About the Author
Cynthia DeFelice
"I love writing a book that I would have loved to read when I was a child."
- Cynthia DeFelice, Scholastic.com
Learn more about this local author from Geneva, NY!
What does she love to read?
"Everything from Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books, comic books, MAD magazine, and so much more. My favorites were books that made me feel as if I were part of the story."
Did you always want to be a writer?
"When I was a child, I never would have guessed that I would become a writer. But I did love to read, and I loved when my mother read to me and my brothers and sister. She read to us every night, acting out the voices of the characters in books with great enthusiasm. She passed along her love of language, and I'm sure it's because of her that I eventually became a children's author."
When did you decide to become an author?
"I didn't become a writer until I was 36 years old. I had been an elementary school librarian, where it was my turn to read out loud to children, like my mother had done for us. I loved seeing their faces captivated by a good story, eyes wide and mouths hanging open. If only I could write a story to make them look like that, I thought . . ."
http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/contributor/cynthia-defelice
"There are so many best things! I love creating a character out of thin air, and feeling that character come to life beneath my fingers on the computer keyboard. I like working at two o’clock in the morning if I want to, and wearing pajamas or sweatpants to work. I like being my own boss. I’m a very nice boss, too…most of the time. Sometimes I have to say to myself, “I know you don’t feel like working today, but you put your rear end down in that chair and don’t get up until you’ve written five pages!!” I am trying to write books that I would have loved to read when I was a child. It is extremely gratifying to hear from children who say that something I wrote touched them, made them laugh or cry, or think and feel something special."
Read more here: http://cynthiadefelice.com/about-cynthia
Some Notable Picture Books by DeFelice
The Dancing Skeleton
Grade Level: K-5
Lexile Level: 590L
Aaron Kelly has passed but he is not happy when his wife is asked on a date by a fiddler. He is so frustrated that he comes home to spook his widow. While this may seem like a scary story, it is actually a humorous tale for children. Read The Dancing Skeleton by Cynthia DeFelice to find out how Aaron's widow gets him back into his coffin.
Awards/Honors:
A New York Times Ten Best Illustrated Books 1989
Winner of Parenting Magazine Reading Magic Award
Named a Best Book of the Year (Library of Congress)
One Potato, Two Potato
Grade Level: PK-5
Lexile Level: 810L
Mr. and Mrs. O’Grady are so poor they only have one of everything to share. One day, when Mrs. O'Grady finds a magic pot buried in their potato patch, their lives are changed forever! They have always hoped for enough food to eat, candles to light their home and some friends to spend time with. Read this touching and funny story, One Potato, Two Potato by Cynthia Defelice to see what The O'Grady's get and how their lives change!
http://cynthiadefelice.com/picture-books/one-potato-two-potato
Awards/Honors:
2007 Honor Book – Wanda Gag Book Award (best picture book to read aloud to young children)
Winner of the 2006 Parent’s Choice Gold Award
Nelly May Has Her Say
Grade Level: PK-2
Nelly May Nimble lives with her parents and her 12 siblings in a small cottage in the Bottoms. With so many of them, there is never enough food. Nelly May decides that she would like to help make money so she takes on a job as Lord Ignasius Pinkwinkle's new cook and maid. But Lord Pinkwinkle expects her to learn his own unique language while completing his tasks. Nelly May has chores like mopping the floor with a "scooperooty" to hold the water and must call him the Most Excellent of All Masters. She's had enough. When a spark from the "flaming-pop-and-sizzle" lands on the "fur-faced-fluffenbarker's wigger-wagger", will she save his "roof-topped castleorum," and get out of this job as his "fuzzy-dust-and-fooder"? - Read Nelly May Has Her Say by Cynthia DeFelice to find out!
http://us.macmillan.com/nellymayhashersay/cynthiadefelice
Awards/Honors:
2013 Booklist -- Starred Review (*)
2013 School Library Journal -- Starred Review (*)
2014 South Carolina Childrens, Junior and Young Adult Book Award -- Picture Book (Nominee)
Some Notable Novels by Defelice
Weasel
Grade Level: 4-8
Lexile Level: 870LA deranged man called "Weasel" is killing for no reason. He was originally hired by the U.S. government to drive out the Shawnee Native American Tribe from the Ohio Territory in the 1830’s. With the Native Americans either dead or in hiding somewhere safe, he now attacks people for no reason. One day, Nathan’s father is attacked by Weasel and he decides to take the law into his own hands. Does Nathan find Weasel and end his killing spree? Read Weasel by Cynthia DeFelice to find ou!
http://cynthiadefelice.com/novels/weasel
Awards/Honors:
ALA Notable Children’s Book
An American Bookseller Pick of the Lists
A School Library Journal Best Book
A Notable Children’s Book in the Field of Social Studies
Wild Life
Genre: Adventure/Realistic Fiction
Grade level: 4-8
Lexile level: 860L
After his parents are deployed into the Army, Eric must go and live with his gentle grandmother and cross grandfather. Erik struggles to handle his grandfather, and decides to leave. A young boy, a dog, a gun, and a backpack full of snacks enter into the North Dakota wilderness with winter coming. Erik is now challenged to live off the land in order to survive. In the meantime, he learns more about himself, his family, and why his grandfather is so angry. Read Wild Life by Cynthia DeFelice to find out how Erik survives this adventure and what he learns about himself and his grandfather.
http://cynthiadefelice.com/novels/wild-life
Awards/Honors:
Bank Street CBC Best Children's Book of the Year (2012)
New Hampshire Great Stone Face Award Nominee (2013)
Sequoyah Book Award Nominee (2013-2014)
The Missing Manatee
Grade Level: 4-8
Lexile Level: 830L
Manatees are protected animals under the law, especially in Florida where Skeet Waters lives. While out riding in his boat he comes across a dead manatee lying on the shore. He went to it and found that the manatee's been shot. Why would anyone shoot one of these beautiful, gentle creatures? Skeet went to get help but when he returned with the sheriff’s deputy, the manatee is gone!
Read The Missing Manatee by Cynthia DeFelice to solve this mystery alongside Skeet who learns a lot about life and that things are not always what they seem.
Awards/Honors:
A Booklist Top 10 Mystery/Suspense for Youth
Featured Novel: Fort (2015)
Genre: Adventure, Humor, Realistic Fiction
Grade level: 4-8
Lexile level: 700L
The summer has been the best one yet for Wyatt and his friend Augie because they are hanging out in their fort in the woods, sleeping there, fishing, hunting, and cooking over a campfire. They are not hurting anyone or looking to start trouble. But when two older jocks mess with the fort, these funny friends and aspiring heroes are forced to start "Operation Doom." Their results will surprise you! Read Fort by Cynthia DeFelice to find out how they overcome these older bullies.
Awards/Honors:
New York Public Library's 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing (2015)
Bank Street CBC Best Children's Book of the Year (Coming of Age, 2016)
IRA Children's Choices Reading List (2016)