Natalie M. Rosinsky

My touchstones have always been books. Like clear-eyed family members, different books have anticipated my needs and questions, mirrored my problems, and provided help or inspiration.

I grew up on an inner-city block made famous in Betty Smith's A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. As a high school English teacher, I recognized many funny or painful experiences captured in the pages of Bel Kaufman's Up the Down Staircase. Later, the mayhem—if not the murders—of Amanda Cross's mystery novels, with their university settings, seemed familiar as I completed graduate degrees at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and became a college professor. What Color is Your Parachute? guided my next career move—into the business world, where I worked as a corporate trainer and instructional designer.

For a quarter-century, I lived with my husband and son in Mankato, Minnesota, on the “Big Hill” of Maude Hart Lovelace's beloved Betsy-Tacy series for young readers. Those works and my encounters with Lovelace fans on their pilgrimage to our neighborhood took on new meaning as I began to write myself. Now, after a recent move to Bloomington, Minnesota, I am ready for another new chapter in my life! Which books shall I read...what new work may they inspire?

Since 1994, I have written over 100 nonfiction articles, activities and books for children and young adults. In 2000, my piece about puzzles in Cricket magazine, “No Cross Words Allowed,” won the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators Merit Award for the year's best nonfiction article. In 2004, my article about forensic science in Odyssey magazine, “'Facing' Jack the Ripper: Forensics Then and Now,” was awarded a letter of merit in SCBWI's annual competition.

Sarah Winnemucca: Scout, Activist, and Teacher, my biography of that Northern Paiute leader, was honored by the Western Writers of American as a finalist in the 2007 Spur Award competition for juvenile nonfiction. Sarah Winnemucca also represented the state of Nevada at the 2006 National Book Festival in Washington, D. C. This biography was named one of 2006's best books for children by the Bank Street College of Education.

I have written science picture books and chapter books on holidays, money, hospitals, Native American tribes, California ranchos, the Vietnam War era, world religions, and science. My longer works for older readers include a book about the mystery of Jack the Ripper and biographies of popular author Amy Tan and scientific genius Sir Isaac Newton. I have also written the stories of the atomic bomb and pharmaceuticals and delved into the culture of comics. In 2011, Graphic Content! The Culture of Comic Books was named a "Book of Note" for young adults by the Pennsylvania School Librarians Association.

I enjoy writing so much that I completed a series of books to help young people write their own stories and books. In 2008, this ongoing series won a Distinguished Achievement Award from the Association of Educational Publishers. In 2009, the Pennsylvania School Librarians Association named Write Your Own Graphic Novel a 2008 Young Adult Top 40 Nonfiction Title. My motto is “Plan ahead, but also live ‘write now’.”

The Story of the Atomic Bomb:
How It Changed the World
Compass Point Books, 2010
ages 10 and up, ISBN 978-075654316

Just before dawn on July 16, 1945, a secret U.S. project changed the world forever. In New Mexico, scientists and soldiers watched with awe the explosion of a new invention, an atomic bomb. The blast—as strong as 20
tons of TNT—astonished its creators, even though they had planned for it.

Learn how a war led to this invention, and the resources it took to develop and deploy it. Read about the mixed emotions its creators had, and how the atom bomb has shaped both hot and cold wars. Find out why we still live with nuclear nightmares and dreams.

The Story of Pharmaceuticals:
How They Changed the World
Compass Point Books, 2010
ages 10 and up, ISBN 978-0756543150

A soldier with an open wound. An infant with fever. A boy in pain from a broken arm. These conditions, along with many epidemics, are now helped or cured with drugs. The impact of modern pharmaceuticals on human health has changed our world.

The story of pharamaceuticals, though, is as old as recorded human history. People had to suffer through killing cures and risky remedies before real ways to prevent or cure some diseases and relieve suffering were found. These discoveries came about through amazing chance as well as hard work. Find out the human stories behind the successful medicines we now often take
for granted. Learn, too, about the global problems and the possibilities raised by pharamaceuticals today.

