Bios
50-Word Bio:
Christina Soontornvat is an award-winning author, engineer, and STEM educator. Her many works for children include picture books, chapter books, and the bestselling graphic novel, The Tryout. She is a three-time Newbery Honor recipient, most recently for The Last Mapmaker, which was also named a Best Book of the Year by The New York Times.
150-Word Bio:
Christina Soontornvat is the award-winning author of over twenty books for children of all ages. Her picture books include The Ramble Shamble Children, illustrated by Caldecott Honoree Lauren Castillo, and To Change a Planet, illustrated by Rahele Jomepour Belle. She is the author of the beloved Diary of an Ice Princess chapter book series and the bestselling graphic novel, The Tryout. Christina has received three Newbery Honor awards for her books for middle grade readers, and she is the only author to be awarded Newbery Honors for both fiction and nonfiction in the same year. Her account of the Thai Cave Rescue, All Thirteen, received numerous accolades, including the Kirkus Prize for Young People’s Literature. She travels all over the world to speak to children, writers, and educators about her love of reading and storytelling.
Christina grew up behind the counter of her parents’ Thai restaurant in a small Texas town with her nose stuck in a book. She is very proud of both her Thai and her Texan roots, and makes regular trips to both Weatherford and Bangkok to see her beloved family members (and eat lots and lots of Thai food!). In addition to being an author, Christina holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and a master’s degree in Science Education. She spent a decade working in the science museum field, where she designed programs and exhibits to get kids excited about science. She is passionate about STEM (science, technology engineering, and math) and loves learning new things. She currently lives in Austin, Texas with her husband and two daughters.
Christina is represented by Jodi Reamer at Writers House and Mary Pender at United Talent Agency.
Headshots
Awards & Accolades
Three-time Newbery Honor recipient, The Kirkus Prize for Young People’s Literature, Walter Dean Myers Honor, Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor, Sibert Honor for Nonfiction, YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Finalist, Orbus Pictus Honor for Nonfiction, Jane Addams Peace Association Book Award Winner, Texas Institute of Letters Book Award Winner, Bank Street College Book Award Winner, named a Best Book of the Year by The Washington Post, School Library Journal, NPR, Kirkus Reviews, and The New York Public Library
The first author since 1954 to receive two Newbery Honors in one year and the only author to receive the Newbery Honor for both fiction and nonfiction in a single year
Keynote speaker for the Singapore Book Council Asian Festival of Children’s Content, the Florida Association for Media in Education Conference, the Writing Barn Nonfiction Conference, Texas Region 20 Library Conference, School Library Journal Day of Dialog, BYU Books for Young Readers Symposium, and the Association for Library Service to Children’s National Institute.
TO BOOK CHRISTINA FOR AN INTERVIEW, CONTACT HER DIRECTLY OR SUBMIT A REQUEST TO THE AUTHOR VILLAGE.
INTERVIEWS
Book Images
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