Hello!
It's time to update this
letter. First, let me thank you for visiting my web site. It's written
for my young readers, as well as the adults in their lives. I hope you
find everything you're looking for here. If not, please shoot me an
e-mail and tell me what you think is missing. And if you're a student
whose school I have visited, yes, I really mean it when I say I will
continue to answer your questions via e-mail. So keep on sending those
questions! Click here to
send them to me.
I can't believe When Is
a Planet Not a Planet? The Story of Pluto is about to celebrate
its first birthday. It was published August, 2008 by Clarion Books and
it has found its way into schools and libraries across the country.
Look for it in your library. Or order a copy for yourself. Joining this
book is another space book, Mars and the Search for Life, also
published by Clarion. This is a book about the Mars rovers, Spirit and
Opportunity, and the discoveries they are making on Mars. Yes, those
two rovers are still working on the Martian surface! Mars is
the planet in our solar system most like Earth, and scientists are eager
to learn more about its formation and history, so they can in turn learn
more about what Earth's fate might be in the future. Mars appears dry,
but is there liquid water hidden beneath its dusty surface? Were there
ever rivers and oceans on Mars? Could human beings live there one day?
Has any life ever been found on Mars? These are questions scientists
are asking. You may find some answers in this book.
Since the United Nations
has declared 2009 the International Year of Astronomy, I have been receiving
a lot of requests to come visit schools and talk about my books--especially
those that deal with space science. Maybe I'll come to your school this
year--who knows?
Of course I love all kinds
of science, so I'm also excited about another book, All About Sleep
from A to Zzzzz, published by Viking Children's Books. Did you know
that some people have died from lack of sleep, or that the loudest snoring
on record is 90 decibels--about as loud as a train whistle? These fun
facts, plus lots more, are included in All about Sleep. If you've
ever been curious about where you go when you go to sleep, I hope you'll
read this book.
Secrets of the Cirque
Medrano was published by Charlesbridge. Secrets is something
different for me--a novel. I was inspired by Picasso's famous painting,
The Family
of Saltimbanques, which now hangs in the National Gallery in Washington,
D.C. The story revolves around 14-year-old Brigitte, the café where
she works and lives with an elderly aunt and uncle, a young acrobat
from the Cirque Medrano, revolutionaries and Russian diplomats, and
of course…Picasso. It is nothing like the story I began to write, but
of course, that's why writing is so exciting. The writing process is
like a journey that takes you to a destination you may not have planned.
Right now I'm busy writing
next fall's book, Eye on the Universe: The Story of the Hubble Space
Telescope. It's another Clarion title, and as its name implies it
will tell a lot about Hubble, and how it has helped astronomers around
the world learn more about our universe. Keep checking back on the web
page, as I will be updating it from time to time, as I plan new projects.
In the meantime, work hard, play a lot, keep sending those e-mails,
and enjoy the beginning of a brand new school year!
Elaine Scott
Honors and Events
Secrets of the Cirque
Medrano has been
named one of Bank Street College's
Best Children's Books of the Year!
The Texas
State Reading Association awarded When is a Planet Not a Planet?
the 2008 Golden Spur Award for Children's Literature (now called
TSRA Literature Award for Children, Young Adult and Illustrator).
When is a Planet Not a
Planet? won the 2008 Texas Reading Association's Literature Award.
It
was also named as a PBS
Recommended Book, a 2008 Teacher's
Choice book, and was
also named to the Maine
Student Book Awards list for 2008-2009.
Elaine was a featured author
at the International
Reading Association Conference in Phoenix, AZ, February 21-25, 2009.
Elaine was a featured speaker
at the 2008 Texas Library Association Conference in Dallas, TX.
Elaine was a featured author
at the 2007 Texas Book Festival in Austin, TX.
Poles
Apart was named a finalist for the prestigious Teddy Children's
Book Award in 2005. The Pennsylvania Library Association named Poles
Apart to its YA
Top 40 list! Chicago Public Library names Poles Apart one
of its Best of the Best
Elaine was one of a select
group of children's authors invited to participate in Laura
Bush Celebrates America's Authors, part
of the extended Inaugural Activities on January 19, 2001.
Read about her experience in the Special Events section of the site.
When Is
a Planet Not a Planet? is named to the 2010-2011 
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