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Littlejim Houston is the best student in his school and an excellent writer, admired by everyone in his small North Carolina mountain community—everyone except for his father, Bigjim, whose respect he desires most. Rugged and stern, Bigjim is never satisfied with his son’s work on the family farm and doesn’t approve of Littlejim’s love for writing and schoolwork.
Littlejim hopes he can finally earn his father’s respect and understanding by winning a local writing contest and getting his essay published in the Kansas City Star, but first he must find inspiration on the assigned topic, "What it means to be an American."
With a vivid depiction of Appalachian mountain life in the early 1900s and a cast of lovingly portrayed characters, Littlejim explores the values and spirit of immigrant Americans through the unforgettable eyes of a boy seeking his father’s approval.
Littlejim and its sequels have won numerous awards, have been adapted as musicals, and are included in social studies curricula nationwide. Littlejim is also the 2008 children’s focus novel for Western North Carolina’s Big Read project, Together We Read.
With a bachelor’s degree from Appalachian State University, and years of work in public and private schools in grades K–12, Gloria earned a master’s and a Ph.D. in interdisciplinary studies from the University of South Florida. At the request of Appalachian State University, she has recently agreed to donate her papers to their Special Collections.
Gloria is designated as a Distinguished Educator by the International Reading Association, and she won the National Excellence in Literacy Education award for her writing curriculum, "Tell Me a Story." She received a Distinguished Alumni Award from Appalachian State University and membership in the Rhododendron Society for her contributions to education.
Gloria Houston’s critically acclaimed novels and picture books for young readers have won numerous awards from the American Library Association, the Smithsonian Institution, Publishers Weekly, the Family Channel, the Society of School Librarians International, the North Carolina History Association, the American Association of University Women, and the New York Public Library, among others.
Currently, Gloria lives in Western North Carolina and works with the town of Spruce Pine, her childhood home, on their Home of the Perfect Christmas Tree marketing project. True to her commitment to children, and to her home region, profits from the sale of Houston’s books through the project, and a portion of the profits from the sale of all products licensed through her book The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree, will go into a scholarship fund for students who pledge to graduate from high school in Mitchell County, North Carolina.