User:Dennisoberg/Jane E. Clarke

Jane Elizabeth Clarke (born in 1954) is an English writer of children’s books and poetry. Her best known books include Gilbert the Great (illustrated by Charles Fuge) and Stuck in the Mud (illustrated by Garry Parsons). Jane has published over 30 books including works used for children’s reading schemes in schools. She has also worked with a team of authors to produce the popular series Dinosaur Cove (series created by Working Partners Ltd. and published by Oxford University Press).

Early Life
Jane Andrew was born December 17, 1954 and brought up in Kettering, England. Her parents were James Edward Andrew and June Earl Hill Porch. She attended the Hawthorn Road County Primary School in Kettering. In 1972 Jane completed her secondary study at the Kettering High School for Girls. From 1972 to 1975 Jane attend the University of Birmingham where she earned a combined Bachelor of Arts with honours in archaeology and history. In 1981 she completed a PhD in archaeology from University College London in 1981.

Personal Life
On November 5, 1977 Jane married Martin Clarke. Martin worked as a chemical engineer. His work took them to Mexico, Brazil, the United States, Wales and the Netherlands. Together they raised two sons, Andrew James Wilson Clarke (born October 15, 1983 in Wales) and Robert Martin Clarke (born October 18, 1985 in Wales). Both sons completed the International Baccalaureate Diploma at the Antwerp International School in Belgium and completed university degrees in the UK.

During her doctoral studies Jane lectured at UCL (1978-79). She also lectured at University College Cardiff in Wales part time (1981-83). She also taught history at Bryn Hafren School in Barry, Wales (1979-83). After Jane moved with her family to the Netherlands (Koewacht), she began working part time as a librarian at the Antwerp International School. It was during this time when she started her career as a children’s author.

Jane’s husband, Martin, died of a heart attack in Antwerp, Belgium on December 20, 2001. In June of 2005, Jane moved from the Netherlands back to Kent (near Deal) in England where she now lives with her two Labradors, Amber and Bramble.

Aside from writing children’s books, Jane spends a significant amount of time inspiring children to read and write. She frequently visits schools throughout the UK and Europe to do so.

Jane has also done support work for various charitable organizations including Ellenor Lions Children’s Hospice, Institute of Cancer Research (The Clapham Grand), Battersea Dog’s Home and READ (promotes reading in Africa).

Awards

 * Sheffield Children’s Book Award (for Gilbert the Great) 2006 runner-up
 * Norfolk Children’s Book Award (for Gilbert the Great) 2007
 * Nottingham Children’s Book Award (for Stuck in the Mud) 2007

Works

 * Plodney Creeper, Supersloth (2001, ISBN 9780749745851)
 * Sherman Swaps Shells (2001, ISBN 9780431024080)
 * ''Only Tadpoles Have Tails' (2002, ISBN 9780099438700)
 * Smoky Dragons (2002, ISBN 9780816774579)
 * Tusk Trouble (2003, ISBN 9780340877258)
 * Dino Dog (2004, ISBN 9780552550321)
 * Gilbert the Great (2005, ISBN 9781402721694)
 * The Amazing Adventures of Batbird (2005, ISBN 9780007186372)
 * Prince Albert’s Birthday (2005, ISBN 9780198455790)
 * I’m Not Wearing That! (2005, ISBN 9780198455547)
 * Dippy’s Sleepover (2006, ISBN 9780764134258)
 * Chewy Hughie (2006, ISBN 9780007186921)
 * No Nits! (2006, ISBN 9780753412893)
 * Mole and the New Hole (2006, ISBN 9780007236008)
 * Muck it Up! (2006, ISBN 9780007235834)
 * Trumpet: the Little Elephant with a Big Temper (2006, ISBN 9781416904823)
 * Scratching’s Catching! [USA version of No Nits!] (2007, ISBN 9780753459584)
 * G.E.M. (2007, ISBN 9780099480129)
 * 'Gilbert in Deep'' (2007, ISBN 9781402751257)
 * The Best of Both Nests (2007, ISBN 9780807506684)
 * Stuck in the Mud (2008, ISBN 9780802797582)
 * Runny Honey (2008, ISBN 9780778738626)
 * Eye, Eye Captain! (2008, ISBN 9781404849068)


 * In conjuction with Working Partners Ltd.:


 * Attack of the Lizard King: Dinosaur Cove 1 (as Rex Stone, 2008, ISBN 9780192720924)
 * March of the Armoured Beasts: Dinosaur Cove 3 (as Rex Stone, 2008, ISBN 9780192720948)
 * Catching the Speedy Thief: Dinosaur Cove 5 (as Rex Stone, 2008, ISBN 9780192720962)
 * Rescuing the Plated Lizard: Dinosaur Cove 7 (as Rex Stone, 2008, ISBN 9780192728364)
 * Tracking the Gigantic Beast: Dinosaur Cove 9 ( as Rex Stone, 2009, ISBN 9780192728944)
 * Finding the Deceptive Dinosaur: Dinosaur Cove 11 (as Rex Stone, 2009, ISBN 9780192728968)

Organisations

 * Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators’ Group (SCWBI)http://britishscbwi.jimdo.com
 * Deal Writers http://www.dealwriters.co.uk
 * British Humanist Association
 * Wildwood Trust http://www.wildwoodtrust.org