Candice Ransom
I’ve never wanted to be anything besides a writer of children’s books and have published 165 books for children and young adults.
My work includes picture books, board books, easy readers, chapter books, middle grade novels, “tween” fiction, young adult fiction, biographies, and nonfiction. More than 45 of my books have been translated into 12 languages.
Among my popular titles are The Big Green Pocketbook, a classic picture book; easy readers such as Tooth Fairy’s Night, Garden Day, and Pumpkin Day; nonfiction, including Terrier Trouble! And More True Stories of Animals Behaving Badly and Big Rigs on the Move; picture books such as Amanda Panda Quits Kindergarten and Amanda Panda and the Bigger, Better Birthday; young reader biographies such as James Madison and Thomas Jefferson; board books such as Hello, Virginia! and The Twelve Days of Christmas in Washington, D.C.; and novels such as Iva Honeysuckle Discovers the World, Finding Days Bottom, and Rebel McKenzie.
My chapter book series, Time Spies, is a winner in the class room (out of print, but still available through third party sellers). Readers love the fast-paced stories that blend history, fantasy, biography, mystery, and adventure. I’ve also written eighteen titles in the Boxcar Children series.
I’m grateful for each honor my books have earned. They include: Booklist Starred Review, School Library Journal Starred Review, ALA Recommended Book for Reluctant Readers, New York Times 10 Best Illustrated Book, Best Science Book, CBC Notable Children’s Social Studies Book, Pick of the List, New York Public Library Best 100 Book, Book-of-the-Month Club Selection, Smithsonian Notable Book, IRA Children’s Choice, IRA Teacher’s Choice, Independent Publisher Silver Medal, Independent Publisher Honorable Mention, Virginia Young Readers, Show Me State Readers, Prairie State Readers, Sunshine State Readers, Northern California Librarians Distinguished Book, Chicago Public Library Best of the Best, William Allen White Nominee, Texas Bluebonnet Nominee, twice Cybils Nominee, and Junior Library Guild Selection.
I love making school appearances, as well as giving talks to industry professionals. I’ve delivered keynotes to many reading council conferences, library conferences, literary festivals, and writer’s conferences. Recently, I’ve spoken at the International Reading Association, Texas Reading Association, Virginia State Reading Association, Longwood University, William and Mary College, Hollins University, Virginia Festival of the Book, National Association for the Education of Young Children, and the Virginia Library Association.
I graduated in 2004 with my MFA in writing for children from Vermont College of Fine Arts, followed by an MA in children’s literature at Hollins University. In 2006, I taught at Spalding University’s graduate program in creative writing. Since 2008, I’ve been a faculty member at Hollins University, teaching in the Children’s Literature Graduate Program.
On the Web
See Also
Books
Series/Related Titles
- Almost Ten And A Half - 1990
- Amanda - 1984
- Amanda Panda And The Bigger, Better Birthday - 2018
- Amanda Panda Quits Kindergarten - 2017
- Apple Picking Day! - 2016
- Beach Day! - 2020
- Between Two Worlds - 1994
- Big Green Pocketbook, The - 1993
- Bones In The Badlands - 2006
- Breaking The Rules - 1985
- Cat's Cradle - 1987
- Christmas Dolls - 1998
- Danger At Sand Cave - 2000
- Day Of The Black Blizzard, The - 2016
- Emily - 1985
- Field Day! - 2024
- Fifteen At Last - 1987
- Finding Day's Bottom - 2009
- Fire In The Sky - 2011
- Flames In The City - 2008
- Fourteen And Holding - 1987
- Funniest Sixth Grade Video Ever - 1991
- Garden Day! - 2019
- George Washington And The Story Of The U.S. Constitution - 2011
- Giant In The Garden - 2007
- Go, Go, Tractors! - 2021
- Going On Twelve - 1988
- Gold In The Hills - 2008
- Goldilocks And The Three Bears - 2002
- Graduation Day! - 2023
- Grandparents Day! - 2022
- Halloween Night! - 2024
- Horses In The Wind - 2007
- I Like Shoes - 2006
- Iva Honeysuckle Discovers The World - 2012
- Iva Honeysuckle Meets Her Match - 2013
- Juneberry Blue - 2024
- Kaleidoscope - 1987
- Kathleen - 1985
- Key To The Griffon's Lair - 2005
- Ladies And Jellybeans - 1991
- Let's Explore The Five Senses - 2020
- Let's Explore the Sense Of Smell - 2020
- Let's Explore The Sense Of Touch - 2020
- Liberty Street - 2003
- Life-Saving Adventure Of Sam Deal, Shipwreck Rescuer, The - 2010
- Little Red Riding Hood - 2002
- Magician In The Trunk - 2007
- Message In The Mountain - 2008
- Millicent The Magnificent - 1989
- Monsters In A Mess - 2022
- More Than A Name - 1995
- My Sister The Creep - 1990
- My Sister The Meanie - 1989
- My Sister The Traitor - 1989
- Nicole - 1986
- Night Of The Hurricane's Fury, The - 2009
- Old Blue Pickup Truck - 2009
- One Christmas Dawn - 1996
- Pony Island - 2009
- Promise Quilt - 1999
- Pumpkin Day! - 2015
- Race For First Place - 2022
- Rebel McKenzie - 2012
- Rescue On The Outer Banks - 2002
- Recue Adventure Of Stenny Green, Hindenberg Crash Eyewitness, The - 2011
- Rider In The Night - 2007
- Sabrina - 1986
- Sam Collier And The Founding Of Jamestown - 2006
- School Day! - 2022
- Secret In The Tower - 2006
- Seeing Sky-Blue Pink - 2007
- Shooting Star Summer - 1992
- Signals In The Sky - 2007
- Silvery Past, The - 1983
- Sixth-Grade High - 1991
- Sleepover Night! - 2025
- Snow Day! - 2018
- So Young To Die - 1993
- Spitball Class, The - 1994
- Susannah - 1984
- Teacher's Pest - 1997
- There's One In Every Family - 1990
- Third Grade Detectives - 1994
- Third Grade Stars - 1993
- Thirteen - 1986
- Today Fifth Grade, Tomorrow The World - 1989
- Tooth Fairy's Night - 2017
- Tractor Day - 2007
- Twelve Days Of Christmas In Washington, D.C. - 2010
- Underground Adventure Of Arly Dunbar, Cave Explorer, The - 2011
- We're Growing Together - 1993
- When The Whippoorwill Calls - 1995
- Who Needs Third Grade? - 1993
- Why Are Boys So Weird? - 1993
- Willie McLean And The Civil War Surrender - 2004
Recognitions
- 1986 Golden Medallion Finalist - Young Adult Romance, Emily