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Simon French Simon French i(A7674 works by)
Born: Established: 1957 Paddington, Kings Cross area, Inner Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, ;
Gender: Male
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BiographyHistory

Simon French was born in Paddington, Sydney, and was educated at schools in the suburb of Blacktown. At Blacktown High School he was co-editor of a school newspaper and wrote his first novel Hey Phantom Singlet (1975). After high school he worked for some time at Blacktown Library before qualifying as a primary school teacher at the Mitchell College of Advanced Education in Bathurst. At Mitchell College, French worked as an announcer for the college radio station and co-edited the college newspaper. He also wrote his second book Cannily, Cannily (1981).

After graduating, French worked as an infant school teacher and youth worker while working on his third book, All We Know (1986). French's books have been regularly shortlisted for Children's Book Council Book of the Year Awards with All We Know winning in 1987. In 1991 French published Change the Locks and, after a 10 year hiatus, he wrote Where in the World and Guess the Baby. Both books received favourable attention from award judges. French's books frequently explore the struggle of individuals trying to cope with change and difference in closed and open societies.

In 2019, French was in his 36th year of teaching. He also spent four years working in an inner-city children's refuge, which influenced hie work Change the Locks.

French is married to illustrator Donna Rawlins.

Most Referenced Works

Awards for Works

y separately published work icon Other Brother Newtown : Walker Books Australia , 2012 Z1863484 2012 single work children's fiction children's

'Kieran wants to be part of the in-group at school. He wants to be on the football team. He wants to fit in. But then his cousin Bon turns up. Bon doesn t know anything about fitting in he looks different, he wears the wrong clothes, and he says weird things. Kieran just wants to ignore Bon, but soon he is forced to make a choice. Which is more important being popular, or doing the right thing?' (Publication summary)

2013 recommended for therapists Australian Family Therapists' Award for Children's Literature
2015 shortlisted West Australian Young Readers' Book Award Younger Readers
2013 CBCA Book of the Year Awards Notable Book Younger Readers
2013 shortlisted CBCA Book of the Year Awards Book of the Year: Younger Readers
y separately published work icon Where in the World Little Hare Books , 2002 Z970628 2002 single work children's fiction children's

'Through a series of recollections, Where in the World tells the compelling story of Ari, an eleven-year-old boy with a gift for music.

'For such a young boy, Ari has already had to face some big issues in his life: emigrating from Germany to Australia with his mother, leaving behind his beloved grandfather, whom he and his mother have lived with since the death of Ari's father in a car accident; developing a relationship with his new stepfather, Jamie; and learning how to deal with his musical talent, the expectations it places on him, and what it will mean for his future. By remembering his early travels around Europe with his mother, and translating his memories of people and places into pieces of music, Ari grows to realise that life is composed of many kinds of journeys - figurative as well as literal - and accepting those journeys is part of finding your place in the world.

'With beautifully drawn characters, this is a gentle and moving book. ' (Publication summary)

2004 IBBY Honour Diploma Writing
2003 shortlisted Guardian Children's Fiction Prize
2003 shortlisted New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards Multicultural NSW Award
2003 winner New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards Patricia Wrightson Prize for Children's Books
2003 shortlisted CBCA Book of the Year Awards Book of the Year: Younger Readers
y separately published work icon Guess the Baby Sydney : ABC Books , 2002 Z950173 2002 single work picture book children's "When a class of kindergarten children take part in a Guess-the-Baby photo competition, the results are amusing, entertaining and very surprising!" (source: publisher's website)
2003 shortlisted CBCA Book of the Year Awards Book of the Year: Early Childhood
Last amended 16 Apr 2019 08:22:10
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