Anna Ciddor

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Anna Ciddor (born January 1957) is an Australian author and illustrator.

Ciddor is a patron of Oz Kids, an organisation to promote and support children's literary and artistic talents[1] and was an ambassador for Australia Reads 2021-2023.[2] In 2021 she won the Nance Donkin Award for Children's Literature.[3] In 2023 she was the judge for the Boroondara Literary Awards (Young Writers' Prose).[4] In 2024 she is Chair and judge for the ARA Historical Novel Society of Australasia CYA Award[5]

Biography[edit]

Ciddor was born in January 1957 in Melbourne.[6] She was brought up in a house without television, and had an inventive and creative childhood.[7] She also had a strong interest in mathematics, and after finishing school, she obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in mathematics from the University of Melbourne and a Diploma of Education from Melbourne State College.[6] Her first career was as a senior school mathematics teacher, and it was only after marrying and having children that she began writing and illustrating.[7]

Her first book accepted for publication was a picture book,Take Me Back, published in 1988.[6] This book took the reader back in time to show how people lived in Australia in the past.[7][8] For the next few years, Ciddor continued to write and illustrate non-fiction books, concentrating on bringing history to life for children.[8] In 2002 Allen and Unwin published her first historical fantasy, Runestone, book 1 of Viking Magic. This children's novel, and the other Viking Magic books that followed, use historical details and strong storylines.[7][9]

In 2005 Ciddor was awarded a two-year grant by the Literature Board of the Australia Council.[10]

Ciddor based her fantasy books on global folk, fairy tale, and myth[11] as well as research into historic lifestyle and belief systems.[12] At the Melbourne Writers Festival in 2007 Ciddor appeared on a panel with Sophie Masson and Kate Forsyth discussing the historical truth behind their fantasy novels.[13] In a study of Canadian children's fantasy, author K.V. Johansen included a chapter on Ciddor's Viking Magic books because 'Although not by a Canadian author, the Viking Magic series is noteworthy' and 'does more towards realistic historical fiction than many "time-travel to learn history" novels'.[14]

In 2016 Ciddor changed to historical fiction with the release of The Family with Two Front Doors, published by Allen and Unwin.[15] It won a Notable Book Award from the Children's Book Council of Australia in March 2017.[16] The Family with Two Front Doors is based on interviews with the author's grandmother Nomi Rabinovitch, and tells the story of Nomi's childhood as the daughter of a rabbi in 1920s Lublin, Poland.[12][17][18] The writing style is inspired by Little House on the Prairie, presenting vignettes of the everyday life of a family.[12] The book combines historical fact and imagination but no fantasy elements.[17] According to a review by the Victorian Association for the Teaching of English, it is "an informative, gentle read' that "offers insight into how a Jewish household is run".[19] Unlike most books about the Jewish past, this one does not focus on the Holocaust and "there is... no violence and no hatred... but a charming reconstruction of daily routines".[20] Readings Bookstore, winners of the international Bookstore of the Year Award[21] described The Family with Two Front Doors as a modern counterpart to the classic book Little Women.[22] It was published in the US by Kar-Ben, a division of Lerner Books in 2018,[23] and chosen as a Junior Library Guild Selection.[24] In 2019 it was translated into Polish as Dwoje drzwi i dziewięcioro dzieci and published in Poland by Mamania .

