Extended Children`s Author Biography

New York Times Best Selling author Toni Buzzeo wrote the 2013 Caldecott Honor
Book, One Cool Friend. She creates award-winning picture books for children that
celebrate the importance of family and new adventures in a wide and welcoming
world as well as the fun of learning through books and libraries.
Aboutschool
Tonilibrarian
Buzzeo
A former elementary
and secondary teacher, Toni Buzzeo is an
experienced public speaker who travels nationally and internationally speaking as a
visiting author in schools, at international and national library and reading
conferences, and in district and regional staff development trainings.
Her books for teachers and librarians encourage excellence in teaching and
collaborative practice among educators.
Picture Books by Toni Buzzeo—2,780,000 Books in Print!
JUST LIKE MY PAPA illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka (Hyperion, 2013)
“The pacing is superb, with the right amount of drama for the youngest readers yet awash with reassuring paternal
love and care for young Kito.”~School Library Journal. “The book’s large format and rich, rhythmic language make it
a good candidate for reading aloud to a group. At the same time, its quiet nature makes for a good one-on-one
sharing, too.”~Booklist. Children’s Book-of-the-Month Club May 2013 Alternate Selection; hardcover sales: 7,396
STAY CLOSE TO MAMA illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka (Hyperion, 2012)
“There’s no doubt that readers and their parents will instantly see themselves in this loving but ongoing conflict over
the need to explore and the need to protect, and they’ll undoubtedly find the two characters adorable and reassuring”
~Publishers Weekly. Children’s Book-of-the-Month Club April 2012 Featured Selection. Scholastic Firefly Book Club
paperback edition; hardcover sales: 8,701
ONE COOL FRIEND illustrated by David Small (Dial, 2012)
“Though very much a boy-and-his-pet story, it’s just as much about two gentlemen who appear to be orbiting entirely
different planets. The revelation that they’re not so dissimilar after all is about as sweet as it gets.” Starred
Publishers Weekly; Starred School Library Journal; Starred Library Media Connection; 2013 Caldecott Honor
Award; 2013 Maine Literary Award for Children’s Books; 2013 ALA Notable book; 2013 CCBC Choices; Junior
Library Guild Selection; Indie Next Selection; Children’s Book-of-the-Month Club February 2012 Featured Main
Selection; Society of Illustrators ‘The Original Art 2012 selection; 2012 Goodreads Best Picture Book Award
nominee; 2013 SCBWI New England SCBWI Crystal Kite Finalist; 2014 Maine Raising Readers Anthology
Collection; 2013-14 Tennessee Volunteer State Book Award nominee; 2013-2014 VT Red Clover Award Nominee;
2014 Arizona Grand Canyon Readers Award nominee; 2014 South Carolina Picture Book Award nominee; 2014
Nevada Young Reader’s Award nominee, Picture Book Category; 2014 Illinois Monarch Award nominee; French
edition; New York Times Children's Picture Book Best Seller; Dollywood Imagination Library: 135,000; hardcover
sales: 54,637; Total books in print: 189,637
LIGHTHOUSE CHRISTMAS illustrated by Nancy Carpenter (Dial, 2011)
“There’s a charmingly nostalgic feel both to the story and to the illustrations, which convey a sense of time and place
and are very appealing. ... A lovely tradition and a lovely book.” ~Starred School Library Journal; “Buzzeo and
Carpenter end their story on a quiet note of inclusion involving a one-eared cat. Here is true grace in unlikely
surroundings — away in a manger, so to speak.” ~New York Times Book Review; 2012 Time of Wonder Award
Winner; Cooperative Children's Book Center 2012 Choices Book; Bank Street College’s Best Books of the Year.
Finalist Stephen Kroll/PEN Picture Book Award; hardcover sales: 11,194
NO T. REX IN THE LIBRARY illustrated by Sachiko Yoshikawa (McElderry/S&S, 2010)
“A lively introduction to the multitude of stories and topics found in a library with an emphasis on the importance of
book care and library etiquette, this will especially appeal to active youngsters.” ~Kirkus; 2010 Cheerios Spoonfuls
of Stories title; Scholastic Seesaw book club paperback edition; Scholastic audio edition; hardcover sales: 12,420;
Scholastic Book Clubs: 7,309; General Mills paperback bilingual edition: 1,580,035; Total books in print: 1,599,764
ADVENTURE ANNIE GOES TO KINDERGARTEN illustrated by Amy Wummer (Dial, 2010)
"Buzzeo’s dauntless heroine’s attitude is infectious." ~Kirkus; “A fine addition to the Adventure Annie series, this
picture book offers a dynamic alternative to stories about shy kids with kindergarten jitters.” ~Booklist; Judy
Freeman’s 100 Best Children’s Books for 2010; hardcover sales: 10,165
ADVENTURE ANNIE GOES TO WORK illustrated by Amy Wummer (Dial, 2009)
“A strong mother-and-daughter story with an exuberant lead.” ~SLJ; “[Readers] will identify with the intrepid kid who
finds treasure where grown-ups are lost.” ~Booklist; “A strong mother-and-daughter story with an exuberant lead,
this uplifting selection is full of everyday fun as well as being a nice depiction of the usefulness of organizational and
