Sonja Dunn

Born in Toronto in '31
Married a fellow called William Dunn
A former teacher of language and drama
Couldn't do math
But knew her grammar
Loves to sing and chant and rap
Reads from her books
All over the map
B.A., M.Ed. University of Toronto. Former television performer, host., writer, producer - 40 years, CBC-CTV, MacLean Hunter, Rogers; thirty anthologies; lectures at Universities; international speaker, performer, children's and adult poetry; hasn't grown up yet.

 

Awards
Drama Award, Banff School of Fine Arts, 1969.
Sister Maris Stella Award, Northern Ontario Council of Teachers of English, 1989.
Canadian Cable Television Awards, nomination, best youth show, 1993, 1994.
Canadian Children's Book Centre, Our Choice Award, 1994.

Selected Publications
Butterscotch Dreams: Chants for Fun and Learning. (Pembroke Publishers, 1987).
Crackers and Crumbs: Chants for Whole Language. (Pembroke Publishers, 1990).
Chanting with Sonja Dunn (video cassette). (Pembroke Publishers, 1990).
Rapunzel's Rap. (Moonstone Press, 1992).
Primary Rhymerry. (Pembroke Publishers, 1993).
Sonja Dunn on Tape. (Pembroke Publishers, 1994).
Beauty and the Beast Rap. (Moonstone Press, 1994).
Gimme a Break, Rattlesnake: Schoolyard Chants and other Nonsense. (Oxford University Press, 1994).
Birthdays. (Prentice Hall, Ginn, 1995).
Keeping Fit. (Good Year Books, USA, 1995)
Uncivilizing. (Insomniac Press, 1997).
All Together Now - 200 of Sonja's best chants, Pembroke Publishers, 1999

Selected Anthologies
Strong Winds. (Broken Jaw Press, 1997).
Spring Fever. (Your Scrivener Press, 1997).
Licking Honey off a Thorn. (Catchfire Press, 1998).

Books in Print
Dunn, Sonja
Beauty and the Beast Rap. Moonstone Press, 1994. $7.95 ISBN: 0-920259-50-2.
Butterscotch Dreams: Chants for Fun and Learning. Pembroke Publishers, 1987. $12.95 ISBN: 0-921217-07-2.
Crackers and Crumbs: Chants for Whole Language. Pembroke Publishers, 1990. $12.95 ISBN: 0-921217-44-7.
Gimme a Break, Rattlesnake: Schoolyard Chants and other Nonsense. Oxford University Press, 1994. $6.95 ISBN: 0-19-540993-0.
Keeping Fit. Addison Wesley Longmans. Good Year Books, USA, 1995.
Primary Rhymerry. Pembroke Publishers, 1993. $4.95 ISBN: 1-55138-005-6.
Rapunzel's Rap. Moonstone Press, 1992. $7.95 ISBN: 0-920259-39-1.
Sonja Dunn on Tape. Pembroke Publishers, 1994. $9.95 ISBN: 1-55138-026-9.
Uncivilizing. Insomniac Press, 1997.
All Together Now - 200 of Sonja's best chants, Pembroke Publishers, 1999
Math Chants. Learning the Language of Math with Rhythm and Rhyme. Curriculum Plus, Toronto, 2006.

 

Sonja Dunn, 401-335 Mill Rd, Toronto, ON M9C 1Y6, 416-626-8283

http://www.dodocybe/sonja/htm

Poet in the School
(Toronto)

phone: 416-626-8283

Sonja Dunn is a poet, storyteller, television writer, host, producer, performer and actor, who has performed her work internationally. She also writes fiction and criticism, Her writing for children and adults has appeared in a variety of anthologies, magazines, newspapers and journals. A former teacher and consultant for forty-six years, she has a B.A. and M.Ed. degrees and is a recipient of the Northern Ontario Council of Teachers of English Sister Maris Stella Award. Her television show Sonja Dunn and Company provides Canadian writers with a forum in which to present their work.

Grade Levels: Grades 1-4

Fees: $350 per hour

Classroom Approach:
Poetry performance/workshop format. Sonja reads from her work and asks children to participate, talk about being a writer, encourage them in some cooperative responses and if time permits, students may read their work to Sonja. The format is flexible in response to teachers needs or requests. Sonja illustrates how rhythm can enhance stories and literature. She encourages students to rhyme, rap and sing along with her. Her books include Butterscotch Dreams, Crackers and Crumbs, Primary Rhymerry, Rapunzel's Rap, Beauty and the Beast Rap, Gimme A Break Rattlesnake, Birthdays, Uncivilizing, Keeping Fit and Sonja Dunn on Tape. Familiarity with her work is optional, but it is a good idea to have the books in the library so that the children can have a hands on experience and see the illustrations.