ALEXIS O’NEILL is the author of LOUD EMILY (Simon & Schuster), featured in Newsweek Magazine, THE RECESS QUEEN (Scholastic Press), a bully book which was on the Los Angeles Times list of Best Selling Children’s Books, and ESTELA'S SWAP (Lee & Low Books) a multicultural book about generosity and a unique California experience. Her work has also been published in Cricket, Spider, Cobblestone, Calliope, Faces, Writer’s Digest, Children’s Book Review Magazine and the Los Angeles Times.

Alexis teaches writing for the UCLA Extension Writers’ Program. She is a Regional Advisor for the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) and a founding member of the Children's Authors Network (CAN!). A former elementary school teacher, Alexis holds a B.S. from Skidmore College and an M.S. in Instructional Technology and Ph.D. in Teacher Education from Syracuse University.

In addition to writing, Alexis has served as an education consultant for a variety of museums across the country, including the J. Paul Getty Museum, the Ventura County Museum of History & Art, the Everson Museum of Art and the Erie Canal Museum. In her community, she chairs the annual Children’s Book Week Celebration for the Simi Valley Friends of the Library and serves on the board of the Ventura County Reading Association. Alexis lives with her husband, David, in Simi Valley, California.

Contacts

Email: AlexisInCA@aol.com
Website: www.alexisoneill.com

Books

		LOUD EMILY Written by Alexis O'Neill. Illustrated by Nancy Carpenter. Simon & Schuster, 1998. ISBN 0-689-81078-4, $16.00 and ISBN 0-689-84669-X - Aladdin Paperback, $6.99) A memorable tall tale of ships, whales, and a brave little girl with a very BIG voice!
		THE RECESS QUEEN Written by Alexis O'Neill. Illustrated by Laura Huliska-Beith. Scholastic Press, 2002. ISBN0-439-20637-5, $16.95 This rhyming romp shows what happens when a bully and a new girl square off on the school playground.
		ESTELA'S SWAP Written by Alexis O'Neill. Illustrated by Enrique O. Sanchez. Lee & Low Books, 2002. ISBN 1-58430-044-2 After a high wind at a California swap meet, Estela discovers what it really means to swap, sell, bargain, and give.

Awards

LOUD EMILY

• Booklist, Boxed Review
• Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
• School Library Journal, Starred Review
• Family Fun Magazine, Featured Review, February 1999
• Newsweek Magazine, Featured Book, November 30, 1998

Best Book Lists:

• Bank Street College, Best Books of 1998
• Child Magazine, Top Books of 1998
• School Library Journal, Best Books of 1998
• Capitol Choices Award – Children’s Book Source, Washington, D.C. 1998
• Yankee Magazine 100 Classic New England Children’s Books, 2000

Additional Honors:

• Simon & Schuster, U.K. Division, Flagship Book, Fall 1999
• World Book Day ’99 (U.K.) The Children’s Book of Books 1999, Featured Selection
• Young Hoosier Award, Nominee 2000-2001

THE RECESS QUEEN

Honors:

• Junior Library Guild Selection 2002
• Los Angeles Times Children’s Bestsellers List, Spring 2002
• Bulletin for the Center of Children’s Books, Recommended Book, March 2002
• Oppenheim Toy Portfolio 2002
• Bank Street College, Best Books of 2002
• Dr. Peggy Sharp’s List of the Top 25 Books of 2002

Children’s Choice Awards:

• Arizona Young Reader Award, Nominee 2005
• Maryland Children’s Book Award, Winner 2004
• Nebraska - The Golden Sower Award, Nominee 2004-2005
• North Carolina Children’s Book Award, Nominee 2003-2004
• Virginia Young Readers, Winner 2003-2004
• Washington Children’s Choice Picture Book Award, Nominee 2004
• Wyoming Buckaroo Book Award, Nominee 2003-2004

ESTELA’S SWAP

• Bank Street College, Best Books of 2002
• Vermont Center for the Book, Beyond Differences Top Ten Diversity Books 2002
• California Collection 2005, California Readers

Reviews

LOUD EMILY
"A rollicking tale with a likable heroine that attests to the irrepressible nature of children." - School Library Journal, Starred Review

"O'Neill crafts a charmer...Emily's quest to find her place in the world without altering herself in the process, will encourage anyone who has ever felt different from the crowd." - Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

