Sophia Gholz

Sophia Mallonée Gholz is an American writer of children's books, both fiction and non-fiction.

Biography and career

Gholz was born in Gainesville, Florida. She was the second child of Nancy Dohn, an American corporate manager, and Henry Gholz, an American scientist.
Gholz's first book, The Boy Who Grew A Forest: The True Story of Jadav Payeng is a picture book that has been translated into multiple languages.
Gholz's books include Jack Horner, Dinosaur Hunter!, a picture book biography about the paleontologist who inspired the main character in Jurassic Park, This is Your World: The Story of Bob Ross, and A History of Toilet Paper . The bibliography below lists her published works.
Gholz's media appearances and interviews include BBC UK, The Sun News, Nonahood News, North East News India, Discovery Channel, Orlando Voyager, The Buzz TV The Bookshop at the End of the Internet Podcast, and The New York Times.

Select awards

Florida State Book Award Gold Medal for The Boy Who Grew A Forest
South Carolina Children's Book Award Nominee
Green Earth Book Award Honor
Crystal Kite Award Winner, Southeast Region
Keystone to Reading Book Award Shortlist
Children's Book Council Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People
Sigurd F. Olson Nature Writing Award Winner from Northland College
Eureka! Nonfiction Children's Book Honor Award, California Reading Association

Published works

The Boy Who Grew a Forest: The True Story of Jadav Payeng, illustrated by Kayla HarrenJack Horner, Dinosaur Hunter!, illustrated by Dave ShephardThis is Your World: The Story of Bob Ross, illustrated by Robin BoydenA History of Toilet Paper , illustrated by Xiana TeimoyBug on the Rug, illustrated by Susan Batori

Personal life

In 2008, Gholz married Jeff Olson, an American photographer and businessman. They had two children and live in Florida.

Adaptations

In 2022, stage rights were acquired to adapt the German translation, Der Junge, Einen Eald Pflanzte, of Gholz's book The Boy Who Grew A Forest: The True Story of Jadav Payeng, for a stage production at the Staatstheater Meiningen Theater in Berlin and the Humboldt Forum in Berlin.