JUDY YOUNG
Author & Poet
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Judy Young's book R is for Rhyme, A Poetry Alphabet is the 2008 Mom's Choice Award Gold Recipient: Educators' Choice!
Judy remembers showing her grandmother a poem she wrote at age ten and she has been writing ever since. Her poetry, fiction and nonfiction books are favorites by young readers and are in classrooms across the country.
Judy is a frequent speaker at schools, children's literature festivals and young author conferences as well as at professional educational conferences nationwide. With twenty years experience in the public schools. Judy easily relates to students and teachers. Her first hand knowledge in improving students' writing skills allows her presentations and workshops to directly correspond with school curriculum, thus providing unique and exciting learning opportunities for her audiences.
Judy resides near Springfield, MO, with her husband, Ross B. Young, a professional artist who illustrated Judy's "Show Me" books. They have two grown children and several dogs. When not writing or speaking professionally, Judy can be found reading, hiking, fishing, and gallivanting around the country in the Young's* traveling studio, "Arlo."
NEW THIS SPRING (Pre-order now)
ISBN-10: 1585363480 ISBN-13: 978-1585363483
It's 1933 and the Great Depression has left millions of people without work. Like thousands of families, Ruth's family struggles just to keep food on the table. And now, ten-year-old Ruth has just learned that school is a luxury her town cannot afford. She will not be going on to fifth grade. Ruth sees very little in her life to count as lucky stars. But when Ruth stops focusing on the hardships and focuses on solutions, she discovers the importance of being a lucky star for someone else.
Editorial Review:
From Kirkus Review: "Counting 'lucky stars' isn't easy when you own the world's ugliest hand-me-down shoes, your school has closed and your dad is permanently out of town. Ruth [ten] wants to pursue her dream of education, but how can she do that during the Great Depression?...Young's positive, feel-good story succeeds in showing how applying a good attitude and creativity will make life shine brighter than a lucky star..."
From Rutgers University Project on Economics and Children: This outstanding book will help children to gain a richer exposure to lessons about unemployment, scarcity, and recessionTeachers and parents can use the books poignant illustrations and clear text to help children come to terms with potentially difficult economic times they may be experiencing themselves.
From A for Anglers to Z for Zzzzzzzzzing, the sound all anglers love to hear as a fish takes out the line, H is for Hook, A Fishing Alphabet will have readers captured, hook, line and sinker! Award-winning author Judy Young combines both poetry and sidebar information about all aspects of fishing while Gary Palmer vividly depicts the number one outdoor sport enjoyed by millions of all ages.
Lazy Days of Summer by Judy Young, illustrated by Kathy O’Malley, Reading level: Ages 4-8 Hardcover: 32 pages Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press (May 2007)
ISBN-10: 1585362417
ISBN-13: 978-1585362417
From earliest times, “playing” has been part of the human experience and many of today’s familiar games have been played for centuries. Lazy Days of Summer explores long-loved games and activities with fun poems, lively illustrations, interesting historical facts, simple rules and fun variations. Young readers and their friends and families are invited to leave the techno-driven world for a little while and “get outside and play!”
Editorial Reviews
From Playthings Magazine Young’s lively language and the bright yet dreamy illustrations by Kathy O’Malley evoke summer days filled with outdoor fun from dawn until dusk…a charming read-aloud for today’s kids. (Karyn M. Peterson)
Show Me the Number, A Missouri Number Book by Judy Young, illustrated by Ross B. Young Reading Level: Ages 5-10 Hardcover: 40 pages
ISBN-10: 1585361569
ISBN-13: 978-1585361564
From the husband-and-wife, author-illustrator team that produced S is for Show Me, A Missouri Alphabet, comes its companion book Show Me the Number, A Missouri Number Book. Readers will count their way through Missouri as they race through the first U.S. Olympics, measure a Missouri Fox Trotter horse, discover sunken treasures and dig down to see what’s holding up the Arch. The fun-to-read poems and entertaining facts, accompanied by illustrations you can “count on,” show you more of the Show Me State.
