About Joan
About Joan
Much of my writing is for adult audiences but more people know me as an author of children’s science books. Some call me the star-lady because of my astronomy titles and interest in everything outer space. I enjoy delivering presentations on my book topics and promoting literacy and science, as well as showing others how to find their way around the night sky.
Writing for children is a passion, perhaps because I enjoyed reading so much while growing up. Now I write the kinds of books that first intrigued me, as well as titles that reflect my current interests. My biography, below, goes into all the details.
As a freelance writer and editor, I get to explore a variety of subjects, from agriculture to zoology, and many topics in-between. Some days see me delivering virtual writing workshops. Other days find me editing an annual report or writing speeches for clients. Every day brings new writing experiences. I’m never bored!
MORE DETAILS
BIOGRAPHY
Although she started making books at the age of nine, Joan Marie Galat wasn’t published until 12 years old, when she became a paid weekly newspaper columnist. Today she is the award-winning author of more than 25 books, with translations in seven languages. Her titles include Make Your Mark, Make a Difference (Aladdin/Beyond Words), Mortimer: Rat Race to Space (DCB), Absolute Expert: Space (National Geographic Kids), Stars (Scholastic USA), and Too Much Trash: How Litter is Hurting Animals (Orca Book Publishers).
Joan shares her love of the stars in the Dot to Dot in the Sky series which combines the science of the night sky with the ancient myths that give constellations and planets their names. Her first title, Dot to Dot in the Sky, Stories in the Stars, became a best seller within six weeks of its release. As well as astronomy and mythology, Joan’s books for children explore activism, human rights, light pollution, ecology, nature, wildlife, engineering, history, and other topics. She writes both fiction and non-fiction, often with a focus on one or more STEM topics (science, technology, engineering, and math). Titles for adults include a travel guide and motivational book.
A prolific writer and relentless promoter of reading, Joan loves to use storytelling to connect with audiences. Speaking engagements have taken Joan across Canada, as well as to international events such as the United Nations Environment Programme in Seoul, South Korea; the International Dark-Sky Conference in Snowbird, USA, and an international book fair in Seoul. In Australia, Joan spoke to child, family, and adult audiences. Closer to home, she has been part of the Jasper Dark Sky Festival and toured schools and libraries across Canada. She is the 2018 recipient of the Martha Weston Grant, awarded annually to one member (worldwide) of the USA based Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI).
Joan operates MoonDot Media, a communications business offering writing and editing solutions in broadcast, print, and multi-media. Freelance jobs have encompassed writing radio and video scripts, a cartoon, magazine articles, exhibit text, speechwriting, grant applications, annual reports, and other projects. She also provides custom corporate training, as well as consults for writers on query letters, manuscripts, and the submission process.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Books for adults
- Day Trips From Edmonton (Whitecap Books)
- Give Yourself a Pep Talk (Pelican Publishing Company)
Books for children
- Make Your Mark, Make a Difference: A Kid’s Guide to Standing Up for People, Animals, and the Planet (Aladdin/Beyond Words)
- Too Much Trash: How Litter is Hurting Animals (Orca Book Publishers)
- Mortimer: Rat Race to Space (DCB)
- Solve This! Wild and Wacky Challenges for the Genius Engineer in You (National Geographic Kids)
- Dark Matters—Nature’s Reaction to Light Pollution (Red Deer Press)
- Branching Out: How Trees are part of Our World (Owlkids)
- Dot to Dot in the Sky, Stories in the Clouds: Weather, science, and mythology from around the world (Whitecap Books)
- Dot to Dot in the Sky, Stories of the Aurora (Whitecap Books)
- Dot to Dot in the Sky, Stories of the Zodiac (Whitecap Books)
- Dot to Dot in the Sky, Stories of the Moon (Whitecap Books)
- Dot to Dot in the Sky, Stories of the Planets (Whitecap Books)
- Dot to Dot in the Sky, Stories in the Stars (Whitecap Books)
- The Discovery of Longitude (Pelican Publishing Company)
- Black Holes and Supernovas (Capstone Press)
- Dr. Bufflehead Explores Energy (Scholastic Canada)
