Asian/Pacific American Awards for Literature
2 appearances
-
Edition 0 (2001) Winner
Janet S. Wong
ジャネット・エス・ウォン
Janet S. Wong
Profile
- Gender
- Female
- Born
- Los Angeles, California, United States
- Nationality
- United States
- Languages
- English
- Residence History
- Los Angeles (Koreatown) → San Anselmo, California → Princeton, New Jersey
Career
- Occupations
- poet, children's author, lawyer (former), anthology co-creator/editor
- Active Years
- 1994-
- Affiliations
- Pomelo Books (co-created/published), UCLA Immigrant Children's Art Project (co-founder), Universal Studios Hollywood (former Director of Labor Relations)
- Influenced By
- Myra Cohn Livingston (poetry teacher)
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) | Undergraduate (History) | Department of History | B.A. (History) | 1979–1983 | United States |
| Yale Law School | Law School | — | J.D. | 1984–1987 | United States |
| Université de Bordeaux (study abroad) | — | — | — | ジュニアイヤーの短期留学 | France |
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
Undergraduate (History)
/ Department of History
Degree:
B.A. (History)
Period:
1979–1983
Year of Graduation:
1983
Country:
United States
Graduated summa cum laude
Yale Law School
Law School
Degree:
J.D.
Period:
1984–1987
Year of Graduation:
1987
Country:
United States
Worked occasionally as a substitute teacher while attending
Université de Bordeaux (study abroad)
Period:
ジュニアイヤーの短期留学
Country:
France
Studied art history during junior year
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | NCTE Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children | — | — | National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) | won |
| 2001 | Asian/Pacific American Award for Young Adult Literature | The Trip Back Home | Young Adult Literature | Asian/Pacific American Awards for Literature | won |
| 2000 | Lee Bennett Hopkins Award (Honors) | — | — | Penn State University | honor |
| 2005 | IRA Celebrate Literacy Award | — | — | International Reading Association | won |
| 1997 | Claremont Stone Center for Children's Books - Recognition of Merit | — | — | Claremont Stone Center for Children's Books | won |
NCTE Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children
2021
Organization:
National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE)
Result:
won
Asian/Pacific American Award for Young Adult Literature
2001
Work:
The Trip Back Home
Category:
Young Adult Literature
Organization:
Asian/Pacific American Awards for Literature
Result:
won
Lee Bennett Hopkins Award (Honors)
2000
Organization:
Penn State University
Result:
honor
IRA Celebrate Literacy Award
2005
Organization:
International Reading Association
Result:
won
Claremont Stone Center for Children's Books - Recognition of Merit
1997
Organization:
Claremont Stone Center for Children's Books
Result:
won
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
The Trip Back Home
2000 picture book / young adultA work exploring family, identity, and the immigrant experience—depicting the distance between home and the present.
immigrationfamilyidentity
Translations
- English original
Alex and the Wednesday Chess Club
2004 picture book / children's fictionA children's story about friendship and learning; the protagonist grows through involvement in a chess club.
friendshiplearningcoming of age
Translations
- English original
A Suitcase of Seaweed & MORE
2019 poetry collection / children's literatureA poetry-focused collection for children that includes diverse voices and elements of anthology.
multiculturalismnaturechildren's perspectives
Translations
- English original
Good Luck Gold and Other Poems
1994 poetryAn early collection of poems for children emphasizing humor and vivid imagery.
humorimaginationeveryday life
Translations
- English original
Apple Pie 4th of July
2002 picture bookA picture book depicting an Asian-American family and the intersection of culture and holiday traditions.
cultureholidayfamily traditions
Translations
- Available in Chinese-English and Korean-English bilingual editions
Bibliography
- Good Luck Gold and Other Poems (1994)
- A Suitcase of Seaweed and Other Poems (1996)
- Behind the Wheel: Poems About Driving (1999)
- The Trip Back Home (2000)
- Apple Pie 4th of July (2002)
- Alex and the Wednesday Chess Club (2004)
- Homegrown House (2009)
- A Suitcase of Seaweed & MORE (Pomelo Books, 2019)
Translations of Works
- This Next New Year — available in Chinese-English and Korean-English bilingual editions
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- rhythmic, read-aloud friendly poetryconcise, child-accessible languagebalance of humor and emotion
- Recurring Motifs
- familyimmigrant/multicultural experiencenatureeveryday observationidentity
Legacy
Janet S. Wong is an influential figure in children's poetry and children's literature, co-creating educational anthologies such as the Poetry Friday Anthology series. She is widely recognized in the field, including receiving the 2021 NCTE lifetime achievement award.
Academic Societies
- National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE)
- International Literacy Association (ILA)
Quotes
-
I regret growing up speaking neither Chinese nor Korean.
Source: Reading Rockets interview (transcript) (2013)
Trivia
- Grew up in Koreatown, Los Angeles, and moved with her family to San Anselmo at age seven—a move that influenced her work.
- Worked as a lawyer prior to becoming an author; served as Director of Labor Relations at Universal Studios Hollywood.
- Co-created the Poetry Friday Anthology series with Sylvia Vardell.
- Recipient of the 2021 NCTE Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children (a lifetime achievement award).