R Is for Rhyme: A Poetry Alphabet by Judy Young, Victor Juhasz (Illustrator) Reading level: Ages 4-8 Hardcover: 46 pages Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press (January 30, 2006) 
ISBN: 1585362409
Discover the magic of poetry with R is for Rhyme: A Poetry Alphabet. From acrostics and ballads to meter and metaphor, author and poet Judy Young has written a delightful collection of poems that are brought to life by the colorful illustrations by Victor Juhasz. In addition, poetic tools, terms and techniques accompany each poem in sidebar information allowing readers to learn about how poems are written. Whether haiku or rap, sonnets or cinquains, readers of all ages will enjoy the beauty and humor expressed in poetry and will be inspired to put their imaginations to work Crafting their own poems.
| Awards and Honors: 2008 Mom's Choice Award Gold Recipient: Educator's Choice 2006 Missouri Writers' Guild Best Juvenile Book Award 2006 NAPPA (National Parenting Publications) Honor Award for Ages 9+ Category Selected by the Virginia Tanner Creative Dance Program and Children's Dance Theatre of the University of Utah to be choreographed for their 58th annual performance in May 2007. Featured by the Albuquerque Public Schools for their "Words and Images" ARTS Program, 2006/2007 school year. |
Editorial Reviews
From Twila C. Liggett, Ph.D., Founder of PBSs Reading Rainbow and Professor at Marymount Manhattan College: This is just an incredible book. By coupling the styles of poetry with such wonderful collection of poems, this book is a delight. Furthermore, it is also a "text" for teachers to use in teaching writing to upper elementary students through the college level. I plan to use this lovely book in my college level teacher education and Children's Literature classes. Bravo!
From Kirkus Starred Review "Twenty-six sidebar lessons on poetry, each linked to both a poem and a cheeky colorful illustration. The wit and mischief in the painterly illustrations welcome even new poetry readers to give verse a try.
From Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Review "In this unique alphabet book readers will get to meet a whole new set of poems which show us the different faces and forms that poetry can takeThis book certainly is one of the most creative poetry picture books that has been published because it not only gives us poems to read but it also helps us to better understand the whole wonderful world of poetry and to see that poetry can convey a feeling or an impression in an unforgettable way."
From International Reading Association's "Reading Today: One of the best new books on the market for your children, your class and even yourself... R is for Rhyme presents a multileveled look into all things poetic." By David L. Richardson
S Is For Show Me: A Missouri Alphabet Edition 1. (Discover America State By State. Alphabet Series) by Judy and Ross B. Young Reading level: Ages 4-8 Board book: 40 pages Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press; 1 edition (September 17, 2001) 
ISBN: 1585360260
What a fun way to learn about Missouri? Author and poet, Judy Young, and illustrator, Ross B. Young, invite children of all ages to go with them on an alphabetical adventure through Missouri, as they "show you" the Show Me State with poems, pictures and facts about Missouri's, geography, history, famous people, events, plants and wildlife. In a multi-tiered approach for Pre-K to 6th grade readers, hidden images within the illustrations are fun for all ages to find, a short poem for each letter of the alphabet is a good read aloud for pre-readers, and older readers learn of the rich heritage of Missouri, which is a statewide focus in MO elementary schools.
Presentations and Workshops For Students
R is for Rhyme Student Presentations:
grades K-8From ballads about butterflies, jingles about jellybeans and quatrains about quilts, students will discover the magic of poetry. As Judy reads her poems and shares the stories behind them, students actively enter into the poetry writing process, becoming "poetry detectives" by discovering poetic tools, terms and techniques such as rhythm and rhyme, metaphor and alliteration, and specific poetic structures. Students then get the opportunity to become poets, as Judy leads them through group poetry writing activities.
Show Me Missouri Student Presentations:
grades K-6Students go on an adventure through Missouri with author Judy Young as she presents her books, S is for Show Me, A Missouri Alphabet and Show Me the Numbers, A Missouri Number Book. Students will actively participate by choosing "artifacts" which relate to the books poetry and expository text about the history, geography, people, events, wildlife and resources of Missouri. In addition to her enthusiasm in exploring the gateway to the west, Judy shares the behind-the-scenes stories about the writing and publishing processes, including the rare opportunity to see some of the original artwork.
So You Want To Be An Author
for grades K-8"What's it like to be an author?" is a frequent question that students have. Your students find out with this special opportunity to meet award-winning author Judy Young. Judy will share passages from her fiction, poetry and nonfiction books as well as the stories behind the books, how ideas change to words and the writing and publication process. Students also get the opportunity to write with Judy, as she leads students grades 2-8 through a group writing activity.
Playday with an Author:
grades K-4Is your school planning a playday, party or special celebration? Make these special activities not only fun but educational as well by inviting Judy Young, author of Lazy Days of Summer. Judy shares poems and unique historical facts about a variety of traditional games described in her book, as well as the writing process of both poetry and nonfiction. Then, the students have the opportunity to do what kids love: PLAY! as they try out some of the games from the book.
Evening or Special Events:
for mixed audiences of children and adultsInvite a special speaker to your schools parent night, reading fair, literature festival, young authors celebration or other special event. In an informal presentation style designed for a mixed audience of both children and adults, Judy takes you "behind the scenes" to discover the working life of an author, including the illustration process from an author-married-to-an-illustrators point of view. As an option to schools who are trying to boost parent attendance, Judy offers a student poetry contest in which a Poet Laureate is chosen for each grade participating. Winners are announced at the event.
