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Award-winning author Jennifer J. Stewart is known for her seriously funny books for children. Her debut novel, concerning a hot-headed, time-traveling, princess-chasing dragon named Madam Yang, is a favorite among schoolchildren. If That Breathes Fire, We’re Toast! was named to VOYA’s Best Fantasy list and the Oklahoma master list. She followed up her initial success with a tale of a rich orphan and a greedy stepmother in The Bean King’s Daughter, which Kirkus Reviews called “both amusing and engaging... fluffy and fun, with just the right touch of message.”
Her latest novel, Close Encounters of a Third-World Kind, is loosely based upon her family’s real life adventures working as medical volunteers in the kingdom of Nepal. Jennifer tended patients in village hospitals and taught health education classes to women and children. She also trekked to Annapurna Base Camp and rode a runaway elephant. This book was nominated for Arizona's Grand Canyon Reader Award, Connecticut's Nutmeg Book Award, and Maryland's Black-Eyed Susan Award.
Jennifer's first picture book, The Twelve Days of Christmas in Arizona, will be published by Sterling in the fall of 2010. New York Times bestselling artist Lynne Avril did the illustrations (and the sketch of Jennifer, too!).
Jennifer was born in East Patchogue, New York, to a librarian mother and a physicist father. When she was four years old, her family moved to Tucson, Arizona, where she grew up and attended Whitmore Elementary, Townsend Junior High, and Catalina High. She received an honors degree in English from Wellesley College, followed by an M.B.A. from the University of Utah. For awhile she wore suits and pantyhose, but then she found out writing for children was a lot more fun.
When Jennifer is not writing or speaking at schools or at writing conferences, she volunteers with MAKE WAY FOR BOOKS, a non-profit organization which gives young children the chance to fall in love with books and reading. She is honored to serve on the board of directors.
Jennifer makes her home in Tucson with her physician husband. They have three daughters and far too many pets (sadly Hissy Fit, her Madagascar hissing cockroach has passed away).
Visit Jennifer on the Web at www.jenniferjstewart.com.