- Dr. Bufflehead Explores Dirt (Scholastic Canada)
- Be a maker! Maker Projects for Kids Who Love Printmaking (Crabtree Publishing Company)
- Cats (National Geographic Kids)
- Erupt! 100 Fun Facts About Volcanoes (National Geographic Kids)
- Cultural Traditions in Ghana (Crabtree Publishing Company)
- Cultural Traditions in Turkey (Crabtree Publishing Company)
- Absolute Expert: Space (National Geographic Kids)
- Stars (Scholastic)
- The Story of Malala Yousafzai (Rockridge Press)
- My Corner of the Globe (Parkland Conservation Farm)
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
Make Your Mark, Make a Difference: A Kid’s Guide to Standing Up for People, Animals, and the Planet
– Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
Mortimer: Rat Race to Space
– Nominated for the 2023/24 Red Cedar Book Award (A children’s choice award to be announced in 2024)
– Silver medal, 2023 Reader’s Choice Awards (Connections eMagazine)
Solve This! Wild and Wacky Challenges for the Genius Engineer in You
– Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
Dot to Dot in the Sky, Stories in the Clouds
Weather Science and Mythology from Around the World
– Skipping Stones Award in the Nature/Ecology category, 2019
Dot to Dot in the Sky, Stories of the Aurora
– Winner, Crystal Kite Award for Canada, Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), 2017
– Skipping Stones Award, 2017
– National Communications Award, Outdoor Writers of Canada, Second Place Book, 2017
– Honorable Mention, Canadian Authors Association Exporting Alberta Award, 2017
– Shortlisted for the Hackmatack Children’s Choice Book Award in Atlantic Canada (2017/18).
– Shortlisted for the Red Cedar Children’s Choice Book Award in British Columbia (2017/18).
Dark Matters – Nature’s Reaction to Light Pollution
– Finalist: Canadian Authors Association Exporting Alberta Award, 2018
– Bronze Moonbeam Award – Nonfiction Chapter Book, 2018
Branching Out – How Trees are Part of Our World
– Santa Monica Public Library Green Prize for Sustainable Literature, 2015
– Honorable Mention (shortlisted), Canadian Authors Association Exporting Alberta Award, 2014
– Included on Distinguished Books by the Association of Children’s Librarians of Northern
California, 2014
– The Year’s Best Nonfiction Book List (Preschool – Grade 6), Resource Links Magazine, 2014
– Starred review, Canadian Children’s Book Centre’s Best Books Spring Edition, 2015
The Discovery of Longitude
– R. Ross Annett Award for Children’s Literature,Writers Guild of Alberta (2013)
– Silver Moonbeam Award, Nonfiction Picture Book (2013)
Day Trips from Edmonton
– 4 weeks – Edmonton Journal bestseller list (2013, 2014)
– 6 weeks – Edmonton Journal bestseller list, including one week as #1 (2009)|
– #3 on Amazon List: Edmonton Travel Guides
Dot to Dot in the Sky, Stories of the Zodiac
– Gold Moonbeam Award (science/activity category) (2008)
– Canadian Authors Association Exporting Alberta Award (2007)
– Hackmatack Children’s Choice Book Award nomination (2010)
– Semi-finalist Calgary Public Library Foundation Literary Awards
– Canadian Children’s Book Centre Best Books for Kids/Teens
– Edmonton Public School Board recommended title
Dot to Dot in the Sky, Stories of the Moon
– R. Ross Annett Award for Children’s Literature,Writers Guild of Alberta (2005)
– Canadian Children’s Book Centre “Our Choice” selection
– Edmonton Public School Board recommended title
Dot to Dot in the Sky, Stories of the Planets
– Shortlisted for Rocky Mountain Book Award ( 2004)
– Canadian Children’s Book Centre “Our Choice” selection
– Edmonton Public School Board recommended title
Dot to Dot in the Sky, Stories of the Stars
– Canadian National Bestseller
– Canadian Children’s Book Centre “Our Choice” selection
– Edmonton Public School Board recommended title
Other Recognition
– Multi-Media Society Award (1988)
– CFWE Radio Award (1987)
MEMBERSHIPS
- Access Copyright
- All American Speakers
- Canadian Children’s Book Centre (CCBC)
- National Stiltwalkers of Canada
- Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI)
- The Writers Union of Canada (TWUC)
- Writers Guild of Alberta (WGA)
- Young Alberta Book Society (YABS)
What People Are Saying
Read back-cover book endorsements from astronauts, scientists, media, and other professionals
Looking up at the Moon has inspired explorers and dreamers for eons, floating as a beacon of endless mystery. It lured me into space. The largest Dot in the night sky is the Moon, and its facts and mysteries are beautifully connected in Dot to Dot in the Sky, Stories of the Moon.
