CANSCAIP Members

Adrienne Mason

Author

P.O. Box 386
Tofino, B.C.
V0R 2Z0
Phone: 250-266-0141
Fax: 250-725-1288
Email: amason@seaviewcable.net
Web: www.adriennemason.com

Born: December 23. Nanaimo, B.C.
Married, with two children

Biography

I was born in Nanaimo, B.C., a town on the east coast of Vancouver Island. Our family moved to Victoria when I was two and I spent the rest of my childhood there. For as long as I can remember, I've loved being outside. As well as enjoying outdoor recreation I was always curious about the world around me. My first laboratory science experience that I can recall occurred when I was eight. My mom enrolled me in a science course called Crawly Creatures at the Provincial Museum (now the Royal BC Museum). I was the only girl in the class and an article in the paper related the story of how I was the only one who would volunteer to donate some blood (from a finger prick) when the class wanted to look at the blood under the microscope. I still have that newspaper article.

I went on to study biology at the University of Victoria with a few breaks now and then to work and travel. One of my most memorable journeys was when I spent five months in India. For part of that time I worked at an environmental education school. Years later, I was also lucky enough to get a job teaching marine biology on a tall ship (a BIG sailing ship). We sailed for six months and stopped at about 15 countries between where we started in Poland and where we finished in Jamaica. Back in Canada, I continued to teach marine biology at the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre on the west coast of Vancouver Island. Until recently, I was still doing a bit of science-related work, such as seabird surveys, butnow I write and edit full-time. In the summer of 2005, I helped launch a new science magazine for children -- KNOW: The Science Magazine for Curious Kids.

I still try to travel as much as I can and a few years ago my family -- my husband Bob and my daughters Ava and Patrice -- spent four and a half months travelling through the Cook Islands, New Zealand and Tonga. We also love to hike, beach comb, and camp closer to home.

We live in Tofino, a small town on the west coast of Vancouver Island, and spend lots of time exploring the many beaches in our area.

Published Works

The Drop of Doom, Kids Can Press, 2007
Change it!: Solids, liquids, gases and you, Kids Can Press, 2006
Build it!: Structures, systems and you, Kids Can Press, 2006
Skunks, Kids Can Press, 2006
Move it!: Motion, forces and you, Kids Can Press, 2006
Touch it!: Materials, matter and you, Kids Can Press, 2006
Snakes, Kids Can Press, 2005
Bats, Kids Can Press, 2003
Otters, Kids Can Press, 2003
Lu and Clancy Sound Off, Kids Can Press, 2002
Lu and Clancy's Carnival Caper, Kids Can Press, 2002
Lu and Clancy's Spy Stuff, Kids Can Press, 2000
The World of Marine Mammals, Orca Book Publishers, 1999
Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises, Altitude Publishing, 1999
The Nature of Spiders: Consummate Killers, Greystone Books, 1999
Lu and Clancy's Secret Codes, Kids Can Press, 1999
Mealworms: Raise them, watch them, see them change, Kids Can Press, 1998
Living Things, Kids Can Press,1997
Oceans: Looking at Beaches and Coral Reefs, Tides and Currents, Sea Mammals and Fish, Seaweeds and Other Ocean Wonders, Kids Can Press, 1995
The Green Classroom, Pembroke Publishers, 1991

Awards

Owls - OUR CHOICE 2005 designation, short-list 2005 Christie Harris Illustrated Children's Literature Prize
Snakes - Recommended list (2005) - National Science Teachers' Association
Bats - short-list (2004) Science in Society book award
Otters - short-list (2004) Science in Society book award, OUR CHOICE 2004, Best Bets for 2003, OLA
The World of Marine Mammals - OUR CHOICE 2000 designation (starred selection), Canadian Children's Book Centre; short-list Red Cedar awards
The Nature of Spiders: Consummate Killers - 1999 short-list Science in Society book award, Canadian Science Writers' Association (adult non-fiction category)
Living Things - 1997 short-list Science in Society book award, Canadian Science Writers' Association (children's non-fiction category), 1998 Parents' Choice designation, Parents' Choice Foundation
Mealworms: Raise them, watch them, see them change - OUR CHOICE 1999 designation, Canadian Children's Book Centre, 1998 Parents' Choice designation, Parents' Choice Foundation
OCEANS - 1995 short-list Science in Society book award, Canadian Science Writer's Association, (children's non-fiction category), OUR CHOICE 1996-97, Red Cedar Book Award short-list, Silver Birch Award short-list (Ontario Library Association)

Other Memberships

Federation of B.C. Writers, The Writers Union of Canada, Childrens Writers and Illustrators of BC (CWILL-BC), Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, Canadian Science Writers' Association

Available For

Readings, workshops, conferences


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