| PROFILE | BOOKS | EVENTS | LINKS |
Sandy Asher
E-Mail: sasher@drury.edu
One of my happiest childhood memories is of the many hours I spent in the children's reading room of the Free Library at Logan Square in Philadelphia, PA, where I grew up. Way back then, I thought there could be nothing more wonderful than to write a book someone would love as much as I loved my favorites. I still think so!
My writing career began with the publication of stories, poems, and articles in children's magazines, including Highlights for Children, Humpty Dumpty's Magazine, and Weekly Reader. My first book for young readers, SUMMER BEGINS, was published in 1980. Since then, I’ve written 25 more. My latest picture books are all about Froggie and Rabbit, TOO MANY FROGS!, WHAT A PARTY!, and HERE COMES GOSLING!
I’ve also edited five anthologies, including, DUDE! Stories and Stuff for Boys, coedited with my friend David L. Harrison. My latest anthology is WRITING IT RIGHT: How Successful Children’s Authors Perfect and Sell Their Stories. Some very generous authors allowed me to show early drafts of their published picture books, magazine stories, and novels so readers and future writers can see all the rewriting that goes on behind the scenes.
As Sandra Fenichel Asher, I’ve written over three dozen plays for young audiences, including A WOMAN CALLED TRUTH, SOMEBODY CATCH MY HOMEWORK (inspired by the poetry of David L. Harrison), and an adaptation of Avi’s ROMEO AND JULIET--TOGETHER (AND ALIVE!) AT LAST. To find out more about my plays, please visit my other web page at http://usaplays4kids.drury.edu/playwrights/asher.
My husband and I are the parents of two grown children, Ben and Emily, and the grandparents of Olivia and Rafael. We live in Lancaster, PA, with our dog Rudy and our cats, Stanley and Natasha. We love to travel and have visited Canada, England, Scotland, France, Denmark, Russia, Latvia, China, Germany, Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Italy, and Israel--so far! I've also visited schools and led writing workshops for children and adults from Anchorage, Alaska, to St. Petersburg, Florida.
 HERE COMES GOSLING! Ages 3-8 Froggie and Rabbit are back, and they’re getting ready to meet Gander and Goose’s new baby, Gosling. Froggie can’t wait. He loves new babies. But this one won’t stop honking--LOUDLY!--and no one can comfort her. At last, Froggie’s natural charm and exuberance turn Gosling’s tears into smiles.
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 WHAT A PARTY! ages 3 and up It's Grandpa's birthday and Froggie can't wait to sing for him! What a show! And then, the party's over. It's time to go home. Only Rabbit's promise of a story convinces a tired Froggie to say goodnight and discover the quiet joy of looking back on a special day.
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 TOO MANY FROGS! Illustrated by Keith Graves Ages 3-8 Rabbit lives alone and likes it that way. One stormy night, Froggie arrives on Rabbit's doorstep--and returns again and again, filling Rabbit's house with snacks, pillows, and dozens of cousins. Too much fuss! Too much clutter! Too many frogs! But Rabbit loves to read--and Froggie loves to listen!
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 WRITING IT RIGHT: How Successful Children’s Authors Perfect and Sell Their Stories All Ages Available starting August 3, 2009, from Writer’s Book Store A guide to the revision process for adults who write for children, for writing teachers at all levels, and for young readers who want to find out how authors rethink and revise their work. Both well-known and first-time authors reveal their process of making good ideas worthy of publication.
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 DUDE! Stories and Stuff for Boys Ages 8-12 coedited with David L. Harrison Growing up is tough, but the guys in this collection are equal to the job! Poets, playwrights, and storytellers from Jaime Adoff to Jose Gonzalez to Sneed Collard III offer tales fanciful and true, all for and about boys--but girls are welcome to read them, too!
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CHILDREN'S LITERATURE FESTIVAL OF THE OZARKS
Held Annually in the Fall
Springfield, MO
A dozen authors and illustrators visit with school groups, teachers, and librarians during the day and at an autographing party in the evening.
CHILDREN'S LITERATURE FESTIVAL
Held Annually in the Spring
Warrensburg, MO
More than 40 authors and illustrators from around the country visit with school children, teachers, and librarians, including a huge autographing party.
AMERICAN ALLIANCE FOR THEATRE AND EDUCATION CONFERENCE
Held Annually in Midsummer
Four days of panels, performances, presentations, exhibitors, and a lively Playwrights Slam--all by and for artists and educators devoted to Theatre for Young Audiences and the dramatic arts in our schools!
It is supported by
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