Celeste Davidson Mannis, the award winning author of several books for children, is convinced she has the best job in the whole world. "Writing for children is one of my greatest joys. Children are wonderfully open to new ideas. My goal is to explore aspects of our world - its people, cultures, history, and natural wonders - in a way that fuels their amazing intelligence and curiosity. Knowledge is power, and it's my fondest wish that through my books I can help provide children with a sense of their own potential and unique place in the greater world community."

Born in Los Angeles, California, Celeste now resides there with her much loved husband and daughters. She promises to go grocery shopping soon! Celeste holds undergraduate degrees in History and The History of Art, as well as a Masters in Business Administration, all from the University of Southern California. She has also studied British History and Renaissance Art History at the University of London.

Contacts

Email: celeste@celestedavidsonmannis.com
Website: www.celestedavidsonmannis.com

Books

		JULIA MORGAN BUILT A CASTLE Viking Children's Books (October 2006) Hardcover ISBN: 0670059641 A picture book biography of Julia Morgan, who fought discrimination to follow her dreams and become California's first licensed woman architect, with over 800 projects to her credit, including William Randolph Hearst's castle, San Simeon.
		SNAPSHOTS: THE WONDERS OF MONTEREY BAY Text and Photographs by Celeste Davidson Mannis Viking Children's Books (May 2006) Hardcover ISBN: 0670060623 Spare verse and full-color photographs introduce young readers to Monterey Bay's fascinating and adorable marine animals, and the unique places they inhabit.
		THE QUEEN'S PROGRESS, AN ELIZABETHAN ALPHABET Viking Children's Books, May 2003 Hardcover ISBN: 0670036129 Puffin Paperback ISBN: 0142400971 Rhymed verses, stunning illustrations, and a fascinating text all come together to form this imaginative story about Queen Elizabeth and her progresses, or journeys, through England's countryside. Perfect for history-lovers, alert readers, and suspense-seekers, this multi-layered picture book reveals something new with each reading.
		ONE LEAF RIDES THE WIND, COUNTING IN A JAPANESE GARDEN Viking Children's Books (September 2002) Hardcover ISBN: 0670035254 Puffin Paperback ISBN: 0142401951 A young girl makes her way slowly through a Japanese garden where she spots one leaf, two carved temple dogs, three

Series

		WHO WAS WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE? Grosset & Dunlap (December 2006) ISBN-10: 0448439042 ISBN-13: 978-0448439044 The beloved plays of Shakespeare are still produced everywhere, yet the life of the world's most famous playwright remains largely a mystery. In this lively middle grade biography, with humorous black and white sketches by acclaimed New Yorker illustrator John O'Brian, the author puts together the puzzle pieces of Shakespeare's life and work for young readers.

Awards and Honors

JULIA MORGAN BUILT A CASTLE

• Beatty Award, California Library Association, 2007
• A Junior Library Guild Premiere Selection, 2007
• Amelia Bloomer Project, American Library Association, 2007
• San Francisco Chronicle, Best of the Season, December 2006
• Walter and Valerie's Best Books of 2006

SNAPSHOTS: THE WONDERS OF MONTEREY BAY

• Southern California Children's Literature Council, Outstanding Achievement in Non Fiction, 2007
• Eureka! List, California Library Association, 2007
• Cornerstones of Science Award, Nominee, 2007
• Southern California Booksellers Association Award, Best Children's Book, 2006
• Walter and Valerie's Best Books of 2006
• San Francisco Chronicle, Best of the Season, December 2006
• School Library Journal, Hot Pick, October, 2006

THE QUEEN'S PROGRESS, AN ELIZABETHAN ALPHABET

• Children's Literature Choice List, 2004
• 2004 Notable Children's Book in the Language Arts, National Council of Teachers of English
• 2004 CBC-Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People
• PBS Teacher Source Recommended Book
• Selected for California Collection, California Readers

ONE LEAF RIDES THE WIND, COUNTING IN A JAPANESE GARDEN

• 2003 International Reading Association Award, Best Picture Book
• Parent’s Choice Award
• NCSS Notable Trade Book
• PBS Teacher Source Recommended Book
• Junior Library Guild Selection

WHO WAS WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE?

• A Scholastic Book Club Selection
• An Amazon Bestseller

Reviews

JULIA MORGAN BUILT A CASTLE

School Library Journal, starred review

"This picture book is a wonderful way to introduce young readers to a groundbreaking female architect. Filled with rich vocabulary, the narrative employs scrumptious architectural terms such as Baroque, flying buttresses, and teakwood cornice. An inspiring tale and encouragement for someday builders."

Booklist
"The fruits of architects' labors--from pyramids to skyscrapers--have been celebrated more frequently in picture books than architects themselves. Mannis' choice of subject, the first female graduate of the Ecole des Beaux-Arts, fills this void nicely, as the "little something" Morgan built for William Randolph Hearst on a California hilltop anchors the life story in a lavish project that will snare children's imaginations. The lively narrative crystallizes the struggles against the gender bias Morgan encountered and brings the details of a large-scale building site to a child's level…"

SNAPSHOTS: THE WONDERS OF MONTEREY BAY

School Library Journal, starred review

"Descriptive language paints a picture of this spectacular coastal ecosystem as clearly as the accompanying full-color photographs…With stunning photographs and text that will meet the needs of a wide range of ages, this title will be a welcome addition to most collections."

SNAPSHOTS: THE WONDERS OF MONTEREY BAY

Kirkus Reviews, starred review

Quiet alliterative text accompanies gorgeous color photographs illustrating the beauty of the bay and its intriguing occupants… Important concepts, including keystone species, erosion by wind and waves and the uniqueness of different habitats, are embedded in the well-written text. The attractive format and judicious selection make this an excellent choice for nature lovers in any part of the country."

THE QUEEN'S PROGRESS, AN ELIZABETHAN ALPHABET

Publishers Weekly

"Dense, erudite and absorbing, this collection of verse and prose about the travels of England's Tudor queen brims with information and energy…Readers of all ages will relish the challenge of following the visual story lines and sampling the fruits of Mannis's research."

THE QUEEN'S PROGRESS, AN ELIZABETHAN ALPHABET

School Library Journal, starred review

"This book could be used as an introduction to Elizabethan history, or it could serve as a model for creating alphabet books based on historical time periods. A plus for any collection."

ONE LEAF RIDES THE WIND, COUNTING IN A JAPANESE GARDEN

Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"Just as each element of a Japanese garden contributes to a calming, satisfying whole, the elements of this work-poetry, subtly integrated additional text, illustration, design, and even the endpapers-all meld together into a lovely whole that both entertains as successful poetry and educates as an introduction to several aspects of ancient Japanese culture. Teachers in elementary school classrooms will find this volume useful when studying Japan or the haiku format."

ONE LEAF RIDES THE WIND, COUNTING IN A JAPANESE GARDEN

Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Mannis's haiku act as both a guide to some of the elements of traditional Japanese culture and a useful introduction to the haiku form. Hartung's watercolors combine areas of finer draftsmanship with simple washes; in the artist's hands, the landscape becomes a series of meditative images."

Presentations

Celeste enjoys the challenge of tailoring presentations to groups of all ages and interests. Please contact her for details.