JonArno Lawson


JonArno Lawson is a Canadian writer who has published many books for children and adults, was born in Hamilton, Ontario and raised in nearby Dundas. He now lives in Toronto, Ontario, with his wife and three children.

Career and education

Lawson has a BA in English Literature from McGill University. He also studied briefly at St. John's College, and at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. He has taught children's poetry in the Master of Arts in Children’s Literature Program at Simmons College, Boston, and at iSchool at UBC.
He has been recognized for his nonsense poetry.

Recognition and awards

Lawson has won The Lion And The Unicorn Award for Excellence in North American Poetry four times, in 2007, 2009, 2013, and 2014. The books were "Enjoy It While It Hurts," "A Voweller's Bestiary," "Black Stars In A White Night Sky," and "Down In The Bottom Of The Bottom Of The Box." His book "The Man In The Moon-Fixer's Mask" was a finalist for this award in 2005.
In 2015, the French edition of Lawson’s wordless picture book "Sidewalk Flowers" Sydney Smith, won the Prix Libbylit in Belgium for best picture book. "Sidewalk Flowers" also won the Governor General’s Award For Illustrated Children’s Books in 2015, and was on the New York Times Best Illustrated Books List the same year.

Published works

Source:
A Vole on a Roll, by Nelson Ball

As Contributor

The Chechens: A Handbook by Amjad Jaimoukha