Member of the Order of Canada

• Awarded on: October 21, 1992
• Invested on: April 21, 1993

Despite near blindness, she is an accomplished writer of more than twenty children's books. Through her novels and poems, which depict children struggling with, and triumphing over, adversity, she provides them with models of courage and perseverance. Her award-winning book, Mama's Going to Buy You a Mockingbird, was made into a deeply moving television film.