Ciddor's book, 52 Mondays, published by Allen and Unwin in 2019, is a fictionalised account of Ciddor's own childhood, filled with memories of Melbourne in the 1960s.[25] It was shortlisted for the 2019 REAL Awards,[26] longlisted for the inaugural Book Links Award for Children's Historical Fiction.[27]

In Ciddor's most recent book, A Message Through Time, published by Allen and Unwin in 2023, ‘the relationships between the characters … provides some rich discussion and reflection for readers ... clear themes of gender roles, wealth and privilege, resilience, ingenuity, the issues of slavery and moral compass/conscience as well as rich historical details.'[28] It is a standalone companion to The Boy Who Stepped Through Time, published by Allen and Unwin in 2021.[29] The historical details for both novels were provided by Tamara Lewit who is an archaeologist and historian specialising in Ancient Rome.[30] The Boy Who Stepped Through Time was long listed for the ARA Historical Novel Prize in 2021[31] and shortlisted for the Aurealis Awards for Best Children's Fiction in 2022.[32]

In 2021 Ciddor won the Nance Donkin award for Children's Literature.[33]

In 2024 Ciddor is Chair and judge for the ARA Historical Novel Society of Australasia CYA Award[5]

Ciddor has written and illustrated over fifty books.[17]

Awards[edit]

  • Nance Donkin Award for Children's Literature[3] winner 2021
  • The Boy Who Stepped Through Time – ARA Historical Novel Prize long list 2021[31] Aurealis Award for Best Children's Fiction short list[32]
  • 52 Mondays – shortlisted for the 2019 REAL Awards,[26] longlisted for the inaugural Book Links Award for Children's Historical Fiction[27]
  • The Family with Two Front Doors – Notable Book, Children's Book Council of Australia 2017,[16] Junior Library Guild selection in America 2018[34]
  • Night of the Fifth Moon – Notable Book, Children's Book Council of Australia 2008[35]
  • Two-year New Work Grant from the Literature Board of the Australia Council 2005[10]
  • Runestone – Notable Book, Children's Book Council of Australia 2003[36]

Books[edit]

Trade market books[edit]

  • Have Kids, Will Travel, 1995, Silver Gum Press, ISBN 1-875843-08-6
  • Going Places: The Kids’ Own Travel Book, 1995, Silver Gum Press, ISBN 1875843078
  • Unplugged: the bare facts on toilets through the ages, 1997, Allen and Unwin, ISBN 1864484543
  • Runestone the first book in the Viking Magic series, 2002, Allen and Unwin, ISBN 978-1-86508-689-7
  • Wolfspell the second book in the Viking Magic series, 2003, Allen and Unwin, ISBN 1741140137
  • Stormriders the third book in the Viking Magic series, 2004, Allen and Unwin, ISBN 9781741143607
  • Prisoner of Quentaris, 2006, Lothian Books an imprint of Hachette, ISBN 0734408870
  • Night of the Fifth Moon, 2007, Allen and Unwin, ISBN 9781741148145
  • 1000 Great Places to Travel with Kids in Australia, 2011, Explore Australia Publishing, a division of Hardie Grant, ISBN 9781741173406
  • The Family with Two Front Doors, 2016, Allen and Unwin, ISBN 9781925266641, 2018, Kar-Ben ISBN 978-1-54150-011-2, 2019 as Dwoje drzwi i dziewięcioro dzieci, Mamania ISBN 9788365796974
  • 52 Mondays, 2019, Allen and Unwin, ISBN 9781760523480
  • The Boy Who Stepped Through Time, 2021, Allen and Unwin, ISBN 9781760526443
  • A Message Through Time, 2023, Allen and Unwin, ISBN 9781761180125

Educational market books (a selection)[edit]

  • Christmas in Australia, CIS Publishers, 1993, ISBN 9781875633388
  • Through Children's Eyes series, 1995, Macmillan Education Australia,  ISBN 0732921139
  • Australia in the Twentieth Century set of 11 volumes, 1998, Macmillan Education Australia,  ISBN 0732953820
  • Mountain of Gold, 2001, Barrie Publishing,  ISBN 1740654064
  • Federation: Changing Australia, 2001, Macmillan Education Australia,  ISBN 0732966655

References[edit]

