Mary Beth Leatherdale


Mary Beth Leatherdale is a Canadian author and storyteller.

Early life and education

Leatherdale grew up in Ridgetown.
Leatherdale received a bachelor's degree in visual arts from the University of Western Ontario, followed by a Master of Education from the Ontario Institute of Studies in Education at the University of Toronto.

Career

In 2018, Leatherdale was the International Board on Books for Young People Canada president, during which time she co-chaired a project to increase the number of children's books by Indigenous authors held in Canadian libraries.

Awards and honors

Dreaming in Indian is a 2015 White Ravens book.
#NotYourPrincess is a Amelia Bloomer Book. Kirkus Reviews and Quill & Quire included it on their list of the best books of 2017.
Chicago Public Library included Stormy Seas on their "Best Informational Books for Older Readers of 2017" list. Booklist included it on their 2017 "Booklist Editors' Choice: Books for Youth" list, as well as their 2018 "Top 10 Diverse Nonfiction for Older and Middle Readers" list. Stormy Seas is a 2018 White Ravens book.
Terry Fox and Me is a Junior Library Guild book. CBC Books named it one of the top 20 picture books of 2020. Bank Street College of Education included it on their 2021 list of the best books published for children ages five to nine. Terry Fox and Me was on the CBC Bestseller List for nine weeks.
YearTitleAwardResultRef.
2014Dreaming in IndianForeword INDIES Award for Young Adult Nonfiction Silver
2015-16Dreaming in IndianFirst Nation Communities ReadShortlist
2016Dreaming in IndianAmerican Indian Youth Literature Award for Middle Grade BookHonor
2017Foreword INDIES Award for Young Adult Nonfiction Bronze
2017Stormy SeasForeword INDIES Award for Juvenile Nonfiction Finalist
2018Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children's Non-FictionWinner
2018YALSA Award for Excellence in NonfictionFinalist
2018Stormy SeasSilver Birch Award for NonfictionWinner
2021Stormy SeasRebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book AwardNominee
2021Terry Fox and MeGolden Kite Award for Nonfiction for Younger ReadersFinalist
2021Terry Fox and MeSilver Birch Express AwardFinalist
2022American Indian Youth Literature Award for Best Young Adult BookWinner

Publications

Children's books

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Anthologies edited

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