Ilene Cooper
{{Short description|American author and reviewer (born 1948)}}
Ilene Cooper (born March 10, 1948){{cite web | url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G2-3416300033.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161008195550/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G2-3416300033.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=2016-10-08 | title=Ilene Cooper | work=Contemporary Authors | date=2004 | accessdate=29 August 2016}} is an American author and reviewer of children's books.
Early life and education
Cooper was born in Chicago, where she graduated from Sullivan High School. She later attended the Missouri School of Journalism, where she majored in radio and television. After working at WGN-TV for several years, she enrolled in Rosary College, where she received her Master of Science in Library Science.
Career
Cooper began her career as a children's librarian at the Winnetka Public Library. She is the children's books editor at the book review magazine Booklist.{{cite web | url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/enter/books/2001-08-16-kindergarten-books.htm | title=Don't cry, parents: Kindergarten is cool! | work=USA Today | date=16 August 2001 | accessdate=13 March 2016 | author=Blais, Jacqueline}}{{cite web | url=http://www.ilenecooper.com/about.htm | title=About Ilene Cooper | work=Ilenecooper.com | accessdate=13 March 2016}} She has also written numerous children's books about feminism and politics.{{cite web | url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/lake-forest/lifestyles/ct-hpn-go-ilene-cooper-tl-0430-20150424-story.html | title=Children's author chronicles history of women in politics | work=Chicago Tribune | date=27 April 2015 | accessdate=13 March 2016 | author=Ingram, Bruce}}
In the mid-2000s, John Green was working at Booklist, where he was mentored by Cooper, when his book Looking for Alaska won the Michael L. Printz Award.{{cite magazine | url=http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/06/09/the-teen-whisperer | title=The Teen Whisperer | magazine=The New Yorker | date=9 June 2014 | accessdate=13 March 2016 | author=Talbot, Margaret}} During this time, Green gave a draft copy of Looking for Alaska to Cooper, before the book was published; Cooper later recalled that after reading this draft, she thought that "He had a voice you could tell was quite original," and decided she would work with him. She has also described herself as Green's "fairy godmother".{{cite web | url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2012/05/18/author-john-green-wins-tribunes-young-adult-literary-prize/ | title=Author John Green wins Tribune's Young Adult Literary Prize | work=Chicago Tribune | date=18 May 2012 | access-date=13 March 2016 | author=Johnson, Steve | pages=3}}
In 2002–2003, Cooper won a National Jewish Book Award in the Children Literature category for Jewish Holidays All Year Round.{{Cite web|url=https://www.jewishbookcouncil.org/awards/national-jewish-book-awards/past-winners|title=Past Winners|website=Jewish Book Council|language=en|access-date=2020-01-19}} In 2007, she won the Illinois Reading Council Prairie State Award for Excellence in Writing for Children.{{Cite web|url=http://www.illinoisreadingcouncil.org/pastawardrecipients.html|title=Illinois Reading Council|website=www.illinoisreadingcouncil.org|access-date=2020-01-19}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://www.ilenecooper.com/}}
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Category:21st-century American librarians
Category:21st-century American women librarians
Category:American children's writers
Category:University of Missouri alumni