Susan Hughes (born 1960) is a Canadian author of children's books. She is a freelance editor and writer. She provides manuscript evaluation and coaching services for writers.
Contents
Early life
Hughes was born in 1960. She attended junior high at Glenview Senior Public School and high school at Lawrence Park Collegiate Institute. She studied English literature at Queen's University at Kingston, then University of Toronto. The summer before her final year at the University of Toronto, she worked for a children's publishing company, which jumpstarted her career.
Career
Hughes began her career working with a publishing company.
She has since published 30 children's books of fiction and nonfiction, including board books, picture books, chapter books, middle-grade novels, a non-fiction graphic middle grade book, and young adult novels. Her books have been translated into over seven languages.
Hughes has been an adjudicator for several children's writing competitions, including those sponsored by CANSCAIP and the Writers' Union of Canada. She has adjudicated for both the short story and poetry categories for the Hamilton Literary Awards (2015, 2012). She was also a volunteer competitor (author) in the Kids' Lit Quiz (2014); was an adjudicator for the CNIB Library Braille Creative Writing Contest (2014); and the junior and senior speech contest for the TDSB (2013). She was a mentor for the Read Liberia (2013) and Read Sierra Leone (2012) projects for CODE. She was one of four Writers-in-Residence for the Toronto District School Board (2012-2013).
Awards and honours
Two of Hughes's books are Junior Library Guild selections: No Girls Allowed (2008) and The Dream of an Education (2026).
Personal life
As of 2026, Hughes lives in Toronto.
Publications
Canada Invents. Owl Kids. 2002.
The Not-Quite World Famous Scientist. Illustrated by Stephen Taylor. Fitzhenry and Whiteside. 2002. ISBN 9781550416961.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
Let's Call It Canada: Amazing Stories of Canadian Place Names. Maple Tree Press. 2003. ISBN 1894379497.
The Canadians: Lester B. Pearson. Fitzhenry Whiteside. 2004.
Coming to Canada: Building a Life in a New Land. Maple Tree Press. 2005. ISBN 1-897066-45-7.
Earth to Audrey. Illustrated by Stéphane Poulin. Kids Can Press. 2005. ISBN 1-55337-843-1.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
The Frog Prince. Illustrated by June Bradford. Scholastic. 2005. ISBN 9780779154487.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
Raise Your Voice, Lend a Hand, Change the World. Scholastic Canada. 2007. ISBN 9780439946759.
No Girls Allowed: Tales of Daring Women Dressed as Men for Love, Freedom and Adventure. Illustrated by Willow Dawson. Kids Can Press. 2008. ISBN 978-1-554-53177-6.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
Case Closed? Nine Mysteries Unlocked by Modern Science. Illustrated by Michael Wandelmaier. Kids Can Press. 2010.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
Virginia. Kids Can Press. 2010. ISBN 978-1-55453306-0.
Off to Class: Incredible and Unusual Schools Around the World. Owl Kids Books. 2011. ISBN 978-1-926818-85-6.
Canada Up Close series
Canadian Festivals. Scholastic Canada. 2007. ISBN 9780439939232.
Canadian Sports. Scholastic Canada. 2009.
Canada's Birds. Scholastic Canada. 2010. ISBN 9781443100014.
Canadian Celebrations. Scholastic Canada. 2012. ISBN 9781443107334.
Cuba series
Cuba the Culture. Crabtree Publishing Company. 2004. ISBN 0778793265.
Cuba the Land. Crabtree Publishing Company. 2004. ISBN 9780778793243.
Cuba the People. Crabtree Publishing Company. 2004. ISBN 0778796949.
The Puppy Collection
Bailey’s Visit. Illustrated by Leanne Franson. Scholastic. 2014. ISBN 9781443124096.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
Riley Knows Best. Illustrated by Leanne Franson. Scholastic. 2014. ISBN 9781443124102.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
Murphy Helps Out. Illustrated by Leanne Franson. Scholastic. 2014. ISBN 9781443124119.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
Bijou Needs a Home. Illustrated by Leanne Franson. Scholastic. 2015. ISBN 9781443133586.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
Piper's First Show. Illustrated by Leanne Franson. Scholastic. 2015. ISBN 9781443133609.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
6Cricket's Close Call. Illustrated by Leanne Franson. Scholastic. 2015. ISBN 9781443133623.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
7Houdini's Escape. Illustrated by Leanne Franson. Scholastic. 2015. ISBN 9781443146500.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
Nutmeg All Alone. Illustrated by Leanne Franson. Scholastic. 2015. ISBN 9781443146524.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
Cinnamon All Alone. Illustrated by Leanne Franson. Scholastic. 2016. ISBN 9781443146524.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
1Puppy Pals: Bailey. Sourcebooks Jabberwocky. 2016. ISBN 9781492633945.
Puppy Pals: Riley. Sourcebooks Jabberwocky. 2016. ISBN 9781492633976.
Puppy Pals: Murphy. Sourcebooks Jabberwocky. 2016. ISBN 9781492634003.
Is it... ? series
Is It Heavy or Light?. Crabtree Publishing Company. 2012. ISBN 9781427179463.
Is It Hot or Cold?. Crabtree Publishing Company. 2012. ISBN 9781427180629.
Does It Absorb or Repel Liquid?. Crabtree Publishing Company. 2014. ISBN 9780778705376.
Does It Sink or Float?. Crabtree Publishing Company. 2014. ISBN 9780778705369.
Science of How series
Lights Day and Night: The Science of How Light Works. Illustrated by Ellen Rooney. Kids Can Press. 2021. ISBN 978-1-5253-0319-7.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
Sounds All Around: The Science of How Sound Works. Illustrated by Ellen Rooney. Kids Can Press. 2021. ISBN 978-1-5253-0250-3.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
Time To series
Bath Time. Annick Press. 2017. ISBN 9781554519477.
Nap Time. Annick Press. 2017. ISBN 9781554519491.
Play Time. Annick Press. 2017. ISBN 9781554519514.
Wild Paws series
Bobcat Rescue. Illustrated by Heather Graham. Scholastic Canada. 2003. ISBN 9780545985253.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
Lonely Wolf Pup. Illustrated by Susan Gardos. Scholastic Canada. 2003. ISBN 9780439989848.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
Bunnies in Trouble. Illustrated by Heather Graham. Scholastic Canada. 2004. ISBN 9780439989848.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
Cubs All Alone. Illustrated by Heather Graham. Scholastic Canada. 2004. ISBN 0439961289.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
Orphaned Beluga. Illustrated by Heather Graham. Scholastic Canada. 2004. ISBN 9780439989862.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)