Jean Little is a Canadian author known for writing children's books that often feature characters with disabilities. She was born in 1932 in Taiwan and moved to Canada as a child, where she was diagnosed as legally blind. Despite her vision impairment, she pursued a degree in English and had a career as a teacher before becoming a full-time author. Many of her books focus on characters coping with challenges like cerebral palsy, blindness, or grief. Her works often aim to portray people with disabilities accurately rather than relying on "magical cures." Little has won numerous awards for her writing and continues to publish novels and picture books.

1. Jean
Little

2. Author’s Corner: Novels
Birdie for Now Listen for the Singing
(2002) (1977)
Somebody Else’s
Dancing Through the Look Through My Summer (2005)
Snow (2007) Window (1970)
Spring Begins in
Different Dragons Lost and Found March (1966)
(1986) (1985)
Stand in the Wind
Forward, Mamas Going to Buy (1975)
Shakespeare (2005) You A Mockingbird
(1984) Take Wing (1968)
From Anna (1972)
Mine for Keeps The Belonging Place
His Banner Over Me (1962) (1997)
(1995)
One to Grow On The Birthday Girl
Home from Far (1969) (2004)
(1965)
Rescue Pup (2004) Willow and Twig
Kate (1971) (2000)

4. Jean Little Biography
Born in 1932, in Formosa taught herself to read on
(Taiwan) her own, which became
her “greatest joy”
Doctors found scars over
both of her corneas, which Moved to Toronto, Canada
is cause for a significant in 1939
loss of eyesight and is
diagnosed as legally blind Was first in a school for
children with vision
Teased in school problems, but transitioned
to a regular education
Family was very classroom by fourth grade
supportive, with parents
reading to her frequently She lost lots of
accommodations and
Gained limited vision, struggled

5. Began to enjoy writing; Published first novel
her father encouraged after freshman year:
her and often edited Let Me Be Gentle about
her work a large family with a
mentally retarded six-
Father published her year-old girl.
first collection of poetry
when Little was 15 Graduated in 1955 with
years old bachelor’s degree in
English
Saturday Night
(magazine) published Taught children with
two of her verses. “I disabilities, although
listened and [when] his she primarily wanted to
voice broke, I knew write
why I wanted to be a
writer.” Worked with children at
camps and in their
Attended Victoria homes, and at the
College’s English Institute of Special
language and literature Education in Salt Lake
program to pursue a City, Utah and at
degree in English, Florida University
father suffered a heart
attack

6. Inspired her to write for Children’s Book of the
children Year Award for Mama’s
Going to Buy You a
Found that books of the Mockingbird – focuses
1950s that did portray on grief and
children with disabilities understanding of a child
were difficult to find and losing a parent
inaccurate portrayals –
miraculous miracles Also writes historical
novels
Published Mine for
Keeps about Sally Published many novels,
Copeland, a young girl picture books, and
with cerebral palsy – professional articles
focuses on coping skills
of Sally and those When not writing, works
around her with young people in
churches, schools, and
1985 – won Canadian the community

7. Jean Little, the Author
Partially sighted None of her characters find
“magical cures” for their
Former teacher of children problems
with disabilities
Learn to cope and led to
Her disability and greater self-understanding
experiences are a basis for
many of her characters, Has won awards such as
many of whom have Canadian Children’s Book
cerebral palsy or are blind Award, Governor General’s
Literacy Award, and a
Many other characters Vicky Metcalf Award
confront psychological
difficulties, such as fear or http://www.teachingbooks.n
grief et/tb.cgi?aid=859

8. Bibliography
(2012). Jean little photograph. (2012). [Web
Photo]. Retrieved from
http://www.scholastic.ca/dearcanada/authors/jea
n_little.htm
Little, J. (n.d.). Jean little: Canadian author.
Retrieved from http://jeanlittle.ca/
Little, J. (n.d.). Teaching books: Jean little.
Retrieved from
http://www.teachingbooks.net/tb.cgi?aid=859

9. Bibliography of Author’s
Books
Little, J. (1995). Bats about baseball. Penguin.
Little, J. (2002). Birdie for now. Orca.
Little, J. (2003). Brothers far from home: The World War I diary of Eliza Bates.
Scholastic.
Little, J. (2007). Dancing through the snow. Scholastic.
Little, J. (1986). Different Dragons. Penguin.
Little, J. (1998). Emma’s Magic Winter. Harper.
Little, J. (2004). Emma’s Strange Pet. Harper.
Little, J. (2001). Emma’s Yucky Brother. Harper.
Little, J. (2005). Forward, Shakespeare!. Orca.

10. Little, J. (1972). From Anna. Harper.
Little, J. (1996). GruntlePiggle takes off. Penguin.
Little, J. (1986). Hey world, here I am!. Kids Can Press.
Little, J. (1995). His banner over me. Penguin.
Little, J. (1965). Home from far. Little Brown & Co.
Little, J. (2003). I gave my mom a castle. Orca.
Little, J. (2003). I know an old laddie. Penguin.
Little, J. (2007). If I die before I wake: the flue epidemic diary of Fiona
Macgregor. Scholastic.
Little, J. (1995). Jenny and the Hanukkah queen. Penguin.
Little, J. (1991). Jess was the brave one. Penguin.
Little, J. (1971). Kate. HarperCollins.
Little, J. (1977). Listen for the singing. Stoddart.

11. Little, J. (2006). Listen, said the donkey. Scholastic.
Little, J. (1987). Little by little. Penguin.
Little, J. (1970). Look through my window. Harper & Row.
Little, J. (1985). Lost and Found. Penguin.
Little, J. (1984). Mama’s going to buy you a mockingbird. Penguin.
Little, J. (1962). Mine for keeps. Penguin.
Little, J. (1991). One upon a golden apple. Penguin.
Little, J. (1969). One to grow on. Penguin.
Little, J. (2001). Orphan at my door: the home child diary of Victoria
Cope. Scholastic.
Little, J. (2003). Pippin the Christmas pig. Scholastic
Little, J. (2004). Rescue Pup. Orca

12. Little, J. (1992). Revenge of the small small. Penguin.
Little, J. (2005). Somebody else’s summer. Penguin.
Little, J. (1966). Spring begins in March. Penguin.
Little, J. (1975). Stand in the wind. Penguin.
Little, J. (1990). Stars come out within. Penguin.
Little, J. (1968). Take wing. Little Brown & Co.
Little, J. (1997). The belonging place. Penguin.
Little, J. (2004). The birthday girl. Orca.
Little, J. (2008). The sweetest one of all. Scholastic.
Little, J. (1998). What will the robin do then?. Penguin.
Little, J. (1968). When the pie was opened. Little, Brown.
Little, J. (2000). Willow and Twig. Penguin.