Judith Byron Schachner

Last updated

Judith Byron "Judy" Schachner (born August 20, 1951) is an American children's writer and illustrator. [1] Her works include the Skippyjon Jones series. [2] Schachner lives in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, with her husband, Bob, and a dog and her two Siamese cats. [3]

Contents

Early life

Growing up, Schachner had a difficult childhood. She was born and raised in Waltham, Massachusetts, by her parents Edward and Mary Francis Byron. She grew up the youngest and has two older brothers, Kevin and Ted. Her family was working class. Her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer when Judy was eight years old. [4] Growing up, she struggled with anxiety and drawing was her way to cope with it. [5] Judy was having difficulties in school, as well. All through her early schooling, Judy did not excel in mathematics and science. Her teachers would constantly comment on how shy Judy was. However, her teachers and classmates did notice she had a very good artistic eye. [4] When she was little, she would draw quite a bit. She had a very lively imagination and spent most of her childhood dreaming of a better life for herself and her family. [6] She attended the Massachusetts College of Art and graduated in 1973 with a BFA in illustration. [4]

Career

Judy was able to get a job working at Hallmark Cards and began designing all kinds of cards for them. [4] This proved to be unsatisfactory work and she became discouraged. Eventually, Judy married her husband, Bob, and she became a mother to two daughters, Sarah Elizabeth and Emma Rose. She had more free time and was able to spend more time drawing things she liked and writing. She realized how much she liked motherhood and how much her daughters inspired her. The books she would read to her Sarah and Emma encouraged her to start working on her portfolio again. [4] While working on her portfolio, she met Donna Jo Napoli. Donna wanted her to illustrate her children's book, “The Prince of the Pond”. [4] Helping Donna with her illustration gave her a head start in the illustration and publication field. When she first went to meet an editor, they asked her if she was a writer and she lied and said yes. She had only been working on illustrations at this point. Eventually she met an editor named Lucia Monfried and was able to get some books in the working. She was able to get her first book, “Willy and May” published. Since then, she has had several other well-known books published. She has a studio on the second floor of her house. She surrounds herself with things that inspire her while she works. Some of the things in her studio include toys, textiles, and taxidermy. She loves to listen to music while working on her project, especially her daughter Sarah’s compositions. [5] She draws a lot of her inspiration from her own life. A lot of her books have characters based on people in her life, such as her children. [7] “Yo, Vikings!” is based on a true story about her daughters. She is best known for her book series, Skippyjon Jones. Skippyjon Jones is inspired by her own cat and her brothers, Ted and Kevin. [7] The book series is about a siamese cat who is under the impression that he is a chihuahua. The book contains many instances of mock Spanish and has received some negative reviews because of it. Judy continues to write and illustrate today. She also makes visits to schools and libraries to give presentations on her work and inspired the less than stellar students. [4]

Her works

Skippyjon Jones , Skippyjon Jones in the Dog House', Skippyjon Jones in Mummy Trouble, Skippyjon Jones and the Big Bones, Skippyjon Jones Lost in Spice, Skippyjon Jones Class Action , Skippyjon Jones Aay Card-Ramba!, Skippyjon Jones Shape Up, Skippyjon Jones takes a Dive, Skippyjon Jones Up, Up and Away, Skippyjon Jones Up and Down, Skippyjon Jones and the Treasure Hunt, Skippyjon Jones Color Crazy, Douwe Bob, Yo, Vikings!, Bits & Pieces, The Grannyman, How the Cat Swallowed Thunder, I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Pie, Willy and May, Mr. Emerson’s Cook, Oils And Soop

Her illustrations

The Prince of the Pond Written by Donna Jo Napoli, Jimmy the Pickpocket of the Palace Written by Donna Jo Napoli, Gracie, the Pixie of the Puddle Written by Donna Jo Napoli, Staying with Grandmother Written by Barbara Baker, What Shall I Dream? Written by Laura McGee Kvasnosky

Awards

Skippyjon Jones won the E. B. White Read Aloud Book Award [8] and The State Children’s Choice Awards [9] in the states of Indiana, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, and Washington.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beatrix Potter</span> British childrens writer and illustrator (1866–1943)

Helen Beatrix Potter was an English writer, illustrator, natural scientist, and conservationist. She is best known for her children's books featuring animals, such as The Tale of Peter Rabbit, which was her first commercially published work in 1902. Her books, including 23 Tales, have sold more than 250 million copies. An entrepreneur, Potter was a pioneer of character merchandising. In 1903, Peter Rabbit was the first fictional character to be made into a patented stuffed toy, making him the oldest licensed character.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Judy Blume</span> American writer of children, young adult and adult works (born 1938)

Judith Blume is an American writer of children's, young adult, and adult fiction. Blume began writing in 1959 and has published more than 26 novels. Among her best-known works are Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. (1970), Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing (1972), Deenie (1973), and Blubber (1974). Blume's books have significantly contributed to children's and young adult literature. She was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine in 2023.

