McCann, Michelle R. 1968-

PERSONAL:

Born December 22, 1968, in Portland, OR; daughter of Jim (a school principal) and Kathy (Van Raden) Roehm; married Jerry McCann (a fisheries biologist); children: Ronan D., Fiona E. Education:Brown University, B.A., 1991; Vermont College, M.A., 2004. Politics: Democrat. Religion: "Agnostic."

ADDRESSES:

Home—1025 S.E. Lexington St., Portland, OR 97202. E-mail—[email protected].

CAREER:

Writer, editor, and educator. Beyond Words Publishing, Hillsboro, OR, founder and director of Children's Division, 1991-2001; Graphic Arts Publishing Center, Portland, OR, children's book editor, 2001—. Portland State University, adjunct professor, 2002—; also speaker at local schools.

MEMBER:

Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.

AWARDS, HONORS:

Once upon a World Children's Book Award, Simon Wiesenthal Center, Jane AddamsChildren's Book Award, and citation among "notable books for a global society," International Reading Association, all 2004, all for Luba: The Angel of Bergen-Belsen.

WRITINGS:

CHILDREN'S BOOKS

Girls Know Best, Beyond Words Publishing (Hillsboro, OR), 1997.

Boys Know It All, Beyond Words Publishing (Hillsboro, OR), 1998.

Girls Who Rocked the World 2, Beyond Words Publishing (Hillsboro, OR), 2000.

Boys Who Rocked the World, Beyond Words Publishing (Hillsboro, OR), 2001.

Finding Fairies, Beyond Words Publishing (Hillsboro, OR), 2001.

Going Places: Real-Life Teen Adventures, Beyond Words Publishing (Hillsboro, OR), 2003.

Luba: The Angel of Bergen-Belsen (biography of Luba Tryszynska-Frederick), illustrated by Ann Marshall, Tricycle Press (Berkeley, CA), 2003.

SIDELIGHTS:

Michelle R. McCann told CA: "As a kid, the books I read inspired me to follow my dreams. I always wanted to write children's books, and that's what I did. As a children's book writer, I am now interested in inspiring my readers in similar ways, whether it be through reading the fantastic writings of their peers (Girls Know Best and Boys Know ItAll) or through reading about the fantastic doings of heroes and heroines of the past and today. This is also something I emphasize in my school visits: inspiring kids to follow their dreams."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Booklist, November 1, 2003, Hazel Rochman, review of Luba: The Angel of Bergen-Belsen, p. 494.

Kirkus Reviews, October 1, 2003, review of Luba,p. 1232.

Publishers Weekly, December 22, 2003, review ofLuba, p. 61.

School Library Journal, December, 2003, Amy Lilien-Harper, review of Luba, p. 136.