Bruce Larkin
Bruce Larkin | |
---|---|
Bruce Larkin in Montana | |
Born |
West Chester, Pennsylvania | January 23, 1957
Occupation | Author, Poet |
Nationality | American |
Genre | Children's literature |
Website | |
www |
Bruce Larkin (born January 23, 1957) is a children's book author and poet who writes in English and Spanish. Many of his works are published by Wilbooks, an educational publishing company. Larkin's books are primarily used to teach young children how to read.[1] Larkin has authored more than 1000 books, both fiction and non-fiction, for beginner readers.[2] Bruce Larkin is known for his philanthropic efforts in the field of literacy. In November and December 2009, Larkin donated over 400,000 books to schools all around the United States.[1] Larkin was named the 2012 Children's Poet of the Year by the Literacy Empowerment Foundation.[3]
Larkin has an interest in the jackalope myth, and refers to himself as a "jackalopoligist" with a specialty in "flaggerdoots".[4]
Biography
Bruce Larkin, a children's book author and poet, was born on January 23, 1957, in West Chester, Pennsylvania. He attended the Saint Simon and Jude school in Westtown Township, Pennsylvania. Larkin also attended Henderson High School in West Chester. Larkin served for four years in the United States Coast Guard, as a small boat crew member, and later as a search-and-rescue Air-crewman. After leaving the Coast Guard, Larkin attended The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, located in Galloway Township, New Jersey.
Larkin is a member of the Westtown-Goshen Rotary Club in West Chester.
Bibliography
Title | Synopsis | Original publication year |
---|---|---|
At the Farm | Introduces young children to common farm animals. | 1999 |
In the Desert | Helps children identify desert fauna. | 1999 |
The Book Monkeys | Exposes children to the inner-workings of book publishing. | 1999 |
All About Snakes | Gives children a first glimpse into the life of snakes. | 1999 |
Introducing Arkansas | Examines the state of Arkansas at a second-grade level. | 2000 |
Acadia National Park Animals | A book about the animals in Maine’s only national park. | 2000 |
All Birds Have Feathers | Helps children understand what makes birds different from other animals. | 2000 |
Cape Cod Animals | A book about the animals of the Cape Cod National Seashore. | 2000 |
Birds of the Great Plains | Identifies some of the common birds found on the Great Plains. | 2001 |
Forest Animals | A book about common animals in the forest. | 2001 |
In the Jungle | A book about jungle animals. | 2001 |
Jesse the Silly Dog | A whimsical story about a family pet. | 2001 |
Lost Homework | A rhyming book about telling the truth. | 2002 |
Welcome to Pennsylvania | A second-grade overview of the Keystone State. | 2002 |
A Long Day | Follows a child from waking up to bedtime. | 2002 |
¿Quién Hizo Esto? | The Spanish version of one of Bruce Larkin’s most popular books. | 2002 |
The Book Monkeys See Snow Ghosts | The Book Monkeys take a winter vacation. | 2003 |
This is New Jersey | A second-grade social studies book about the Garden State. | 2003 |
Where is Liam's Frog? | A rhyming book about a missing pet. | 2003 |
Looking at Gray Squirrels | A look at America’s favorite fluffy-tailed rodent. | 2003 |
Marine Mammals | Gives a general introduction to the world of marine mammals. | 2004 |
Panda Bears | Tells children about one of the world’s favorite animals. | 2004 |
Montana Bed and Breakfast | Tells early elementary school students about a bed and breakfast in Hungry Horse, Montana, which is close to Glacier National Park. | 2004 |
Saguaro National Park Birds | Examines avian life in Saguaro National Park. | 2004 |
Zoo Animals | Introduces common zoo animals to younger readers. | 2005 |
Study Science at the Glacier Institute | Details the operations of the Glacier Institute in Northwestern Montana. | 2005 |
Bruce Larkin Goes to Alaska | Allows children to follow Bruce Larkin, a children’s book author, on a research trip to Alaska. | 2005 |
Kartchner Caverns | Introduces the Kartchner Caverns State Park, a cave system in Arizona. | 2006 |
Meet Billy Bowman | Introduces Billy Bowman, the official mascot of the Glacier National Park Fund. | 2006 |
Every Child Needs a Book | Introduces young children to the volunteer activities of the East Bay Children's Book Project. | 2006 |
Visit Billy Bowman | Billy Bowman gives children some pointers on how to be responsible visitors to Glacier National Park. | 2007 |
Big and Small Dinosaurs | Illustrations help students visualize size differences between large and small dinosaurs. | 2007 |
Badlands National Park Animals | Images and descriptions of different animals that call Badlands National Park home. | 2007 |
Carol is a Rotarian | Introduces Carol, a Rotarian at the West Chester Downtown Rotary Club, and explains the many things she does as a Rotary Club member. | 2008 |
Rotary Clubs Help People | Explains what Rotary Clubs are, and how they help others around the world. | 2008 |
The Lost Ladybug Project | Describes a ladybug citizen scientist project. | 2008 |
Comida de las Granjas | Details different food products that come from farms in Spanish. | 2009 |
Fútbol | Explains different equipment used in soccer, the most popular sport in many Spanish-speaking countries. | 2009 |
Funny Poetry for Kids Volume 1 | A collection of humorous poems, written by Bruce and other poets. | 2009 |
There's an Idiom in My Poem | Describes idioms in the form of poems. | 2010 |
The Apple Scrapple Festival | Introduces the Apple Scrapple Festival, an annual food festival held in Bridgeville, Delaware. | 2010 |
Living in the Arches | Introduces readers to wildlife that lives in Arches National Park. | 2010 |
Bryce Canyon Animals and Plants | Tells children about plants and animals that live in Bryce Canyon National Park. | 2011 |
Adapting to Death Valley Heat | Explains to children how plants and animals adapt to life in Death Valley Desert. | 2011 |
Everglades National Park Animals | Introduces animals that make the Everglades National Park their home. | 2011 |
Grand Canyon Day | Introduces activities that visitors may do at Grand Canyon National Park, and things they may see while visiting. | 2012 |
Olympic National Park Animals | Tells elementary students about animals that live in Olympic National Park. | 2012 |
Rocky Mountain Animals | Introduces young readers to animals that live in Rocky Mountains National Park. | 2012 |
Smoky Mountains Park Animals | A book about animals that live in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. | 2013 |
Yellowstone Animals | A book about animals you can see at Yellowstone National Park. | 2013 |
Rare Yosemite Creatures | A book about interesting animals you can see at Yosemite National Park. | 2013 |
50 Facts About Jackalopes | A book about Jackalopes and flaggerdoots. | 2013 |
References
- 1 2 "Daily Local News article on Bruce Larkin" (PDF). Retrieved 2014-04-22.
- ↑ "Literacy Heroes Breakfast: Our Heroes". Literacyheroes.com. Retrieved 2014-04-22.
- ↑ Literacy Empowerment Foundation Children's Poet of the Year Archived May 15, 2013, at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ "Jackalope Research Institute". Jackalope Research Institute. Retrieved 2014-04-22.