Chris Hadfield
Connecting dots in the night sky is a sensible first step to begin exploring Earth, where we live among the stars.
Roberta Bondar
I remember as a child being amazed at the sight of my first real night sky, undiluted by man-made light! The exhilarating beauty, complexity and infinity of the Universe, right there before my eyes. But, as Joan Marie Galat explains in this book [Dark Matters, Nature’s Reaction to Light Pollution], there is more to light pollution than its effect on star-gazing... the whole world needs dark skies!
David Saint-Jacques
Having watched the aurora from space, I’ve known the unique thrill of seeing the lights swirl over the planet. Joan Marie Galat captures the science and remarkable folklore of the aurora in Stories of the Aurora, an inspirational collection of tales that makes the reader want to experience their beauty first hand.
Dr. Dave Williams
This book makes sense of the constellations of the zodiac and explains their significance in terms of both astronomy and astrology ... The author describes the yearly journey of the sun, moon, and planets through these groupings of stars in an informative and interesting way.
James Foster, PhD
This is an excellent book (Dot to Dot in the Sky, Stories of the Planets). It’s very interesting to read about the mythological stories behind the names of the planets of our solar system, as well as the planetary facts. I appreciate that Joan Marie Galat is very careful in making the important distinction between the myths and the facts of what we know today. I believe that star gazers of all ages will be fascinated by these stories.
Julie Payette
As a Sagittarian, was I predestined to coach university archery and to be launched like an arrow into the sky? Mythology and astronomy will always connect ancient lives to ours and Dot to Dot in the Sky (Stories of the Zodiac) is a remarkable story of how and why.
Roberta Bondar Stories of the Aurora by Joan Marie Galat is an engaging book that delves into why auroras both amazed and frightened our ancestors. The next time you look skyward in hopes of seeing the northern or southern lights, think of the early storytellers and their lively interpretations of this natural marvel.
James Foster, Ph.D. A blend of fine storytelling and gripping facts, Dark Matters reveals the need for dark, along with its value to you and the world. A book to share—highly recommended.
David L. Crawford, Ph.D. - Astronomy Joan has wonderfully woven science and lore together to produce an entertaining and enlightening book. It’s a great read that will have you seeing weather in a whole new way.
Josh Classen
There are two ways to look at the Northern Lights; scientifically, as a stream of energetic particles shot out from the sun colliding with the Earth's atmosphere, or mythologically, as a wondrous dance of spirits in the sky. Joan Marie Galat provides both in this delightful blend of science and stories from around the world, that capture the most beautiful and magical celestial show to be seen by human eyes.
Bob McDonald Joan has created yet another perfect blend of science and stories. A beautiful mix of weather elements, that are scientifically accurate, together with anecdotal mythology that adds such a human perspective to our world. I have always loved reading her books, and this one does not disappoint.
Claire Martin Love, hate, jealousy, revenge—these are the basic elements of the original soup opera of the sky that plays out every night above our heads. Joan Marie Galat tell the colourful tales of mythological creatures seen among the stars by ancient skywatchers and adds the modern drama of exploding supernovae and alien planets found within the same constellations today. This stargazers’ companion brings the night sky to life with the full story of your zodiac sign.
Bob MacDonald
“Informative, upbeat, empowering—Joan Marie Galat has created an antidote to despair in this guide to creating a kinder planet. Readers, teachers, thinkers and community-builders will use this book as a starting point to a life of joyful action for positive change. Beautifully designed, with well-researched information and terrific examples of youth activism, Make Your Mark, Make a Difference should be a staple in classrooms and will be a life-changing gift to kids who care. Great book!”
Deborah Ellis Peace activist and author of The Breadwinner series