Sheree Fitch facts for kids

Sheree Fitch (born December 3, 1956) is a Canadian writer. She is also a big supporter of reading and writing for everyone. Sheree is mostly famous for her fun children's books. She has also written poems and stories for adults.

Sheree Fitch's Life Story

Sheree Fitch was born on December 3, 1956, in Ottawa, Ontario. Her father worked for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Her family moved a lot when she was little. They lived in Miramichi, New Brunswick, then Moncton, and later Fredericton.

Sheree finished Fredericton High School in 1974. She was the top student in her class. She got married young and had two sons. She raised her sons by herself after her marriage ended when she was 24.

Later, Sheree went to St. Thomas University. She earned a degree in English in 1987. She then got a master's degree from Acadia University in 1994.

In the 1990s, Sheree lived in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She later spent almost 10 years living in Washington, D.C.. Sheree and her husband, Gilles Plante, moved to River John, Nova Scotia, when he retired. Gilles Plante passed away in March 2024.

Writing Fun Books for Kids

Sheree Fitch is best known for her children's poetry books. These books are full of exciting word games and lots of humor. She started writing poems for her own young sons. She also took classes to get better at writing.

For several years, she shared her poems at schools and libraries. Her first book, Toes in My Nose, came out in 1987. Her second book, Sleeping Dragons All Around, was published in 1989. It won an award that same year.

In the 1990s, Sheree published many children's poetry books. Several of these books won awards. In 1992, There Were Monkeys in My Kitchen won the Mr. Christie's Book Award. Her 1995 book Mabel Murple also won an award.

In 2000, Sheree won the Vicky Metcalf Award for Literature for Young People. This award honors a Canadian author for their amazing work. It is given to writers who have published at least four books with high literary standards.

Sheree wrote If You Could Wear My Sneakers: A Book about Children's Rights in 1998. UNICEF asked her to write this book. Its 15 poems are based on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. These rights include the right to learn, privacy, free speech, and safety from war. This book won the Ontario Library Association's Silver Birch Award. It also won the Atlantic Canadian Hackmatack Children's Choice Award.

In the 2000s, Sheree kept publishing books for young children. Her first board book, Kisses Kisses Baby-O, came out. It was given to families with new babies in Nova Scotia in 2008. This was part of a program to help families read together.

Sheree also started writing for older kids, called young adult fiction. Her novel One More Step came out in 2002. She followed it with The Gravesavers in 2005.

Besides poems and novels, Sheree has written two non-fiction books. These books are for kids who want to become writers. They are called Breathe, Stretch, Write: Learning to Write with Everything You've Got and Writing Maniac: How I Grew up to be a Writer (And You Can Too).

Writing for Adults

In 1993, Sheree Fitch published a book of poems for adults. It was called In This House are Many Women. This book talks about serious challenges in the lives of working women. An updated version of this book came out in 2004.

Sheree's first novel for adults, Kiss the Joy as it Flies, was published in 2008. The main character is a single parent and a writer. She faces real-life money and family problems. She goes through tough times but keeps her playful and funny spirit. This book was nominated for the Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour in 2009.

Helping Others Read and Write

Sheree Fitch works hard to help people learn to read and write. She does this through her writing and by performing for children. She also supports organizations that promote reading.

In the 1990s, she was often a guest on Peter Gzowski's radio show, Morningside. Because of this, she got involved in golf tournaments that raised money for reading programs. She often acted as the poet for these events.

Sheree is an Honorary Patron of the Literacy Coalition of New Brunswick. This group gives out the Fitch Adult Learner Scholarship Awards every year. These awards honor her dedication to helping people read. She is also an Honorary Spokesperson for the Nova Scotia Read to Me program. She supports the Sheree Fitch Prize for Young Writers. This award is given to writers aged 14 to 18 by the Writers' Federation of New Brunswick.

Sheree has received several special honors from universities. She was given an honorary Doctor of Letters degree by Saint Mary's University in 1998. Acadia University gave her another honorary Doctor of Letters degree in 2004. In 2010, St. Thomas University also gave her an honorary doctorate. They recognized her as an author, teacher, and a strong supporter of reading.

In June 2023, Sheree Fitch was appointed to the Order of Canada. This is a very high honor in Canada. She lives in River John, Nova Scotia.