"An appealing nautical tale … O'Neill's language has a roll and verve that captures her young heroine's spirit perfectly." - Kirkus

". . . this hero doesn't grow into a giant: she's a small child and she's powerful." - Booklist, Boxed Review

"Alexis O’Neill makes sailing terms fun for kids to say — and shout."
- Newsweek Magazine

THE RECESS QUEEN
"Told in rollicking rhyme . . . a lighthearted look at a serious topic in schools and on playgrounds everywhere — the bully."
- School Library Journal

"A lively story about the power of kindness and friendship. .. O’Neill’s text brims with fun-to-say phrases . . ." - Publishers Weekly

". . .a rousing read-aloud." - Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

ESTELA’S SWAP
"This well-crafted tale featuring a Mexican-American father and children will be wonderful for reading aloud to individuals or to groups."
- Kirkus Reviews

Other Publications & Media

MAGAZINES: CHILDREN

Calliope: World History for Young People

"Student Docents at the J. Paul Getty Museum." (Heroes/Heroines of Early Rome, Sept./Oct. 1995)

Cobblestone: The History Magazine for Young People

"Benjamin O. Davis, Jr.: ‘Determined to Succeed’ (Tuskegee Airmen issue, Feb. 1997)

"Daniel 'Chappie' James, Jr.: Never Give Up."
(Tuskegee Airmen issue, Feb. 1997)

"Greek Americans of Achievement."
(Greek Americans issue, Dec. 1996)

"Masks for the Masses."
(Greek Americans issue, Dec. 1996)

"It’s Greek to Me!" (Greek Americans issue, 1996)

"Paddle Power." (James Monroe issue, Sept. 1996)

"On the Run!" (Outlaws issue, May 1996)

"Real Life vs. Hollywood Outlaws."
(Outlaws issue, May 1996)

"Welcome to Buffalo Soldier Country!"
(Buffalo Soldier issue, Feb. 1995)

"In the Footsteps of the Buffalo Soldiers."
(Buffalo Soldier issue, Feb. 1995)

Cricket Magazine

"Liam McLafferty's Choice." (March 1997)

"Seamus Kenny's Well." (March 1996)

Faces: The Magazine About People

"Two Irelands." (Ireland issue, March 1996)

"Irish Music." (Ireland issue, March 1996)

"Ogham Writing; Can You Decipher the Message?"
(Ireland issue, March 1996)

Spider Magazine

"Freeze! Hiss! Puff! Squirt!"
(Horned Lizards, February 2003)

MAGAZINES: ADULT

BookLinks

"Hassle-Free Drama: The Joy of Reader’s Theater"
( August/September 2001)

Children’s Book Review Magazine

"A Celebration of Sounds" (Fall 1998)

"Why Native Americans?" (Spring 1997)

"Making Direct Contact with Authors." (Spring 1997)

"What Children’s Book Awards Really Mean."
(Summer 1996)

"Four Gripping Tales." (Spring 1996)

"Birdy, Brat and Books: An Interview with Karen Cushman [Winner of the Newbery Honor Book and Golden Kite awards] (Winter 1995)

"A Medieval Reading Feast." (Winter 1995)

"A Good Yarn Teller: An Interview with Author Brian Jacques." (Summer 1995)

"Beginning-to-Read Books." (Spring 1995)

Various book reviews (1995 – 1998)

Instructor

"Writer’s Workshop: Writing for the Ear" (August 2002)

OurChildren: The National PTA Magazine

"A Joyful Noise: Authors in Our Schools" (March 2004)

Writers Digest: The Basics of Writing for Children

"Writing for Your Youngest, Most Important Audience"
(1987)

Other Published Works
Syracuse: The Heart of New York.
Northridge, CA: Windsor Publications (1988)

Gustav Stickley: A Mission in Oak.
Syracuse, NY: New York State Council on the Arts/Everson/Syracuse City School District (1991)

Syracuse Grows Up: A Local History for Young People.
Syracuse, NY: Syracuse Teacher Center/Syracuse City School District (1988)

California Classroom: A Learning Link to the Ventura County Museum of History and Art.
The Kids’ Reading Room, Los Angeles Times (September 25, 2000)

California Classroom: A Learning Link to the Ventura County Museum of History and Art.
The George Stuart Historical Figures. The Kids’ Reading Room, Los Angeles Times (March 13, 2000)