Poetry: Write Away! A Classroom Writing Workshop Residency
: grades 2-8Poetry is often the first type of literature heard by children and young children are eager to learn to write poetry. Likewise, older students are learning to use the unique voice of poetry to express themselves. As your school's writer-in-residence, Judy Young comes into the classrooms to work directly with the students on their own poetry writing. Students explore a variety of poetic tools, techniques and terminology used in poetry such as metaphor, simile, and alliteration as they learn to write in variety of poetic structures. A different poetry writing assignment is given in each classroom. Teachers can then share their class lessons with their peers, turning the writing workshop into an observational writing workshop inservice for educators as well.
"Judy, your visit not only helped us complete our "Buddy Book" project, it is helping with setting up a writing workshop this year. I loved seeing how the kids responded to you conferencing with them. Thank you!"
Kathy Schroeder, teacher
North Jefferson Intermediate
High Ridge, MO
Presentations and Workshops For Educators
Meet the Author Judy Young!:
for all educators, K-12Judy Young is living proof that dreams really do come true! Join this author and poet as she shares her unique and humorous story of how her career changed from teacher to author! In this 60-90 minute presentation, you'll see a behind the scene view of the publication process from initial concept to rough drafts, final drafts, and galley proofs, as well as the illustration process from the author's perspective. Judy also gives suggestions on how her books can be used in the classroom. 60 minutes Perfect for your conferences Breakfast or Lunch Presentations and Breakout Sessions.
Hot Damn! Its a Poetry Slam!:
for all educators, K-12Spice up your conference luncheon, dinner or evening event with a poetry slam hosted by the author of award-winning book, R is for Rhyme, A Poetry Alphabet! Judy Young will host a poetry slam in which, in addition to starting the event with her Poetry from A to Z Rap and reciting some of her own poetry, Judy invites others to join the fun in reciting or reading their own work or work of others in a relaxed and lively contest. Length varies, depending on conference needs. No additional fee for Poetry Slam if Judy is scheduled for other sessions at your event.
Poetry: Write in the Middle of Class, A Writing Workshop for Teachers:
for teachers K-8Judy Young, author of award winning R is for Rhyme, A Poetry Alphabet, wants teachers to feel more comfortable and confident in teaching poetry writing. In this hands-on workshop, teachers learn how easy it is to get their students creative juices flowing. Teachers will actively participate in a variety of poetry writing activities that can be used immediately in the classroom, from free verse, to rhyming verse, to non-rhyming structures such as acrostics, cinquians, haiku, etc., as well as use of poetic tools such as metaphor, simile, alliteration, and onomatopoeia. Judy also gives suggestions on integrating poetry into all curriculum areas.
Judy is very flexible in tailoring her workshops to fit your conference or professional development workshop needs. Workshops can be tailored toward a wide grade range audience K-8, or smaller grade range audiences, such as K-2, 3-5, 6-8. In addition, workshops can be scheduled for a full day, half-day, or 60-120 minute mini-workshops. Simply contact Judy to discuss your school, district or conference needs.
Penny, a 5th grade teacher who attended your after school workshops, wrote a grant ...to receive 30 copies of the book [R is for Rhyme, A Poetry Alphabet] to teach poetry. Your workshop motivated her. "
Kerri Bruce, Literacy Coach
Weaver School
Springfield, MO
Fees
Presentations and Workshops for Students:
School Presentations:
$600 per day plus travel expenses and lodging, as applicable for up to six presentation sessions per day.
Student Writing Workshops:
$750 plus travel expenses and lodging for first day
$600 plus lodging for each additional day
After-school and Evening Events:
If a school presentation or student workshop is booked, adding a same day Evening Event OR an after school 90-minute Teacher Workshop is only $250 plus lodging.
Children's Literature Festivals, Young Author Conferences and other events for students are arranged on an individual basis and include speaking fees plus expenses (travel, lodging and meals, as applicable). Contact Judy Young with a description of your event to receive a quote.
Presentations and Workshops for Educators
Fees for conferences and other professional development events are arranged on an individual basis, but may include speaking fee and expenses (travel, lodging, meals, registration fees, as applicable). Contact Judy Young with a description of your event to receive a quote.
Contact Information
To schedule a speaking engagement or if you have any questions, please contact Judy by phone or email. She will responded to you as soon as possible.
Judy Young
6155 E. Farm Road 132
Springfield, MO 65802Phone 417-866-1800
website: http://www.judyyoungpoetry.com
06/10/08 date this page was last edited Click HERE to return to state page
