I love writing picture books. The process lets me dig deep into my childhood and experiences as a mother and an educator. It’s a great feeling to be a storyteller!
When I am not writing picture books, I’m a curriculum developer for educational media projects. Some of these are related to TV shows like Sesame Street, Odd Squad, and Thomas & Friends. Other times, these are related to digital products, like codeSpark or Ori Learning. I have also written parenting articles for blogs and magazines like Real Simple, the Forward, and Toca Boca Magazine.
I hold a PhD in Human Development from Teachers College, Columbia University… but I promise that I’m not a stuffy academic! My background allows me to think about learning from stories.
FAQ’s
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My favorite picture book from my childhood is Corduroy by Don Freeman. I especially loved the last page. As an adult, I get weepy when I re-read it, although I didn’t have the same reaction as a child.
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I wrote a PhD dissertation about Sesame Street! It was actually about the positive effects of adults co-viewing Sesame Street with their children. I based this on the research about the positive effects of adults reading picture books with their children.
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When I’m not writing, I love going to the theater! I have a soft spot for musicals. Living in New York City means that I have easy access to getting good discounts. I probably see between 5 – 10 shows every year.
I also love word games, and I’m obsessed with Wordle and the Spelling Bee in the NY Times. I play every day.
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I was once a balloon handler for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade! It was the thrill of a lifetime to wake up at the crack of dawn, get dressed in a silly jumpsuit, and walk 2.5 miles down Manhattan holding a rope connected to a huge inflatable with thirty other people! The balloon I held was Clifford the Big Red Dog – a great picture book!