Choldenko, Gennifer, 1957-

Gennifer Choldenko was born on October 20, 1957, in Santa Monica, CA. She worked in various jobs, including as a horseback riding instructor for seeing- and hearing-impaired children before publishing her first book, Moonstruck: The True Story of the Cow Who Jumped over the Moon, a picture book. Choldenko has since published two more picture books and four novels for young adults. In addition to a Newbery Honor for her 2004 novel, Al Capone Does My Shirts, Choldenko's works have received numerous honors including an International Reading Association/Children's Book Council Children's Choice honor and an American Library Association Notable Book designation.

Biographical Source: Something About the Author, vol. 182

From the guide to the Gennifer Choldenko's Papers, 2007-2009, (University of Minnesota. Children's Literature Research Collections. [clrc])