature Prize Winner
2011 Northward to the Moon Sheila A. Egoff Children's Literature Prize Finalist
2013 One Year in Coal Harbor Bolen Books Children’s Book Prize Winner
TD Canadian Children's Literature Award Winner
2019 Very Rich Sheila A. Egoff Children's Literature Prize Finalist

See also

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