Tanya Lee Stone


Tanya Lee Stone is an American author of children's and young adult books. She writes narrative nonfiction for middle-grade students and young adults, as well as nonfiction picture books. Her stories often center women and people of color.
Her work has received an NAACP Image Award, Robert F. Sibert Medal, and Golden Kite Award, among others. She is also the author of the young adult verse novel, A Bad Boy Can Be Good for a Girl, which was the 44th-most banned and challenged book in the United States between 2010 and 2019, as well as the sixth most banned and challenged book in 2013.

Education

Stone received her Bachelor of Arts in English from Oberlin College in 1987, then a Master of Science from Southern Connecticut State University.

Career

After graduating from Oberlin College in 1987, Stone became a children's book editor in New York City.
After moving to Vermont, she wrote her first book. Since then, she has written more than 100 books for children and young adults. Her articles, essays, and reviews have appeared in The New York Times, The Horn Book, Publishers Weekly, and School Library Journal.
Beyond writing, Stone is an assistant director and program director of the Professional Writing program at Champlain College in Burlington, Vermont. She also serves on several literature-related committees and is the co-founder of Kindling Words.

Selected Texts

''A Bad Boy Can Be Good for a Girl'' (2006)

A Bad Boy Can Be Good for a Girl was published January 10, 2006 by Wendy Lamb Books. The book landed on the American Library Association's Top 10 Banned Books List in 2013 because of its inclusion of drugs, alcohol, and smoking; nudity, offensive language, as well as its sexually explicit content. Between 2010 and 2019, it was the 44th most banned and challenged book in the United States.

''Almost Astronauts'' (2009)

Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream was originally published February 24, 2009 by Candlewick Press, then republished September 27, 2011. The book has received the following accolades, among others:

''Courage Has No Color'' (2013)

Courage Has No Color: The True Story of the Triple Nickles, America's First Black Paratroopers was published January 22, 2013 by Candlewick Press. The book has received the following accolades, among others:

''Who Says Women Can't Be Doctors?'' (2013)

Who Says Women Can't Be Doctors?: The Story of Elizabeth Blackwell was published February 19, 2013 by Henry Holt & Company. The book has received the following accolades:

''The House That Jane Built'' (2015)

The House That Jane Built: A Story about Jane Addams, illustrated by Kathryn Brown, was published June 23, 2015 by Henry Holt & Company. The book was an NCTE Orbis Pictus Awardnominee.

''Pass Go and Collect $200'' (2018)

Pass Go and Collect $200: The Real Story of How Monopoly Was Invented, illustrated by Steve Salerno, was published July 17, 2018 by Henry Holt and Co. The book was an NCTE Orbis Pictus Award Honor Book.

Publications

Fiction

Nonfiction

Alphabet series

D Is for Dreidel, illustrated by Dawn Apperley M Is for Mistletoe, illustrated by Claudine Gévry B Is for Bunny, illustrated by Sue Rama T Is for Turkey, illustrated by Gerald Kelley H Is for Haunted House A Is for America, illustrated by Gerald Kelley

Anthology contributions

The Great War: An Anthology Inspired by Objects from the First World War 1789: Twelve Authors Explore a Year of Rebellion, Revolution, and Change, edited by Marc Aronson and Susan Campbell Bartoletti

Biographies

Doctors in Action: Orthopedist Diana: Princess of the People Rosie O'Donnell: America's Favorite Grown Up Kid Laura Welch Bush: First Lady Oprah Winfrey: Success With an Open Heart Ilan Ramon: Israel's First Astronaut DK Biography: Abraham Lincoln DK Biography: Amelia Earhart Elizabeth Leads the Way: Elizabeth Cady Stanton and the Right to Vote, illustrated by Rebecca Gibbon Sandy's Circus: A Story About Alexander Calder, illustrated by Boris Kulikov Up Close: Ella Fitzgerald Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream DK Biography: Laura Ingalls Wilder Courage Has No Color: The True Story of the Triple Nickles, America's First Black Paratroopers Who Says Women Can't Be Doctors?: The Story of Elizabeth Blackwell, illustrated by Marjorie Priceman The House That Jane Built: A Story about Jane Addams, illustrated by Kathryn Brown Who Says Women Can't Be Computer Programmers?: The Story of Ada Lovelace, illustrated by Marjorie Priceman

History books

Americas Top 10: Construction Wonders The Great Depression and World War II The Progressive Era and World War I Teddy Bears Recycled Paper Snowboards Toothpaste , illustrated by Jill C. Brady Americas Top 10: National Monuments The Good, the Bad, and the Barbie: A Doll's History and Her Impact on Us Girl Rising: Changing the World One Girl at a Time Pass Go and Collect $200: The Real Story of How Monopoly Was Invented, illustrated by Steve Salerno

Space books

Saturn Mars Mercury
  • ''Venus''

Wilderness books

Wild America: Deer Kangaroos Tigers Turtles Wild America: Mouse Wild America: Opossum Wild Wild World: Mantises Wild Wild World: Mosquitoes Wild Wild World: Sea Lions Wild Wild World: Snails Regional Wild America: Unique Animals of Alaska Regional Wild America: Unique Animals of Hawaii Regional Wild America: Unique Animals of the Midwest Regional Wild America Unique Animals Of the Pacific Coast Regional Wild America: Unique Animals of the Southeast Living in a World of Blue: Where Survival Means Blending in Living in a World of Brown: Where Survival Means Blending in Living in a World of Green: Where Survival Means Blending in Living in a World of White: Where Survival Means Blending in Regional Wild America: Unique Animals of the Islands Regional Wild America: Unique Animals of the Mountains and Prairies Regional Wild America: Unique Animals of the Northeast Wild Wild World: Butterflies Wild Wild World: Gorillas Wild Wild World: Koalas Wild Wild World: Lions Crocodilians Wild Wild World: Chimpanzees ChickensElephantsFrogs
  • Hippos
  • Lobsters
  • OctopusesPeacocks
  • PigsPolar BearsRegional Wild America: Unique Animals of the South RhinosSharks
  • ''Snakes''

Nonfiction - Other

  • ''Medical Causes''