map-making skills. A winning choice for both classroom and home.” ~Kirkus; Pick of the Decade 2000-2010: The
Best Books For Children K-2. Woodbridge Public Library; hardcover sales: 7,024
READY OR NOT, DAWDLE DUCKLING illustrated by Margaret Spengler (Dial, 2005)
“The intense, sunny pastels match the atmosphere of a jolly day at the beach (complete with the duck family in straw boaters);
they also fit Dawdle's bright, goofy, imperturbable spirit.” ~Booklist; “an excellent choice that is tailor-made for
preschoolers” ~School Library Journal; Polish edition; hardcover sales: 8,132
LITTLE LOON AND PAPA illustrated by Margaret Spengler (Dial, 2004)
“An appealing story about paternal guidance and support.” ~School Library Journal; Dolly Parton Imagination Library
title; 2004 Bank Street College Best Children’s Books of the Year; 2004 Brodart Top Juvenile Titles of the Year;
Raising Readers Anthology; hardcover sales: 14,307; Raising Readers Five Stories from Maine: 14,330; Dollywood
Imagination Library: 680,976; Total books in print: 709,613
DAWDLE DUCKLING illustrated by Margaret Spengler (Dial, 2003)
“Buzzeo's gentle lesson [is] just right for the preschool set.” ~Kirkus; Children’s Book-of-the-Month Club selection;
Dolly Parton Imagination Library title; Raising Readers selection; New Jersey State Library Pick of the Decade List;
Scholastic Honeybee Book Club selection (with Audio); Korean edition; Polish edition; 2003 Judy Freeman’s Best
Books of the Year; 2004 Dr. Peggy Sharp’s Books + Schools; Pick of the Decade 2000-2010: The Best Books For
Children K-2. Woodbridge Public Library; hardcover sales: 17,053; Dollywood Imagination Library: 124,322;
paperback sales: 12,251; paperback special sales: 1,043; Scholastic audio sales: 20,829; Total books in print:
175,489
THE SEA CHEST illustrated by Mary GrandPre (Dial, 2002)
”The combination of exquisite language and enchanting illustrations makes this a unique and outstanding book.”
~Starred School Library Journal; Junior Library Guild selection; Scholastic Book Fairs edition; Raising Readers
selection; Kansas-NEA Reading Circle Catalog; 2002 Maine Lupine Honor Award; 2002 Bank Street College Best
Children’s Books of the Year; 2002 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Award; Society of Illustrators ‘The Original Art
2002’ selection; 2003 Dr. Peggy Sharp’s Select Good Books; 2004-2005 Crown Gallery Award; 2005-2006 Young
Hoosier Book Award nominee; hardcover sales: 40,250; hardcover special sales: 11,812; Total books in print: 52,062
Forthcoming Picture Books by Toni Buzzeo
MY BIBI ALWAYS REMEMBERS illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka (Hyperion, Fall 2014)
CYNTHIA MOSS AND THE ELEPHANTS OF AMBOSELI illustrated by Holly Berry (Dial, Fall 2015)
Awards & Honors
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2013 Maine Literary Award, ONE COOL FRIEND
2013 Caldecott Honor, ONE COOL FRIEND
2012 Time of Wonder Award, LIGHTHOUSE CHRISTMAS
2012 New York Times Best Seller, ONE COOL FRIEND
2010 General Mills Spoonfuls of Stories, NO T. REX IN THE LIBRARY
2010 Maine Literary Awards, Youth Category, Honorable Mention, Novel in Progress
2006 Young Hoosiers Award List, THE SEA CHEST
2005 Children’s Crown Gallery Award, THE SEA CHEST
2004 University of Michigan-Dearborn School of Education Distinguished Alumnus of the Year
2002 Lupine Honor Award, THE SEA CHEST
2002 Oppenheim Gold Award, THE SEA CHEST
2000 Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Barbara Karlin Grant Winner
Select News, Media & Reviews
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Toni Buzzeo, winner of the Maine Literary Award for Children’s Literature, featured in the York County
Journal Tribune, June 7, 2013
ONE COOL FRIEND reviewed in the New York Times Book Review, January 12, 2012
LIGHTHOUSE CHRISTMAS reviewed in the New York Times Book Review, December 3, 2011
Toni Buzzeo interview featured in Raising Maine Magazine, January 2011
NO T. REX IN THE LIBRARY one of five books in the General Mills 2010 Spoonfuls of Stories promotion:
1.55 million copies distributed November and December 2010
NO T. REX IN THE LIBRARY featured in BusinessWire press release for General Mills Spoonfuls of Stories,
November 3, 2010
ADVENTURE ANNIE GOES TO WORK featured in Working Mother Magazine, January 2010
ADVENTURE ANNIE GOES TO WORK featured by Rutgers University Project on Economics and Children,
2009
Article in New Hampshire Sunday News (Manchester, NH) February 22, 2009
Article in California Kids! April 5, 2005
DAWDLE DUCKLING reviewed in the Boston Herald (MA) March 6, 2005
LITTLE LOON AND PAPA reviewed in Boston Herald (MA) June 13, 2004
DAWDLE DUCKLING reviewed in the Boston Herald (MA) Mary 18, 2003
THE SEA CHEST featured by Maine Sunday Telegram (Portland, ME) October 24, 2002
THE SEA CHEST reviewed in Miami Herald (FL) August 13, 2002
Interviews on NBC affiliate WCSH news magazine “207” (Portland, ME)
Interviews on NPR affiliate MPR “Maine Things Considered” (Portland, ME)
For more information, please visit Toni Buzzeo’s Web site
www.tonibuzzeo.com