Sharron L. McElmeel
School of Education
University of Wisconsin-Stout
140E Voc Rehab Bldg
Menomonie, WI 54751
Phone: (319) 393-2562
E-mail: mcelmeels@uwstout.edu
Sharron L. McElmeel teaches two courses: Children's Literature and Young Adult Literature.
Sharron L. McElmeel has earned a national reputation as a literacy advocate and children's and young adult literature specialist. She has authored many books for educators and parents focusing on books for young readers and the people who create those books.
Sharron is a respected author in the children's and young adult literature field. In 2009, Picture That! From Mendel to Normandy: Picture Books and Ideas, Curriculum and Connections for 'Tweens and Teens (Libraries Unlimited) will be released. Her other titles include a revised edition of Young Adult Literature and Multimedia: A Quick Guide (2009), Authors in the Kitchen: Recipes, Stories, and More (2005) and a companion title, Authors in the Pantry: Recipes, Stories, and More (2007). Other titles include Best Teen Reads, 100 Most Popular Children's Authors: Biographical Sketches and Bibliographies (Libraries Unlimited, 1999), 100 Most Popular Picture Book Authors and Illustrators: Biographical Sketches and Bibliographies (2000), and Character Education: A Book Guide for Librarians, Teachers, and Parents (2002). She is a regular columnist for School Library Media Activities Monthly and Library Sparks. A complete list of publications, including selected articles authored, is available online.
Sharron earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education from the University of Northern Iowa and her M.A. in Library Science from the University of Iowa. She has completed post-graduate work in educational administration and reading and holds certificate approvals in both areas.
Her career as an educator has spanned elementary, secondary, and college level teaching - in both classroom (team teaching, block scheduling, self-contained) and media centers - many of those years as an educator in public schools. Currently Sharron is a full-time writer and college instructor, and director of McBookwords--a literary organization and involved as a charter member of the committee to establish the Iowa Wild Rose Award. The Iowa Wild Rose Award will recognize an author/illustrator of books for children/young adults whose body of work represents a substantial and lasting contribution to literature for children/young adults. The first honoree will be named on January 15, 2010.
In 1987 Sharron was named Iowa Reading Teacher of the Year, the only media specialist in the state of Iowa to have received that honor. In 1997 she was nominated in the Iowa Teacher of the Year competition, and in 2003 she was honored with the Iowa Reading Association's Celebrate Literacy Award for her longtime involvement in developing community literacy activities. In the following year (2004) she was named to a list of Top Ten Online Educators by Innovative Teaching.
Sharron and her husband live in a rural area north of Cedar Rapids, Iowa where they enjoy frequent visits from their sons and daughters, grandsons and granddaughters.
When she is not writing or reading, Sharron enjoys being part of "fun" projects -- making quilts, holding literary events. Many are showcased on her website. Current plans are to host a Beatrix Potter Garden party on Potter's July 28th birthday.
Sharron's website features an Author Links page and a State and Regional Book Awards page among other literacy related pages. A complete vita may be accessed online.
Email your comments or questions to Sharron.