Bateman, Teresa 1957–

PERSONAL:

Born December 6, 1957 in Moscow, ID; daughter of Donald S. (a financial consultant) and Peggy L. (a homemaker) Bateman. Ethnicity: "White." Education: Ricks College, A.A.S., 1978; Brigham Young University, B.S., 1982; University of Washington, Seattle, M.A., 1987. Religion: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon).

ADDRESSES:

Home—Tacoma, WA. Office—Brigadoon Elementary School, 3601 SW 336th St., Federal Way, WA 98023. E-mail—tbateman@fwps.org.

CAREER:

Federal Way School District, Federal Way, WA, librarian, 1987—.

MEMBER:

Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, Washington Educators Association, Washington Library Media Association, Puget Sound Council.

AWARDS, HONORS:

Merit award, Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators magazine, 1993, for the story "Traveling Tom and the Leprechaun"; winner of short fiction contest, Highlights, for "Aliens"; Paul A. Witty Short Story Award, 1997, for "Trapped in the Arctic"; Young Readers Book Award, Scientific American, 1997, Anne Izard Storytellers' Choice Award, 1998, award from Storytelling World, 1998, and Governor's Writers Award, State of Washington, 1998, all for The Ring of Truth: An Original Irish Tale; Parents' Choice Award, 2001, and children's choice selection, International Reading Association, 2002, both for Farm Flu; Gold Seal Best Book Award, Oppenheim Toy Portfolio, c. 2001, for Farm Flu, and 2005, for April Foolishness; citation among notable social studies trade books for young people, National Council for the Social Studies and Children's Book Council, 2001, for Red, White, Blue, and Uncle Who? The Stories behind Some of America's Patriotic Symbols, and 2005, for April Foolishness.

WRITINGS:

FOR CHILDREN

The Ring of Truth: An Original Irish Tale, illustrated by Omar Rayyan, Holiday House (New York, NY), 1997.

Leprechaun Gold, illustrated by Rosanne Litzinger, Holiday House (New York, NY), 1998.

Farm Flu, Albert Whitman (Morton Grove, IL), 2001.

Harp o' Gold, Holiday House (New York, NY), 2001.

The Merbaby, Holiday House (New York, NY), 2001.

A Plump and Perky Turkey, Winslow Press (Delray Beach, FL), 2001.

Red, White, Blue, and Uncle Who? The Stories behind Some of America's Patriotic Symbols, Holiday House (New York, NY), 2001.

Hunting the Daddyosaurus, Albert Whitman (Morton Grove, IL), 2002.

The Princesses Have a Ball, Albert Whitman (Morton Grove, IL), 2002.

April Foolishness, Albert Whitman (Morton Grove, IL), 2004.

The Bully Blockers Club, Albert Whitman (Morton Grove, IL), 2004.

Fluffy, Scourge of the Sea, Charlesbridge (Watertown, MA), 2005.

Hamster Camp: How Harry Got Fit, Albert Whitman (Morton Grove, IL), 2005.

Keeper of Soles, Holiday House (New York, NY), 2005.

Will You Be My Valenswine?, Albert Whitman (Morton Grove, IL) 2005.

Contributor of articles and reviews to periodicals, including Cricket and Highlights.

SIDELIGHTS:

Teresa Bateman once told CA: "I was raised in a family of ten children. My mother made a point of reading to us at every opportunity, especially on long car trips. As a result, we are all voracious readers. There are few things that delight me more than a well-written book. Perhaps that's one of the reasons why I decided to write.

"I've always been a storyteller, When I was a teenager I had to share a bedroom with a younger sister who always ‘ratted me out’ to my parents when I stayed up past bedtime, reading. I used to tell her stories about a bear that lived in the closet and liked to eat succulent young things. I, naturally, was too old and stringy.

