Alison James

Alison Wistar James has been writing and translating books for children since 1990, when her first novel, Sing for a Gentle Rain came out. She has lived in many countries, from Japan to Germany, from Sweden and Norway to Pakistan and Taiwan.  As an undergraduate, she studied languages and literature, with a course in poetry by Newbery award-winning author Nancy Willard; her graduate degree is in Children’s Literature, with a creative thesis course taught by Newbery honor winning novelist Nancy Bond.  Recently, she has finished the Professional Program in Screenwriting from UCLA.

Alison has published two picture books and two novels for young adults. Her latest picture book, Maple and Rosemary, illustrated by Jennifer Mann, will come out with Neal Porter at Holiday House in 2023.  She has translated more than 150 books for children. Alison lives with her musical family in northern Vermont.

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