Havill, Juanita

American author of children's books; winner of the 1987 Ezra Jack Keats New Writer award for Jamaica's find.

From the description of Kentucky troll : production material, ca. 1993. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62451731

From the description of Jamaica tag-along : production material, ca. 1989. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62451730

From the description of Treasure nap : production material, ca. 1991-1992. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62451733

From the description of Leona and Ike : production material, ca. 1989-1991. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62444170

From the description of Papers, 1985-1994 (bulk 1986-1994). (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62444169

From the description of It always happens to Leona : production material, ca. 1988-1989. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62451729

From the description of Sato and the elephants : production material, ca. 1992-1993. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62451732

From the description of The magic fort : production material, ca. 1991. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62444172

From the description of Saving Owen's toad : production material, ca. 1985-1994. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62444173

From the description of Leroy and the clock : production material, ca. 1987-1988. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62680862

From the description of Jamaica's find : production material, ca. 1985-1986. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62680861

Juanita Havill was born May 11, 1949 in Evansville, Indiana. She graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign receiving her B.A in 1971 and her M.A in 1973. Juanita Havill worked as a translator for companies in France and the United States and also worked as an instructor and lecturer in the United States. Juanita Havill had begun writing as a child and after her own children were born she "settled down to write." In 1984 under the pseudonym Jennifer Havel she published The Wacky Rulebook, a "Parker Brothers storeybook" about behavior. In 1986, she published her first picture book for children, Jamaica's Find, under her own name. The book received several awards including the 1987 Ezra Jack Keats New Writer award. In 1991, Juanita Hall received a Minnesota Book Award nomination for Leona and Ike (1990). Juanita Havill writes both picture books and stories for older children. Her books, many of which feature the same characters such as Jamaica, are warm stories that focus on issues such as sibling relationships, responsibility, and school happenings that relevant and understandable to young readers. Her stories also feature characters, including African Americans and Mexican Americans, from various ethnic backgrounds. Juanita Havill has also written a fairy tale Kentucky Troll (1993), the story of a Swedish troll who tries to live in disguise amongst his new neighbors in Kentucky.

Biographical Source: Something About the Author, vol. 74, pp. 117-118.

From the guide to the Juanita Havill, 1986-1994, (University of Minnesota Libraries Children's Literature Research Collections)