Biography
Etta Kaner writes for both children and educators. While the majority of her children’s books are nonfiction, some of her more recent books are a combination of fiction and nonfiction. Many of them have been translated into other languages. A number of her books have won awards, namely the Silver Birch Award, the ASPCA Henry Bergh Children’s Book Award, the Animal Behavior Society’s Outstanding Children’s Book Award, the Scientific American Young Readers Book Award and the Science in Society Book Award.#While her earlier books were inspired by her two daughters, many of her later books were inspired by the elementary school students whom she taught.#Etta loves to interview experts in fields with which she is unfamiliar, either in person or by phone. She finds that most people are very cooperative and love to talk about their area of interest and expertise. During these interviews, she often accumulates more information than she needs for her book. When making a decision as to what to include in the book, she uses the “wow” test. She tries to choose information that will make her readers say “wow” when they read it. ~ ~Writing books also allows Etta to create the many groaners that she likes to make up but which are not always appreciated by her family!#When she’s not writing or teaching, Etta loves to spend time with her family (her husband and two grown daughters), garden, read humorous or historical fiction books, dance, explore new places, go to live theater and cook for company (but not all at the same time!). She does all of these activities in Toronto, Canada.
Awards
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Beware the Burmese Pythons
2022 - OLA Best Bets (Junior Nonfiction), Ontario Library Association, Commended
2023 - Green Earth Book Award, The Nature Generation, Long-Listed
2022 - Blueberry Honor Book, Evanston Public Library, Honor Book
2022 - Gold Standard, Junior Library Guild, Commended
2022 - Lane Anderson Award Young Readers, The Fitzhenry Family Foundation, Commended
2023 - Outstanding Children’s Book Award, The Animal Behavior Society, Short-Listed
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Wild Buildings and Bridges
2020 - Red Cedar Award, BC Young Reader's Choice Awards, Short-listed
2019 - Best Books for Kids and Teens, starred selection, Canadian Children's Book Centre, Winner
2019 - Information Book Award, Vancouver Children's Literature Roundtable, Short-listed
2018 - Eureka! Nonfiction Children’s Book Award, California Reading Association, Honor Book
2018 - Lane Anderson Award, Fitzhenry Family Foundation, Short-listed
2018 - Youth Book Award, Science Writers and Communicators of Canada, Short-listed
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Animals Do, Too!
2018 - Best Children's Books of the Year, Bank Street College, Winner
2017 - Best Books for Kids & Teens, Canadian Children's Book Centre, Winner
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And the Winner Is …
2016 - Grand Canyon Reader Award, Non-fiction category, Arizona Library Association, Short-listed
2014 - Best Books of the Year for Children and Young Adults, Bank Street Children's Book Committee, Winner
2014 - Hackmatack Children's Choice Book Award, Ontario Library Association, Short-listed
2014 - Rainforest of Reading, Ontario Library Association, Short-listed
2014 - Silverbirch Non-Fiction Express, Canadian Children's Book Centre, Short-listed
2013 - Best Books for Kids & Teens, , Winner
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Animal Groups
2005 - Outstanding Children's Book Award, Animal Behavior Society, Short-listed
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Animal Talk
2003 - Our Choice, Canadian Children’s Book Centre, Winner
2003 - Outstanding Children’s Book Award, Animal Behavior Society’s, Winner
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Animal Defenses
2000 - Outstanding Science Trade Book for Children, National Science Teachers Association and the Children’s Book Council, Winner
2000 - Silver Birch Award, Ontario Library Association, Commended
2000 - Teachers’ Choices, International Reading Association, Winner
1999 - Our Choice, Canadian Children’s Book Centre, Winner
Non-fiction
Beware the Burmese Pythons, 2022
Wild Buildings and Bridges, 2018
Animals Do, Too!, 2017
And the Winner Is …, 2013
Animal Groups, 2004
Animal Talk, 2002
Animal Defenses, 1999