Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal
2 appearances
-
Edition 11 (2011) Winner
-
Edition 24 (2024) Nominee
Sy Montgomery
シイ・モンゴメリー
Shī Montogemerī
Profile
- Gender
- Female
- Born
- 1958-02-07 （Frankfurt）
- Nationality
- American
- Languages
- English
- Residence History
- Frankfurt, Germany → Brooklyn, New York → Alexandria, Virginia → Westfield, New Jersey → Hancock, New Hampshire
Career
- Occupations
- Naturalist, Author, Scriptwriter
- Active Years
- 1979-2024
- Nominations
- National Book Award 2015 Finalist
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Westfield High School | — | High School | High School Diploma | — | United States |
| Syracuse University | S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications / College of Arts and Sciences | Magazine Journalism / French Language and Literature / Psychology | Bachelor's degrees | — | United States |
| Keene State College | — | — | Doctorate of Humane Letters (Honorary) | — | United States |
| Franklin Pierce University | — | — | Doctorate of Humane Letters (Honorary) | — | United States |
| Southern New Hampshire University | — | — | Doctorate of Humane Letters (Honorary) | — | United States |
| Lesley University | — | — | Doctorate of Humane Letters (Honorary) | — | United States |
Westfield High School
High School
Degree:
High School Diploma
Year of Graduation:
1975
Country:
United States
Westfield, New Jersey
Syracuse University
S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications / College of Arts and Sciences
/ Magazine Journalism / French Language and Literature / Psychology
Degree:
Bachelor's degrees
Year of Graduation:
1979
Country:
United States
Triple major; honorary doctorates from Keene State College (2004), Franklin Pierce University (2011), Southern New Hampshire University (2011), Lesley University
Keene State College
Degree:
Doctorate of Humane Letters (Honorary)
Year of Graduation:
2004
Country:
United States
Honorary
Franklin Pierce University
Degree:
Doctorate of Humane Letters (Honorary)
Year of Graduation:
2011
Country:
United States
Honorary
Southern New Hampshire University
Degree:
Doctorate of Humane Letters (Honorary)
Year of Graduation:
2011
Country:
United States
Honorary
Lesley University
Degree:
Doctorate of Humane Letters (Honorary)
Country:
United States
Honorary
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Orbis Pictus Award | Quest for the Tree Kangaroo | — | National Council of Teachers of English | Winner |
| 2010 | Sibert Medal | Kakapo Rescue: Saving the World's Strangest Parrot | — | American Library Association | Winner |
| 2015 | National Book Award for Nonfiction Finalist | The Soul of an Octopus | Nonfiction | National Book Foundation | Finalist |
| 2024 | Cook Prize | The Book of Turtles | — | Bank Street College of Education | Winner |
Orbis Pictus Award
2007
Work:
Quest for the Tree Kangaroo
Organization:
National Council of Teachers of English
Result:
Winner
Sibert Medal
2010
Work:
Kakapo Rescue: Saving the World's Strangest Parrot
Organization:
American Library Association
Result:
Winner
National Book Award for Nonfiction Finalist
2015
Work:
The Soul of an Octopus
Category:
Nonfiction
Organization:
National Book Foundation
Result:
Finalist
Cook Prize
2024
Work:
The Book of Turtles
Organization:
Bank Street College of Education
Result:
Winner
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of Consciousness
2015 NonfictionExploration into the wonder of octopus consciousness; NYT bestseller.
Animal intelligenceCompassionNature
The Good Good Pig
2006 MemoirMemoir of life with her pig Christopher Hogwood; international bestseller.
Bond with animalsLife lessons
Quest for the Tree Kangaroo: An Expedition to the Cloud Forest of New Guinea
2006 Children's NonfictionExpedition to find tree kangaroos; Orbis Pictus Award winner.
Wildlife conservationExploration
Kakapo Rescue: Saving the World's Strangest Parrot
2010 Children's NonfictionSaving the kakapo parrot; Sibert Medal winner.
Endangered speciesConservation
Bibliography
- Complete bibliography omitted due to length
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- Vivid narrativePersonal experience-driven
- Recurring Motifs
- Animal intelligenceHuman-animal bondsNature expeditions
Legacy
Renowned naturalist and author exploring animal intelligence and emotions, with numerous awards and bestsellers for children and adults.
Quotes
-
How to be a good creature... Animals teach compassion better than anything else... getting yourself inside the mind and heart of someone else.
Source: Interview with Vicki Croke (2014)
Trivia
- Married to writer Howard Mansfield.
- Famous for life with pig Christopher Hogwood.