Una Belle Townsend

Award winning author Una Belle Townsend was born in Texas and has lived in Oklahoma for fifty years. She is married and has two sons. A retired teacher and school librarian, she has four children's books published by Pelican Publishing Co., six published by Doodle and Peck Pub. Co., one by SFA University Press, and two self-published books.

Her first book, "Grady's in the Silo" is based on a true story. It received the Oklahoma Center for the Book Award and an IRA/Children's Choice Award. It's the story of a cow that jumps in a silo and isn't rescued for five days. The book has been on the Oklahoma Ag in the Classroom book list for many years, and has many teacher activities associated with it. Townsend was chosen as the first Ag in the Classroom Teacher of the Year in Oklahoma. She was named one of Oklahoma's Significant Women in Agriculture in 2017.

Her second book, "The Racecar Driver's Night Before Christmas" is one of the many books in Pelican's "Night Before Christmas" series. Santa races drivers named Junior, Gordon, Matt, Michael, and Kyle. Santa's pit crew includes Dale, Fireball, Davey, and Adam. The book was turned into a float for a Christmas parade in 2017 in Tennessee.

Townsend's third book, "The Oklahoma Land Run" is often chosen by librarians and teachers before land run events or pioneer days at schools and libraries. Una Belle often reads this book to children and then does a "Show and Tell" of items such as quilts, bonnets, belt buckles, antiques, etc. The book shows a map of the land run area and includes the date of the first land run in Oklahoma.

Her fourth book, "The Great Elephant Escape" received a writing award from the Oklahoma Writer's Federation, Inc. as Best Juvenile Book 2013. It's based on the true story of two 1,500 pound baby elephants who ran away from the circus headquarters in Hugo, OK.in 1975.

Her fifth book, "Sunsets and Haiku" is a book of haiku mixed with beautiful sunsets. She was photographer and author of this book. Gorgeous sunsets in this book were taken in Oklahoma. She received a Women of Achievement in Poetry from Delta Kappa Gamma for this book.

Her sixth book, "Toby and the Secret Code" mentions the names of the Choctaw Code talkers in World War I and is dedicated to them. Toby and his friend decide to have a secret code, and it helps them become heroes when Toby's grandfather is ill. It's the first book in a series of Choctaw Adventures.

Townsend's seventh book, "Scanner", is the story of a dog who listens to children read in a library. He's zapped by the scanner, and now he has a huge secret. This is the first of a series called Scanner the Scottie.

"Clancy" is the name of the eighth book by Una Belle Townsend. A goat finds a delicious treat around the farm. He and the farmer find themselves in quite a ruckus when they meet at the top of the hill.

Townsend's ninth book is the second book about Scanner. It's called "Scanner and the Icky, Sticky, Gum." Scanner has a definite gum problem when it completely covers him.

Townsend's tenth book is "Ben and the Missing Pony" presents information about the Heritage Horse of Oklahoma. The book is dedicated to the Choctaw Code Talkers in World Wars I and II.

"Blazer's Taxi" is the eleventh book written by Townsend. The coach of the OK. City Blazer's Hockey Team wanted a Clydesdale for the mascot.

"Just 'Plane' Haiku" is her latest book. It displays all types of aircraft and haiku poetry.