About MeI have been writing for young readers for 35 years and have published 16 books for children and one adult non-fiction book. My titles for children include + read more picture books, early chapter books, junior fiction, young adult fiction, and teen non-fiction.

What else?

I love to dance, have been taking dance classes all my life, and would quit writing tomorrow if I could be a professional dancer – but, alas, at the age of 67 I think it’s too late.

I bake my own bread and have been doing so for over 40 years.

I have two grown daughters. One is a pastry chef and one is an experimental filmmaker.

I could not live without reading.

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My Work Speaker Info Contact Me

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You May Know Me For:

Literature Types
• Picture Books
• Chapter Books
• Middle Grade Fiction
• Middle Grade Nonfiction
• YA Fiction

Published WorksDusty, Solstice Books, 1983

Starshine!, Polestar/Raincoast, 1987

Born a Woman, Polestar/Raincoast, 1988

Starshine at Camp Crescent Moon, Polestar/Raincoast, 1994

Starshine on TV, Polestar/Raincoast, 1996

Mr. Belinsky’s Bagels, Tradewind Books (Canada and United Kingdom), 1997, and Charlesbridge Books (USA), 1998

Jesse’s Star, Orca Book Publishers, 2000

Starshine and the Fanged Vampire Spider, Polestar/Raincoast, 2000

I’m a Vegetarian, Tundra Books, 2002

I Love Yoga, Tundra Books, 2003

Stealing Home, Tundra Books, 2006

Yossi’s Goal, Orca Book Publishers, 2006

Abby’s Birds, Tradewind Books, 2006

Avalanche Dance, Tundra Books, 2010

Cellular, Orca Book Publishers, 2010

The Teaspoon Detectives: The Case of the Missing Deed, Tundra Books, 2011

Heart of a Champion, Tundra Books, 2016

The Princess Dolls, Tradewind Books, 2018

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Speaking InformationI do author readings with children from primary grades through high school. I also do writing workshops from intermediate grades on up. I teach adult courses + read more in writing for children at Douglas College. Show Less

I will visit:
• Vancouver
• Coast
• Lower Mainland
• Gulf and Vancouver Islands
• Thompson Okanagan
• Northern British Columbia
• Cariboo Chilcotin Coast
• Kootenay Rockies
• The Territories
• Canada - beyond BC
• USA
• International

I Present to Age Groups:
• Grades K-3
• Grades 4-6
• Grades 7-8
• High School
• College / University / Adult

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Testimonials"I have worked with many authors in my twenty years as a teacher, but none as organized, engaging, + read more and respectful to my students as Ellen has been."

Trish Weaver, teacher, Immaculate Conception School, Vancouver Show Less “Excellent writing style propels the novel, making it almost impossible to put down. Family + read more relationships and challenges are well developed, with strong female characters, even though the novel is faithful to the reality of the era and culture.”
— Resource Link, review of Stealing Home
Show Less "...this novel embodies everything every child wishes for: the chance to be a hero, to be loved for + read more who they are, to eat sugar and to have a place to call home."
Ruth McMahon, Rocky Mountain Book Award co-chair Show Less

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Awards and Recognition:• The Princess Dolls: winner, Diamond Foundation Prize for Children/Youth Literature; nominated for + show more Vine Award for Canadian Jewish Literature
Heart of a Champion: nominated for Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People, Silver Birch Fiction Award, Diamond Willow Award, Rocky Mountain Book Award; Red Cedar Book Award; VOYA Top Shelf Book
The Case of the Missing Deed: winner, Gold Medal, Rocky Mountain Book Award; nominated for John Spray Mystery Award and Manitoba Young Readers Choice Award
• Cellular: named to Tri-State Reading Council’s Best Books
• Abby’s Birds: nominated for BC Book Prizes (Christie Harris Illustrated Book Award), Marilyn Baillie Children’s Book Award, Shining Willow Book Award (Saskatchewan Library Association), Chocolate Lily Award and Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Illustration Prize; chosen for Ontario Lieutenant-Governor’s Literacy Program
• Stealing Home: 100 Book Challenge (American Reading Association), Sydney Taylor Book Award Notable Book for Older Readers, starred Our Choice by Canadian Children’s Book Centre, nominated for Manitoba Young Readers’ Award, Red Cedar Book Award and Chocolate Lily Award
• Yossi’s Goal: nominated for Silver Birch Express Award (Ontario Library Association) and Chocolate Lily Award
• I Love Yoga: New York Public Library Best Books for Teens
• I’m a Vegetarian: State of Pennsylvania Recommended Reading List

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