"As the years went by I continued making up stories. Now I tell them to my many nieces and nephews. Eventually I thought it would be fun to write them down and see if they were publishable. I am now the owner of an enormous stack of rejection letters. (I'm so proud …) However, I also have had many things published. I don't let rejection discourage me. I write because I love to write. I'd still write even if none of my stories ever got published. Writing is as much a part of me as breathing. I write each day, without fail. Some days I write a lot. Some days I write a little, but I write every day.

"One of the things I enjoy most is doing research for nonfiction articles and books. To me, research is a blast. I love going to the University of Washington Suzzalo library and pulling out microfilm, or prowling through stacks of old books. I find the strangest things that way—odd facts that tickle my fancy. Doing the research is often just as much fun as doing the writing! Being a librarian also helps. I'm surrounded by books and children every day. It's a great combination."

Bateman's first book, The Ring of Truth: An Original Irish Tale, is the story of Patrick O'Kelly, a peddler who tells impressive tales as a way to keep people buying his wares. Patrick makes the mistake of bragging that he can "spout better blarney" than the king of the leprechauns, which causes the king to become upset and give Patrick a ring which will force him to tell the truth. In a twist, Patrick ends up winning a blarney contest by telling the true story of his meeting with the leprechaun king. A Kirkus Reviews contributor wrote: "Bateman's first book is a beautifully layered, consistently sprightly take on the notion that truth is stranger than fiction," while a Publishers Weekly reviewer noted: "Epitomizing the best of Irish storytelling, this blithe debut pokes fun at its own blustery genre." Beth Tegart, writing for School Library Journal, commented: "This is a well-crafted tale told with a storyteller's touch; the language flows, and the story satisfies."

Leprechaun Gold is the story of Donald O'Dell, a kindhearted handyman who rescues a leprechaun from drowning. As a reward, the leprechaun offers Donald gold, but Donald refuses, saying he doesn't need it. The leprechaun, who refuses to take no for an answer, leaves the gold in Donald's pockets, on his doorstep, and in Donald's shoes, but each time Donald returns the gold. The leprechaun ends up tricking the lonely Donald into meeting a similarly lonely beautiful woman with golden hair and a golden heart, ensuring that Donald does receive gold. April Judge noted in a review for Booklist: "This well-crafted story is told in a robust, lively manner … a top-notch candidate for reading aloud." A Kirkus Reviews correspondent stated, "This charming tale has an Irish lilt that would certainly withstand an energetic reading out loud—and not just on St. Patrick's Day."

Bateman commented on her Irish themes to CA: "Many people ask me why I write so many Irish stories. My father says that one of our family lines goes back to Ireland. I've always loved Irish stories, and I enjoy telling them to my students. In fact, during the week of St. Patrick's Day I pick up an Irish accent that follows me around for weeks. It's usually in March that I write my best leprechaun stories.

"Writing is so much a part of me that I cannot imagine my life without it. Most important, however, writing is fun for me. It's often hard work, but it's still a lot of fun."

More recently Bateman told CA: "One of the things I like most about being an author is the way ideas can come out of just about any situation. I might be reading the paper, walking to school, or attending a faculty meeting when suddenly something will trigger an idea and I'm feverishly scribbling away on whatever paper is available. I've gotten ideas at banquets, at church, and even in the dentist's chair. It seems that when my mind wanders it has a specific destination waiting for me, and that destination is the story."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Booklist, August, 1998, April Judge, review of Leprechaun Gold, p. 2012.

Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, May, 1997, review of The Ring of Truth: An Original Irish Tale, p. 313.

Horn Book, July-August, 1998, Nancy Vasilakis, review of Leprechaun Gold, p. 470.

Kirkus Reviews, February 1, 1997, review of The Ring of Truth, p. 218; March 15, 1998, review of Leprechaun Gold, p. 398.

Publishers Weekly, February 24, 1997, review of The Ring of Truth, p. 91.

School Library Journal, May, 1997, Beth Tegart, review of The Ring of Truth, p. 92; June, 1998, Kit Vaughan, review of Leprechaun Gold, p. 94.