Valerie Wyatt — Author

Biography

Valerie Wyatt is an award-winning author more than 14 nonfiction books, many of them about science. She also writes on historical topics and, from time to time, picture books. Asked if she has a favorite book, she says it’s always the one she’s just finished.

“I never imagined when I was growing up that I would be a writer,” she says. “But I was a big reader. In fact, to this day, if I don't have something to read, I start to feel panicky. I consider myself a book-aholic, which probably explains why I began writing them.”

She began her career at OWL magazine in 1978. It was her job to answer readers' questions. Kids would write in and ask, “Do fish sleep?” or “Why can't you sneeze with your eyes open?” To track down the answers, she would interview scientists and write up the answers in ways kids could understand. From there she branched out into books.

She loves writing for children because it’s not just about the words. “You have to think about the photographs and illustrations as well and make sure they fit together,” she says. “It’s like putting together a jigsaw puzzle.”

She lives in Victoria, British Columbia, with her husband and dog, MacPherson, whose favorite food is cucumbers.

Awards

How to Build Your Own Country

2012 - Red Cedar Book Award, Winner
2011 - Hackmatack Award, Winner
2011 - Silver Birch Award, Ontario Library Association, Winner
2010 - Best Books for Kids & Teens, Canadian Children’s Book Centre, Winner
2010 - Information Book Award, Children’s Literature Roundtables of Canada, Winner Inventions
2006 - Red Cedar Book Award, Short-listed