LOIS LOWRY

PRESENTS:

WRITING FOR ALL CHILDREN

INTRODUCTIONLois Lowry (born March 20, 1937) is an American writer credited with more than thirty children's books and an autobiography. She has won two Newbery Medals, for Number the Stars in 1989 and The Giver in 1993.As an author, Lowry is known for writing about difficult subject matters within her works for children. But she balances these darker works with light, funny novels, being one of the few authors who can successfully write drama, comedy, and tragedy.

CHILDHOODLois Ann Hammersberg was born on March 20, 1937, in Honolulu, Hawaii.Lowry was born the middle of three children. She had an older sister, Helen, and a younger brother Jon. Helen, three years older than her, died in 1962 at the age of 28. This experience influenced Lowry's first book A Summer to Die.

A WORLD EDUCATIONLowry's father was a career military officer an Army dentist, whose work moved the family all over the United States and to many parts of the world. Lowry and her family moved from Hawaii to Brooklyn, New York, in 1939 when Lowry was two years old and later relocated to her mother's hometown, Carlisle, Pennsylvania, in 1942 when Lowry's father was deployed to the Pacific during World War II. Following World War II, Lowry and her family moved to Tokyo, Japan, where her father was stationed from 19481950. Lowry went through junior high school at a special school for the children of military families, and then returned to the United States to attend high school.

ADULT LIFE Lowry entered Brown University in 1954. She attended for two years until her marriage at age 19 to Donald Lowry, a U.S. Navy officer, in 1956. Together they had four children: daughters Alix and Kristin, and sons Grey and Benjamin.She developed a passion for photographing children, and wrote magazine articles to accompany her photographs, which led an editor to invite her to write a story for children. She published her first book when she was 40 years old.

A SUCCESSUL CAREERSince then, Lois Lowry has written over 40 books for children and young adults, and has also published her autobiography.She has won numerous awards, and her books have been made into movies, television shows, and plays!Some of her notable books include:Gooney Bird GreenThe Silent BoyThe WilloughbysCrow CallThe Birthday Ball

DIFFICULT TIMESWriting about both funny things and serious issues has sustained Lois Lowry through her own hard times. Her son Grey was killed in the crash of his fighter plane in 1995. This was the most difficult day of her life, but through her steady work as an author, she has persevered. Lowry said, "His death ...tore away a piece of my world. But it left me, too, with a wish to honor him by ...trying to find a way to end conflict on this very fragile earth." Later, her son Ben and his wife named their son Grey Lowry in remembrance of their brother.

OUR STORY: THE WILLOUGHBYSThe Willoughby'sTimothy; his twin brothers, Barnaby A and Barnaby B; and their little sister, Janeare old-fashioned children who adore old-fashioned adventures. Unfortunately, the Willoughby parents are not very fond of their children, and the truth is that the siblings are not too keen on their parents either. Little do the Willoughby kids know that their neglectful mother and father are hatching an evil plan to get rid of them! Not to worrythese resourceful adventurers have a few plans of their own. But they have no idea what lies ahead in their quest to rid themselves of their ghastly parents and live happily ever after.

THE KRUPNIK FAMILYWere going to be reading a story by Lois Lowry called All About Sam.In 1979, Lois Lowry wrote a humorous story called Anastasia Krupnik, about a young girl and her two parents. It was immediately successful, and led to eight sequels!In 1988, Lois decided to give only child Anastasia a little brother, and wrote All About Sam.She begins the story in a very unusual way Sam tells his own story starting on the day that hes born!

THE ENDA NUTSY THE SQUIRREL PRODUCTIONCOPYRIGHT 2013 OAK HILLS MEDIA CENTERALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

bibliographyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lois_Lowryhttp://www.loislowry.com

MUSIC: Christoforis Dream David Lanz; Narada, 1988.

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