Video
The Recess Queen. Spoken Arts (2002)

Presentations

School Assemblies
Using music, costumes, props, pictures, and kinesthetic experiences, Alexis O’Neill’s highly interactive assemblies encourage kids to use their whole body to experience books. Through pictures and behind-the-scenes stories about her books, she shows kids how she came to be a writer, where she find ideas, how rewrites improve her work, and how she submits a books for publication. As an author and an educator, she inspires kids to capture the joy of reading, improve their writing, and create works they are proud of. Format: Two or three auditorium assemblies for the entire school: Grades K – 2 (45 minutes) and Grades 3 – 6 (60 minutes).

Class Visits: (In combination with assemblies) Assemblies are followed by up to four Question-and-Answer (Q&A) class visits (30 minutes, up to 60 kids in one location at a time). Because Alexis does not address questions during the large assemblies, the Q&A session gives students a chance to meet her on a more personal level where all students can be heard and acknowledged.

Writing Workshops:
In her writing workshops (60—90 minutes) Alexis gives students hands-on opportunities to do exercises that stimulate stories and articles. A writing Workshop can be done in place of two Class Visits or may be added after school.

• Playing with Words. Using photos and art to shake ideas loose. "Smooshing" your way to good stories. Beginning stories with a bang. Applying the magic 3’s in fiction and nonfiction. Mining all the senses for colorful expression. Putting "music" into prose narratives.
• See Your Name in Print: A Young Author’s & Illustrator’s Guide to Submitting Work to National Publications. Writing for an audience. Kid-friendly contests and magazines. Making your work stand out from the crowd. How to submit a story for publication. Market lists.

Writing Residencies:
Residencies involve five consecutive days where Alexis works with classes on specific projects.

• Story Shaping. What makes a story a story? Coming up with ideas. How to create a powerful opening. Developing believable dialogue. Harnessing the power of similes and metaphors. Advance preparation required.
• Creating a Thematic Classroom Publication. The focus is on the power of expository writing. Students study the format of a children’s non-fiction magazine and try their hand at creating a publication on a science or social studies theme. Topics addressed include: researching a topic, choosing a format for communicating factual data (articles, sidebars, timelines, how-to pieces, activities, puzzles, photos, and diagrams), writing query letters, doing revisions, planning the layout. Advance preparation required.

Conferences and Teacher Inservices:

• The 10-Minute Power-Packed Read-Aloud.
• Do As I Do: Writing for Children’s Magazines. Using a professional writers’ model, teachers sharpen writing skills and create professional-quality assignments through hands-on practice.
  

What People Say

"You are so energetic you dazzle! " - Supervising teacher, Thousand Oaks

"Alexis came up to visit three of our elementary schools. Wow! The kids loved it and the teachers are still buzzing." Parent, Ridgecrest

I saw a genius speak about what writing really is. I am a struggling writer myself: I always stop on the second chapter of the book I want to write. You've really made a difference for me. - Student, Grade 5, Northridge

Your Recess Queen skit was a hoot! I laughed so hard I think I snorted! It was such a refreshing break from all the serious meetings--thank you."
- Resource Teacher, Grade 3, Arvin

We had a wonderful day with you! The kids are still talking about it! Thanks for your Recess Queen inspiration. In my class we were talking again about contractions. I explained how there were two words and then we "smooshed them and mooshed them and lollapalooshed them" and now there's a contraction. The kids remembered the motions and the words. It was fun!" - Teacher, Grade 3, Bakersfield

Fun Facts

• Led five theater trips to Ireland
• Lived in London for a year as a Rotary Foundation Fellow
• Was crowned Miss Kitchen (much to her parents’ surprise) in the Swiftcurrent talent contest at Glacier National Park in Montana
• Has taken thousands of slides and photos and even won some contests with them
• Loves chocolate ice cream
• Survived an airplane crash
• Was an assistant patrol leader at the last Girl Scout Roundup in Idaho
• Won honorable mention in the 7th grade science fair for a project on "Mollusks"
• Had her first articles published in the Wakefield Daily Item when she was a sophomore in high school
• Won a drama scholarship
• Loves to sing Irish songs, country music and songs from old musicals
• Loves reading, painting, sewing and crafting

Just For You

Books About Bullies

Recess Queen Bookmark

Recess Queen Teacher Ideas