Donia Clenman was born in Poland. She has resided in Toronto since 1948. Poet, children's writer, lyricist, her works have been published, broadcast, televised, performed, and recorded, with numerous translations into French, Hebrew, Chinese, Hungarian, and Spanish. Many have been set to music by prominent Canadian composers (1997/98 Premieres: Canada, USA, Prague, Munich). She is Director of the International Laureates for Children under the auspices of the World Academy of Arts and Culture. In 1986 she adopted the name Blumenfeld in memory of her family, victims of the Holocaust.
Awards
Helix Poetry Competition, Australia, 1979.
Writers' Digest Writing Competition, 1980.
Arvon Foundation International Poetry Competition, England, 1985.
Short Story International Competition. New Zealand, 1986.
Voices Israel Poetry Competition, 1992.
Israel Poetry Peace Prize, Mexico, 1993.
Plaque, World Academy of Arts and Culture, Mexico, 1993.
Honorary Doctor of Literature, D.Litt. World Academy of Arts and
Culture, Taiwan, 1994.
Selected Publications
Among Crowds. (Flowerfield & Littleman, 1988).
I Dream in Good English Too. (Flowerfield & Littleman,
1988).
The Autumn of a Certain Three. (Flowerfield & Littleman,
1989).
Scenes from Childhood. (Flowerfield & Littleman, 1990, CJRT
FM 1994).
The Moon and the Oyster (children's story). (Orca Book
Publishers, 1992, CJRT FM 1994, 1996). (film). (TVOntario, 1987;
Australia, 1995, USA and Australia , 1995).
A Scroll of Remembrance. (Flowerfield & Littleman, 1995).
Older and in Love. (Flowerfield and Littleman, 1995).
My Polish Christmas. (CJRT FM 1994, CBC Morningside, 1996).
Selected Anthologies
Bite to Eat Place. (Redwood Coast Press, 1995).
Wordscape 3. (Canadian Authors Association, 1996).
Under a Maple Tree. (Multilingual children project, 1996).
Parchment. (York University, 1996).
Books in Print
Clenman, Donia Blumenfeld
A Scroll of Remembrance. Flowerfield and Littleman, 1995. $11.95
ISBN 0-9693352-6-1.
Among Crowds. Flowerfield & Littleman, 1988. $8.95 ISBN:
0-9693352-1-0.
I Dream in Good English Too. Flowerfield & Littleman, 1988.
$8.95 ISBN: 0-9693352-0-2.
Older and In Love. Flowerfield and Littleman, 1995. $11.95 ISBN
0-9693352-5-3.
Scenes from Childhood (children's poetry). Flowerfield &
Littleman, 1990. $9.95 ISBN: 0-9693352-2-9.
The Autumn of a Certain Three. Flowerfield & Littleman,
1989. $8.95 ISBN: 0-9693352-4-5.
The Moon and the Oyster (children's story). Orca Book
Publishers, 1992. $17.95 ISBN: 0-920501-83-4.
Poet in the School
(Toronto)
phone/fax: 416-661-1525
Donia Clenman was born in Poland. She has resided in Toronto since 1948. Poet, children's writer, lyricist, her works have been published, broadcast, filmed, recorded and translated into French, Hebrew, Chinese, Hungarian, and Russian. She has given readings to children and adults through public schools, high schools and universities. Her school presentation has been filmed by the Women's Television Network, Roger cable and Cablenet ch 23, and repeated broadcasts on CJRT-FM "Stories & Music for Children" and Morningside. TV Ontario has produced a widely distributed-most recent sales Australia and India-filmed version of her story "The Moon and the Oyster".
Her publications include The Moon and the Oyster (book &
bilingual TVO film which has recently sailed to the USA, Australia
& India); I Dream in Good English Too; Among Crowds;
Scenes From Childhood; (illustrated book & casette); A
Scroll of Remembrance; Older and In Love: Israel Odyssey: The Breath of
Music (1999) a book for children & adults, inspired by great
composers, great performers & all things musical; and as of 2001, a
celebration of a total of 10 books and 30 years of creation with In
the beginning There Was Laughter: a Carousel of Stories and Where
Gods Do Not Suffer form Overcrowding, a poetic portrait of Canada.
Recipient of numerous awards in Canada and abroad, she was honoured
at
the World Congress of Poets in Mexico, and again Taiwan, with the World
Academy Honour Plaque, Israel Poetry Peace Prize, and an Honorary
Doctor of Literature Degree. In 2000 she was one of 55 survivors
honoured by the Government of Canada on Parliament Hill for special
contributions to Canada.
Grade Levels: 4 - OAC
Fees: standard
Classroom Approach:
For younger children Clenman offers
readings of her poetry and stories, often participatory and
interspersed with music. For the upper grades she has a wide variety of
works: the Canadian scene be it neighbourhoods, history, immigrants,
people famous and ordinary, art, music, nature etc; intimate scenes of
worlds spanning several continents- Israel, Poland, Greece, Cuba,
Mexico, Taiwan, Japan... much sought after for her rapport with young
people in presentations emanating from her experiences during WWII. A
dramatic reader, at ease with young and old, in Canada and abroad, her
readings always end with lively discussions.