Biography
It was in a design class taught by Michèle Lemieux at the University of Quebec in Montreal that author and illustrator Mélanie Watt created her first picture book, Leon the Chameleon, which was later published by Kids Can Press. Watt went on to create several more books, including the Learning with Animals collection and Augustine, which was named an ALA Notable Children’s Book. Watt has also illustrated Where Does a Tiger-Heron Spend the Night? and Bearcub and Mama, which won the 2006 IRA Teachers’ Choices Project. #Mélanie’s best known book Scaredy Squirrel, has won many awards including the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Award for Children’s Picture Book and the Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator’s Award. The release of Scaredy Squirrel Makes a Friend, was met with enthusiastic reviews and incredible sales, confirming the arrival of kid lit’s newest superstar. #Chester,Chester’s Back! and Chester’s Masterpiece are about a megalomaniac cat who is every bit the antithesis to Scaredy. Chester has already become a bestseller and shows the breadth and creativity of Mélanie Watt.#Scaredy returns to take a few more tentative steps out of his comfort zone in Scaredy Squirrel at the Beach and Scaredy Squirrel at Night. Mélanie has often noted how the Scaredy Squirrel books helped her work out her own insecurities and fears, as the success of these titles has required her to venture out into the unknown, and like Scaredy she has found the experience truly uplifting.#Mélanie currently resides near Montreal, Quebec.
Awards
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Chester
2011 - Virginia Readers' Choice Award, Virginia State Reader's Association, Winner
2010 - Grand Canyon Reader Award, Arizona Library & Reading Associations, Winner
2010 - Nevada Young Reader's Award, Nevada Library Association, Winner
2010 - Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Awards, Pennsylvania School Librarians Association, Winner
2009 - Blue Spruce Award, Ontario Library Association, Winner
2009 - Time To Read Award, British Columbia Achievement Foundation, Winner
2008 - Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator’s Award, Canadian Children’s Book Centre, Commended
2008 - Best Books for Kids and Teens, International Reading Association, Winner
2008 - Childrens’ Choices, WEMTA, Commended
2008 - Golden Archer Award, NCTE, Winner
2008 - Notable Children’s Books in Language Arts, Ontario Library Association, Commended
2007 - Best Bets Picture Book, ForeWord Magazine, Winner
2007 - Book of the Year, , Commended
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You’re Finally Here!
2012 - Best Books for Kids & Teens, Starred Selection, Canadian Children's Book Centre, Winner
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Chester’s Masterpiece
2011 - Golden Archer Award, Wisconsin Educational Media and Technology Association, Winner
2011 - Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Award, Ontario Arts Council, Winner
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Scaredy Squirrel Has a Birthday Party
2012 - Best Books for Kids & Teens, Starred Selection, Canadian Children's Book Centre, Winner
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Chester’s Back!
2009 - Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Award, Canadian Children’s Book Centre, Commended
2009 - Best Books for Kids and Teens, , Winner
2009 - Ruth & Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Award, , Winner
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Scaredy Squirrel at Night
2010 - Best Books for Kids & Teens, Canadian Children’s Book Centre, Winner
2010 - Comics for Kids Award, Joe Shuster Awards, Commended
2010 - Ruth & Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Award, Saskatchewan Young Readers' Choice Award, Commended
2010 - Shining Willow Award, , Winner
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Have I Got a Book for You!
2011 - Blue Spruce Award, Ontario Library Association, Commended
2010 - Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator’s Award, Canadian Library Association, Commended
2010 - Best Books for Kids & Teens, Starred Selection, Canadian Children’s Book Centre, Winner
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Scaredy Squirrel at the Beach
2009 - Best Bet for Children and Teens, Ontario Library Association, Winner
2009 - Best Books for Kids & Teens, Canadian Children’s Book Centre, Winner
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Scaredy Squirrel Makes a Friend
2009 - Libris Award – Children's Author of the Year, Canadian Booksellers Association, Winner
2009 - Libris Award – Children's Illustrator of the Year, Canadian Booksellers Association, Winner
2008 - Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator’s Award, Ontario Library Association, Commended
2008 - Blue Spruce Award, Mother Goose Programs, Winner
2008 - Red Clover Children’s Choice Picture Book, Ontario Library Association, Commended
2008 - Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Award, , Commended
2007 - Best Bets Picture Book, , Winner
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Scaredy Squirrel
2010 - Illinois Monarch Award, Illinois School Library Media Association, Winner
2009 - Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Awards, Pennsylvania School Librarians Association, Winner
2008 - Black-Eyed Susan Award, Maryland Educational Media, Winner
2008 - Children’s Choice Picture Book Award, Washington Library Media, Commended
2008 - Libris Award – Children's Author of the Year, Canadian Booksellers Association, Winner
2008 - Libris Award – Children's Illustrator of the Year, Canadian Booksellers Association, Winner
2008 - North Carolina Children’s Book Award, Saskatchewan Young Readers’ Choice, Winner
2008 - Shining Willow Award, Read Boston, Winner
2007 - Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator’s Award, Ontario Library Association, Winner
2007 - Best Read Aloud Book Award, International Reading Association, Commended
2007 - Blue Spruce Award, Canadian Toy Testing Council, Winner
2007 - Childrens' Choices, Canadian Children’s Book Centre, Commended
2007 - Great Book of the Year, ALA, Winner
2007 - Independent Publisher Book Awards – Bronze Medal, NCTE, Winner
2007 - Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award, ReadBoston, Commended
2007 - Notable Children’s Books, ForeWord Magazine, Winner
2007 - Notable Children’s Books in Language Arts, Children’s Book Sense, Winner
2007 - Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Award, , Winner
2006 - Best Read Aloud Book Award, , Commended
2006 - Book of the Year Award, , Commended
2006 - Cybils - Children’s and YA Bloggers’ Literacy Awards, , Winner
2006 - Le Prix de la Librarie Millepage (in Vincennes, France), , Winner
2005 - Summer Pick, , Commended
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Augustine
2007 - Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator’s Award, Canadian Children’s Book Centre, Short-listed
2007 - Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award, Saskatchewan Young Readers’ Choice, Short-listed
2007 - Shining Willow Award, , Short-listed
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Leon the Chameleon
2002 - Book of the Year Award, ForeWord Magazine, Short-listed
2002 - Our Choice, Canadian Children’s Book Centre, Winner
2002 - Young Adults' Choices, International Reading Association, Short-listed
2001 - International Book Award, The Society of School Librarians International, Runner-up
Picture Books
You’re Finally Here!, 2011
Scaredy Squirrel Has a Birthday Party, 2011
Chester’s Masterpiece, 2010
Scaredy Squirrel at Night, 2009
Have I Got a Book for You!, 2009
Chester’s Back!, 2008
Scaredy Squirrel at the Beach, 2008
Chester, 2007
Scaredy Squirrel Makes a Friend, 2007
Scaredy Squirrel, 2006
Augustine, 2006
Leon the Chameleon, 2001