Donn J. Kushner

Donn Jean Kushner (March 29, 1927 – September 15, 2001) was an American-born Canadian scientist and writer. He taught biology at the University of Ottawa and Toronto from 1965 to 1992 and authored both adult and children's books, some of which won awards.

Biography

Early life and education Donn Jean Kushner was born on March 29, 1927, in Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States.

Career

Scientist Before his work in universities, Kushner was a research scientist for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, from 1954 to 1961, and was also a research scientist for the National Research Council in Ottawa from 1961 to 1965. In 1988, Kushner joined the Departments of Microbiology and Botany, and the Institute for Environmental Studies at the University of Toronto. The book has been translated into Dutch, German, French and Polish.

Kushner's blend of fiction and fantasy in his books gave him a distinctive voice and won him critical acclaim as a modern fabulist, with parallels being drawn between him and French writer Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.