  1. ^ "OUR PATRONS". OzKids – Childrens Charity Network. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
  2. ^ "Anna Ciddor - Authors". Australia Reads. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Nance Donkin Award for Children's Literature – Society of Women Writers Victoria". Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  4. ^ Boroondara, City of (30 June 2017). "Boroondara Literary Awards judges". City of Boroondara. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  5. ^ a b "Judging Panels for the 2024 ARA Historical Novel Prize | HNSA". hnsa.org.au. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  6. ^ a b c Who's Who of Australian Writers. D.W. Thorpe. 1 January 1991. ISBN 9780909532819.
  7. ^ a b c d Cohen, John (2003). "Anna Ciddor, Into the Past". Reading Time. 47. The Children's Book Council of Australia – via Austlit.
  8. ^ a b Lavi, Tali (2016). "Know the author: Anna Ciddor" (PDF). Magpies. 31: 16–18. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 April 2017. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
  9. ^ "Runestone/Wolfspell/Stormriders". La Trobe University. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
  10. ^ a b "Australia Council Annual Report 2005-6" (PDF).
  11. ^ Masson, Sophie (2016). "Mosaic and Cornucopia: Fairy Tale and Myth in Contemporary Australian YA Fantasy". Bookbird. 54 (3): 44–53. doi:10.1353/bkb.2016.0085.
  12. ^ a b c "Saturday March 19th - Book Families - 2SER - Real Radio 107.3 FM". Archived from the original on 21 April 2017. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  13. ^ Sullivan, Jane (29 August 2007). "Nix reveals there is a ring of truth to fantasy writing". The Age.
  14. ^ Johansen, K.V. (2007). Beyond Window Dressing? Canadian Children's Fantasy at the Millennium. Sybertooth. pp. 80–83. ISBN 9780968802458.
  15. ^ Koonse, Emma (2017). "Religion Book Deals". Publishers Weekly.
  16. ^ a b "Children's Book Council of Australia Notable list 2017".
  17. ^ a b c "Emotional literary journey to Poland". The Australian Jewish News. 30 March 2016. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  18. ^ "Reviews: The Other Mrs Walker, The Family With Two Front Doors". Stuff. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
  19. ^ "IDIOM – The Family with Two Front Doors". www.vate.org.au. Victorian Association of Teachers of English. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  20. ^ Lees, Stella (16 March 2016). "The Family with Two Front Doors". Reading Time. The Children's Book Council of Australia.
  21. ^ Miller, Nick (13 April 2016). "Readings Carlton wins top bookstore prize at London Book Fair". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 25 March 2017.
  22. ^ "Children's classics paired with their modern counterparts by Leanne Hall". www.readings.com.au. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
  23. ^ The Family with Two Front Doors.
  24. ^ "Junior Library Guild : The Family with Two Front Doors by Anna Ciddor". www.juniorlibraryguild.com. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  25. ^ McEwen. "Books and Publishing".
  26. ^ a b Mem: 34942848. "REAL Awards 2019 shortlists announced | Books+Publishing". Retrieved 18 August 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  27. ^ a b book_admin. "Book Links Award for Children's Historical Fiction – Longlist 2021". Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  28. ^ Warren, Sue (23 April 2023). "A Message Through Time – Anna Ciddor". Just So Stories. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  29. ^ "Allen & Unwin - Australia". www.allenandunwin.com. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  30. ^ "A Message Through Time". Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  31. ^ a b "2021 ARA HISTORICAL NOVEL PRIZE – CYA CATEGORY LONGLIST | HNSA". Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  32. ^ a b aaconvenor (5 April 2022). "2021 Aurealis Awards Shortlist Announcement". Aurealis Awards. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  33. ^ "Nance Donkin Award for Children's Literature". Society of Women Writers Victoria. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  34. ^ "Junior Library Guild : The Family with Two Front Doors by Anna Ciddor". www.juniorlibraryguild.com. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  35. ^ https://annauthor.files.wordpress.com/2018/09/notable-books-2008.pdf
  36. ^ https://annauthor.files.wordpress.com/2018/09/notable-books-2003.pdf

External links[edit]

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