Rebecca Johnson (born 1966) is an Australian author and primary-school science teacher who has written more than 100 children's books.[1][2] Her works include the Steve Parish Story Book collection, the Juliet – Nearly a Vet series, the Insect Series, and the Steve Parish Reptiles & Amphibians Story Book range.[1][3][4][5]
Rebecca Johnson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Occupation | Writer, teacher |
| Language | English |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Genre | Children's literature |
| Website | |
| www | |
Reception edit
Johnson's Steve Parish Story Book collection has sold more than 3.5 million books, and her Insect Series won the 2014 Whitley Commendation for Best Educational Series.[6][7][3] Her Juliet – Nearly A Vet series won the 2014 Wilderness Society Environment Award for Children's Literature.[8] It was also nominated in the CBCA Younger Readers' category in 2014 and 2015, and for the Adelaide Festival Awards for Literature 2014.[7][9]
In August 2017, Rebecca won the 2017 Wilderness Society award for Rainforest Camp: Juliet Nearly a Vet.[10] She also released two new series in 2017 – Vet Cadets and First Fact Dinosaurs.[11][12] Her first book in the Vet Cadets series, Welcome to Willowdale, was shortlisted for the Western Australians Young Book Readers Book Award in February 2018.[13]
Career edit
Johnson has been a primary-school teacher for more than 30 years, including 22 years at Windaroo State School in Queensland, where she won the 2015 Prime Minister's Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Primary Schools.[14][6]
Johnson relates that her first novel, Juliet – Nearly A Vet, was inspired by a retired veterinarian who lived next door to her when she was a child.[6] The first book in the series of 12 was published by Penguin in 2013, and the series is now being published in Norwegian, Czech, Slovak and Portuguese.[15]
Her Steve Parish series of nature books include more than 60 titles that have sold more than 3.5 million copies.[1] Her Insect Series, which has links to the Australian Curriculum, won the 2014 Whitley Award for Best Children's Series.[15]
Personal life edit
Johnson is married with two children. She lives in Queensland and continues to write books and teach science at Windaroo State School.[16]
References edit
- ^ a b c Purdon, Fiona. [1], "Unsung books for kids and teens", The Courier Mail, 12 January 2015.
- ^ Booktopia. [2] "Rebecca Johnson Books (104)", retrieved July 4, 2016.
- ^ a b Steve Parish. [3] "Author wins Prime Minister's Prize for Science", October 2015.
- ^ Pascal Press. [4] Rebecca Johnson, retrieved July 4, 2016.
- ^ Pascal Press. [5] "Gorgeous Geckos", retrieved July 4, 2016.
- ^ a b c [6] "2015 Prime Minister’s Prize for Science Primary teaching – Rebecca Johnson", 21 October 2015
- ^ a b Purdon, Fiona. [7] "Unsung books for kids and teens", The Courier Mail, 12 January 2015.
- ^ The Wilderness Society, 2014 winners, Retrieved 21 June 2016.
- ^ Curtis Brown Australia. [8] Winners of the Wilderness Society’s 2014 Environment Award for Children’s Literature, Retrieved 4 July 2016.
- ^ Readings, https://www.readings.com.au/news/the-winners-of-the-environment-award-for-children-s-literature-2017, The winners of the Environment Award for Children’s Literature 2017, August 14, 2017
- ^ Penguin Books, https://www.penguin.com.au/books/vet-cadets-welcome-to-willowvale-bk1-9780143782711, Vet Cadets Welcome to Willowvale
- ^ National Library of Australia, https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/7384147, Big-footed dinosaurs: ornithopods/written by Rebecca Johnson
- ^ Western Australian Young Readers’ Book Award, https://wayrba.org.au/2018/02/02/younger-readers-shortlist-2018/, Welcome to Willowvale (Vet Cadets #1) by Rebecca Johnson, Feb 2, 2018
- ^ Australian Government. [9] Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science, October 22, 2015
- ^ a b Goodreads. Rebecca Johnson, retrieved July 4, 2016.
- ^ Penguin Books. [10] "Rebecca Johnson, Author", retrieved 4 July 2016.