Diane Swanson
When I was growing up in Lethbridge, Alberta, my small terrier,
Sammy, was my ever-present pal. On sunny summer days, we'd
walk to the lake or poke around the yard, looking for ladybugs
and spiders. On rainy days, Sammy would lie by the piano while
I made up a song that supposedly would open the door to some"secret
passage." But if we were outside when a storm broke, we'd
take cover in the garage and send messages along the clothesline
to the house: "WE'RE STRANDED! SEND COOKIES!"
Now that I'm an author and living in Victoria, B.C., I'm
not really much different...except that I walk to the sea
instead of the lake. I still like spending time with my
dog, exploring the outdoors and playing the piano. And I
write about some of the things that have always fascinated
me...like ladybugs. In fact, my first article for Ranger
Rick nature magazine was about ladybugs.I also wrote
a ladybug chapter for my first book, Toothy Tongue and
One Long Foot. That whole book was about neat things
in my backyard.
When I get excited about something, I want to learn everything
I can about it. Sometimes I have so much fun digging up information
that it's hard to stop and get around to the business of writing.
But when I do, I enjoy that part, too; it's fun to share what
I discover by putting it into books.
While raising two children, she began writing magazine articles and books for kids, focussing mostly on science and nature topics. I now lives in Victoria, British Columbia, and have had 73 books published -- plus more than 450 magazine articles.
Published Works:
You Are Weird: Your Body's Peculiar Parts and Funny Functions, Kids Can Press, 2009, illustrated by Kathy Boake
Animals Aha!: Thrilling Discoveries in Wildlife Science, Annick Press, 2009
Bugs Up Close, Kids Can Press, 2007, illustrated by Paul Davidson
Cheetah Cubs and Beetle Grubs, Annick Press, 2007, illustrated by Mariko Ando Spencer
Canada's Bugs, Scholastic Canada, (French edition: Insectes de chez nous) 2007
Welcome to the World of Spirit Bears, Walrus Books, 2007
Welcome to the World of Wolverines,
Walrus Books, 2007
A Crash of Rhinos, A Party of Jays, illustrated by Mariko Ando Spencer, Annick Press, 2006
The Wonder in Water, Annick Press, 2005
Welcome to the World of Orangutans, Walrus Books, 2004
Welcome to the World of Kangaroos, Walrus Books, 2004
Turn It Loose, Annick Press, 2004, illustrated by Warren Clark
The Balloon Sailors, Annick Press, 2003, illustrated by Krystyna Lipka-Sztarballo
Tunnels! true stories from the edge, Annick Press, 2003
Welcome To The Whole World series (Whitecap Books)
Welcome to the Whole World of Penguins, 2003
Welcome to the Whole World of Elephants, 2003
The Dentist & You, Annick Press, 2002
Nibbling on Einstein's Brain, 2001 (Annick Press, illustrated by Warren Clark)
Norwegian edition of Nibbling on Einstein's Brain called Smak Pa Einsteins Hjerne! (Humanist Forlag, 2003, illustrated by Warren Clark)
The Doctor and You, 2001 (Annick Press)
"Mysterious You" Series
Hmm? 2001 (Kids Can Press, illustrated by Rose Cowles)
Burp! 2001 (Kids Can Press, illustrated by Rose Cowles)
Animals Can Be So Series
Animals Can Be So Playful, 2002
Animals Can Be So Hard to See, 2002
Animals Can Be So Sleepy, 2001
Animals Can Be So Speedy, 2001
Animals Eat the Weirdest Things (Whitecap Books and Henry Holt, 1998, illustrated by Terry Smith)
Bug Bites (Whitecap Books, 1997, illustrated by the Royal British Columbia Museum)
Buffalo Sunrise (Whitecap Books and Sierra Club Books for Children, 1996)
The Day of the Twelve-Story Wave (Whitecap Books/Longstreet Press, 1995, illustrated by Laura Cook)
Sky Dancers (Whitecap Books and Voyageur Press, 1995, illustrated by Doug Penhale)
Safari Beneath the Sea (Whitecap Books and Sierra Club Books for Children, 1994, photography by the Royal British Columbia Museum)
Coyotes in the Crosswalk (Whitecap Books, 1994 and Voyageur Press, 1995, illustrated by Doug Penhale); French edition: Attention! Coyote Au Carrefour (Heritage jeunesse, 1995)
Squirts and Snails and Skinny Green Tails (Whitecap Books, 1993, 1997 and Bob Adams, 1994, illustrated by Warren Clark); French edition: Coquilles, Coquillages Et Tresors De La Plage (Heritage jeunesse, 1995)
The Emerald Sea (Whitecap Books and Alaska Northwest Books, 1993, photography by Dale Sanders)
Why Seals Blow Their Noses (Whitecap Books, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1997 and Voyageur Press, 1994, illustrated by Doug Penhale); French edition: Pourquoi Les Phoques Ont-Ils Un Ballon Sur Le Nez? (Heritage jeunesse, 1995)
A Toothy Tongue and One Long Foot (Whitecap Books, 1992, 1993 and Bob Adams, 1994, illustrated by Warren Clark and Carolyn Swanson)
Welcome to the World series (Whitecap Books)1997- 2002
Skin that Slimes and Scares, 2001
Feet That Suck and Feed, 2000
Teeth That Stab and Grind, 2000
Tails That Talk and Fly, 1999
Noses That Plow and Poke,
1999
Nature Detectives--The Living World series (Pacific Edge Publishing Ltd.)
The Kingfisher Camp River Detectives, 1998
The Gibson Park Grassland Detectives, 1997
The Central School Seashore Detectives, 1997
The Cedar Club Forest Detectives, 1996
The Sixth Street Wetland Detectives, 1996
More than Meets the Eye: Student Book and Teachers' Guide (Pacific Educational Press, 1989, co-authored by Vivien Bowers)
Technology for the Home (British Columbia Ministry of Education, 1987)
Exploring Canada (Douglas & McIntyre (Educational) Ltd., 1985, co-authored by Vivien Bowers); French Edition: Explorons le Canada (Douglas & McIntyre (Educational) Ltd., 1987) |
