Vivian Vande Velde, Author
Vivian Vande Velde has traditionally published 40 books that range from one picture book to two novels for adults. But mostly she writes for children between the ages of 7 and 10, and for mid-grade readers, and young adults, including chapter books and themed collections, fairy tales and spooky stories, featuring girl protagonists and boys (and squirrels). Almost all of her stories include elements of fantasy and humor.
Vivian Vande Velde at School
Vivian’s books have been translated into several languages, including French, Spanish, Dutch, Turkish, and Japanese. They have been Junior Library Guild selections and are on state reader’s choice lists, as well as ALA lists. Never Trust a Dead Man won the Edgar; Heir Apparent won the Anne Spencer Lindbergh Prize in Children’s Literature; and Vivian was awarded the Empire State Award for her body of work.
Vivian Vande Velde Teaches Writing to Middle Grade Students
Vivian likes to incorporate elements of writing workshops in her classroom presentations. She has spoken to grades K – 8, but is most comfortable with grades 3 – 6. She encourages children to tell their own unique stories.
Vivian Vande Velde lives in Rochester, NY and cannot remember a time before she wanted to be a writer. She was the founder of the Rochester Children’s and Teen Book Festival in 1997 because she wanted to celebrate local writers and also to promote the love of reading. Though others are now in charge of that, Vivian continues to organize Festival to Go, bringing volunteer authors and illustrators into Rochester city schools to give free presentations to individual classrooms, and to provide a copy of each presenter’s book to each child in that author’s session.
Connect with Vivian on Facebook (Vivian Vande Velde Books).
You can visit Vivian Vande Velde at her website: www.VivianVandeVelde.com