Biography
Pamela was born and raised in Mississauga, Ontario. She holds an Honors Bachelor of Environmental Studies and Biology from the University of Waterloo. During university, Pamela had several interesting summer jobs, including working for the mosquito control program with Alberta Environment in Edmonton. She spent every day dressed in chest waders, standing in marshes and studying the insect life that thrived there. She started her writing career as the education co-ordinator for the Federation of Ontario Naturalists. This role involved writing education kits about nature and the environment that were used by teachers in classrooms. Since going freelance in 1990, she has published over 35 nature books for children. In 1992, Pamela, her husband and their three daughters moved to Canning, Nova Scotia. Pamela now has four young grandchildren to further inspire her.#Through her books, Pamela tries to capture her readers’ interest in nature by finding the truly weird and wonderful aspects of plants and animals. She is very enthusiastic about the amazing creatures out there and hopes that enthusiasm comes through in her writing. Pamela is a big believer that creativity is an important part of writing nonfiction. It’s what you do with the facts that counts! Many of her books also focus on hands-on activities that involve the reader in nature discovery. Nurturing respect and fascination for nature and conservation are her ultimate goals.
Awards
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Nature All Around: Plants
2021 - Best Children’s Books List, Bank Street College, Winner
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A Tree Is a Home
2022 - Skipping Stones Book Honor Awards, Skipping Stones, Joint Winner
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Nature All Around: Birds
2021 - Best Children’s Books List, Bank Street College, Winner
2021 - Dogwood Titles, Grades 3-5, Dogwood Committee of Missouri, Winner
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Nature All Around: Trees
2019 - Best Books for Kids & Teens, Canadian Children's Book Centre, Winner
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It’s Moving Day!
2009 - Best Bet for Children and Teens, Ontario Library Association, Winner
2009 - Best Books for Kids & Teens, Canadian Children’s Book Centre, Winner
2009 - Blue Spruce Award, Ontario Library Association, Commended
2009 - Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award, Canadian Children’s Book Centre, Commended
2009 - Shining Willow Award, Saskatchewan Young Readers’ Choice, Commended
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Animal Senses
2000 - Teachers Choices, International Reading Association, Winner
1999 - Our Choice, Canadian Children’s Book Centre, Winner
1999 - Selected as Outstanding by Parent Council®, , Winner
1998 - Ann Connor-Brimer Award, , Short-listed
1998 - Parents’ Choice Approved, , Winner
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Animals Eating
2003 - Hackmatack Children’s Choice Book Award, Canadian Children’s Book Centre, Short-listed
2002 - Alberta Children’s Choice Rocky Mountain Book Award, , Short-listed
2002 - Our Choice, , Winner
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Animals in Motion
2000 - International Best Book, Society of School Librarians, Winner
2000 - Silver Birch Award, Ontario Library Association, Short-listed
Non-fiction
A Tree Is a Home, 2021
Nature All Around: Plants, 2020
Nature All Around: Birds, 2020
Nature All Around: Bugs, 2019
Nature All Around: Trees, 2019
It’s Moving Day!, 2008
Animals Hibernating, 2005
Animals and Their Mates, 2004
Animals Eating, 2001
Animals in Motion, 2000
Animal Senses, 1998