David L. Harrison

David Lee Harrison (born March 13, 1937) is an award winning American children’s author and poet.^[1]

Professional career

Harrison's poetry, fiction, and nonfiction for young readers have been anthologized in more than 185 books, translated into twelve languages, sandblasted into a library sidewalk, painted on a bookmobile, and presented on television, radio, podcast, and video stream. Ten of his 90 books are professional works for teachers. He is poet laureate of Drury University.^[2] David Harrison Elementary School is named after him.^[3] He has given keynote talks, college commencement addresses, and been featured at hundreds of conferences, workshops, literature festivals, and schools across America.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Drury University in 1959, a Master of Science degree from Emory University in 1960, and two Honorary Doctor of Letters degrees. His poetry collection, Pirates, represented Missouri at the 2013 National Book Fair in Washington, D.C.

Work History

1953-58 Musician: Principal trombonist, symphony orchestra, Springfield, Missouri

1959- Writer: stories for adult market; fiction, nonfiction, poetry for children; professional books for teachers

1960-63 Pharmacologist: Mead Johnson, Evansville, Indiana

1963-73 Editor/Editorial Manager: Hallmark Cards, Kansas City, Missouri

1973-2008 Business owner: Glenstone Block Company, Glen Block Hardware stores; Springfield, Branson, Branson West, Camdenton, Kaiser, Missouri

1984- Present Business co-owner: Gamble’s Gifts, Springfield, Missouri

Bibliography

Poetry

• 1993 Somebody Catch My Homework
• 2003 The Mouse Was Out at Recess
• 2004 Connecting Dots, Poems of My Journey
• 2007 bugs, poems about creeping things
• 2008 Pirates
• 2009 Vacation, We're Going to the Ocean!
• 2012 Cowboys

Fiction

• 1969 The Boy with A Drum
• 1969 Little Turtle’s Big Adventure
• 1972 The Book of Giant Stories
• 1986 Wake Up, Sun!
• 1994 When Cows Come Home
• 2001 Johnny Appleseed, My Story
• 2002 Dylan the Eagle-Hearted Chicken
• 2013 A Perfect Home for a Family

Nonfiction

• 1970 The World of American Caves
• 1981 What Do You Know!
• 2001 Caves, Mysteries Beneath Our Feet
• 2002 Volcanoes, Nature’s Incredible Fireworks
• 2007 Cave Detectives, Unraveling the Mysteries of an Ice Age Cave
• 2010 Mammoth Bones and Broken Stones

Professional

• 1999 Easy Poetry Lessons that Dazzle and Delight (with Bernice Cullinan)
• 2009 Partner Poems for Building Fluency (with Tim Rasinski and Gay Fawcett)
• 2013 Learning through Poetry (in 5 volumes) (with Mary Jo Fresch)

Personal information

Harrison and his wife Sandy live in Springfield, Missouri. They have two grown children, Robin (husband Tim and children Kris and Tyler) and Jeff (wife Jennifer).

Honors and awards

^[4]

• Christopher Award, Christopher Foundation, 1973, for The Book of Giant Stories.^[5]
• Award for Outstanding Contributions to Children's Literature, Central State University, 1978.
• Distinguished Alumni Award, Drury College, 1981.
• Kentucky Blue Grass Award nominee, Kentucky State Reading Association, 1993, for Somebody Catch My Homework.
• Celebrate Literacy Award, Springfield Council of the International Reading Association (IRA), 1994 and 2002.
• Celebrate Literacy Award, Missouri State Reading Association, 1994.
• Friend of Education Award, Missouri State Teachers Association, 1994 and 2002.
• Children's Choice Award, IRA/Children's Book Council, 1994, for Somebody Catch My Homework, 1995, for When Cows Come Home, and 1997, for A Thousand Cousins.
• Inclusion on Recommended Reading List, Kansas State Reading Association, 1995, and Master List of Virginia Young Readers Program, Virginia State Reading Association, 1996–97, both for When Cows Come Home.
• IRA Local Council Community Service Award, 2001, for "Sky High on Reading" literacy project.
• Missouri Governor's Humanities Award, 2001.

References