Graphic Content! The Culture of Comics
Compass Point Books, 2010
ages 10 and up, ISBN 978-0756542412

Donald Duck in Sweden? Teenage superheroes with everyday problems? People imprisoned or executed for creating comic books? The life of Buddha honored
in a graphic novel? Get ready to be astonished by the pop culture blaze kept alive today by comic books.

From short strips printed on cheap paper to award-winning novels, comic books have come a long way. Their evolution mirrors the way our world has become
more complicated and connected in the last 100 years. The great news? These exciting changes are not over yet.

Awards & Recognition
Pennsylvania School Librarians 2011 "Book of Note" for young adults

Judaism
Compass Point Books, 2010
ages 9 and up, ISBN 978 0 7565 4240 5

"May you have a sweet new year!" This is the greeting Jews exchange each fall during Rosh Hashona, the Jewish New Year. Learn about Judaism, the world's oldest religion whose followers worship only one god. Jews have maintained their strong traditions and intense faith even under severe oppression. Discover the rich history and traditions of Judaism and how this religion fits into today's world.

Hinduism
Compass Point Books, 2010
ages 9 and up, ISBN 978 0 7565 4328 2

"Good luck and blessings in the new year!" This is how Hindus greet one another during Diwali, the Hindu New Year. Learn about Hinduism, the world's oldest organized religion. Hindus acknowledge one god who has many names and is imagined in many forms. Discover the rich history and traditions of Hinduism and how this religion fits into today's world.

Write Your Own Nonfiction
Compass Point Books, 2009
ages 10 and up, ISBN 978-0756541309

Are you excited by the mysteries that history and science explore? Do you ask yourself "Why?" and "How?" or "What's next?" when you learn about current events? Perhaps you are already a fan of a particular hobby or
sport. If you fancy the stories behind facts and you like to investigate them, you will enjoy writing your own nonfiction. This book will be your guide.

Write Your Own Fable
Compass Point Books, 2009
ages 10 and up, ISBN 978-0756541286

Since ancient times, storytellers around the globe have entertained and instructed listeners through fables. These short tales often teach lessons about good and bad behavior by featuring animals or other creatures. Adults as well as children appreciate how fables frequently poke fun at foolish deeds. You too can write fables! This book will guide you as you explore this worldwide tradition and create your own fabulous tales.

The Kent State Shootings
Compass Point Books, 2008
ages 8 to 12, ISBN 978 0756538453

On May 4, 1970, violence on the campus of Kent State University shook an entire nation. Learn what led up to the Kent State shootings and how the tragedies of that day unfolded. Discover how these shocking events affected the course of the Vietnam War. Find out what questions remain about the shootings and how they continue to influence people today.

The Draft Lottery
Compass Point Books, 2008
ages 8 to 12, ISBN 978 0756538415

Drafting young men into military service was a major controversy of the Vietnam War. Learn about the draft, including what happened to draftees and those who resisted or opposed the draft. Find out about the lottery system which was supposed to make the draft more fair. Discover how and why the draft lottery continues to affect some people and stir questions today.

Write Your Own Graphic Novel
Compass Point Books, 2008
ages 10 and up, ISBN 978 0756538569

Are you ready to get the big picture about writing? Today's authors sometimes use pictures as well as words to tell stories in graphic novels. Many writers create their own images for graphic novels, but other writers work with artists to craft these high-interest, exciting tales. Learn how to write your own graphic novel—either by yourself or with an artist—through brainstorming and other activities in this book. Be inspired by examples taken from adventures, legends, science fiction, fantasies, and fairy tales written as graphic novels. Discover how nonfiction such as autobiography, history, and science are also part of the popular world of graphic novels. This book will help you find your own creative path as a graphic novelist.

Awards
Association of Educational Publishers' 2008 Distinguished Achievement Award; Pennsylvannia School Librarians' 2008 Young Adult Top 40 Title

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