<i>Little Women</i> 1868–69 novel by Louisa May Alcott

Little Women is a coming-of-age novel written by American novelist Louisa May Alcott, originally published in two volumes in 1868 and 1869. The story follows the lives of the four March sisters—Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy—and details their passage from childhood to womanhood. Loosely based on the lives of the author and her three sisters, it is classified as an autobiographical or semi-autobiographical novel.

<i>Just So Stories</i> Short story collection by Rudyard Kipling

Just So Stories for Little Children is a 1902 collection of origin stories by the British author Rudyard Kipling. Considered a classic of children's literature, the book is among Kipling's best known works.

Donna Jo Napoli is an American writer of children's and young adult fiction, as well as a linguist. She currently is a professor at Swarthmore College teaching Linguistics in all different forms. She has also taught linguistics at Smith College, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Georgetown University, the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, and the University of Pennsylvania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jo Grant</span> Fictional character in the TV series Doctor Who

Josephine "Jo" Grant, later Jo Jones, is a fictional character played by Katy Manning in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. Jo was introduced by Barry Letts and Terrance Dicks in the first episode of Doctor Who's eighth season (1971) as a new companion of series protagonist the Doctor, in his third incarnation. After the Doctor's previous companion Liz Shaw, a scientist and intellectual, the production team looked to introduce a less experienced companion to act as an audience surrogate. Jo appeared in 15 stories.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mog (Judith Kerr)</span> Series of childrens books

Mog is a fictional character in a series of children's books written by Judith Kerr. Other regularly occurring characters include Mr and Mrs Thomas and their two children Nicky and Debbie. In each book Mog gets into a different conundrum with a new character or event. Unusually for a popular children's series, Mog dies in the final book, 2001's Goodbye, Mog.

<i>Blubber</i> (novel) 1974 childrens novel by Judy Blume

Blubber is a children's novel by Judy Blume first published in 1974. The narrator of the story is Jill Brenner, a Pennsylvania fifth-grader who joins her classmates in ostracizing and bullying Linda, an awkward and overweight girl. Linda gives an oral class report about whales and is hence nicknamed "Blubber" by her peers.

<i>Stellaluna</i> Childrens book by Janell Cannon

Stellaluna is a 1993 children's book written and illustrated by Janell Cannon. It is about a young fruit bat, Stellaluna, who becomes separated from her mother and finds her way to a nest of birds. She is adopted by them and learns bird-like behavior. Eventually, Stellaluna finds other bats and reunites with her mother, and she learns how to behave like a bat. She introduces the birds to her bat family. Stellaluna and the birds decide that, despite their many differences, they are still friends.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lois Lenski</span> American author and illustrator (1893–1974)

Lois Lenore Lenski Covey was a Newbery Medal-winning author and illustrator of picture books and children's literature. Beginning in 1927 with her first books, Skipping Village and Jack Horner's Pie: A Book of Nursery Rhymes, Lenski published 98 books, including several posthumously. Her work includes children's picture books and illustrated chapter books, songbooks, poetry, short stories, her 1972 autobiography, Journey into Childhood, and essays about books and children's literature. Her best-known bodies of work include the "Mr. Small" series of picture books (1934–62); her "Historical" series of novels, including the Newbery Honor-winning titles Phebe Fairchild: Her Book (1936) and Indian Captive: The Story of Mary Jemison (1941); and her "Regional" series, including Newbery Medal-winning Strawberry Girl (1945) and Children's Book Award-winning Judy's Journey (1947).

"There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly" is a children's rhyme and nonsense song of a kind known as cumulative. Alternative titles include "There Was an Old Lady", "I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly", "There Was an Old Woman Who Swallowed a Fly" and "I Know an Old Woman Who Swallowed a Fly". An early documentation of the story appears in English author Dorothy B. King's 1946 book Happy Recollections.

<i>The One in the Middle Is the Green Kangaroo</i> 1969 book by Judy Blume

The One in the Middle Is the Green Kangaroo is a children's book published in 1969, written by Judy Blume and featuring different illustrations over multiple editions. It was Blume's first published work.

<i>Jos Boys</i> 1886 novel by Louisa May Alcott

Jo's Boys, and How They Turned Out: A Sequel to "Little Men" is a novel by American author Louisa May Alcott, first published in 1886. The novel is the final book in the unofficial Little Women series. In it, the March sisters' children and the original students of Plumfield, now grown, are caught up in real world troubles as they work towards careers and pursue love.

<i>Skippyjon Jones</i> Childrens picture book series by Judith Byron Schachner

Skippyjon Jones is a children's picture book series, written and illustrated by Judith Byron Schachner. The first book was published in 2003 by Dutton Juvenile. The books are notable for their popularity amongst children, use of mock Spanish, and controversy over their representation of Latinos.

<i>The Tale of Timmy Tiptoes</i> Childrens book by Beatrix Potter

The Tale of Timmy Tiptoes is a children's book written and illustrated by Beatrix Potter, and published by Frederick Warne & Co. in October 1911. Timmy Tiptoes is a squirrel believed to be a nut-thief by his fellows, and imprisoned by them in a hollow tree with the expectation that he will confess under confinement. Timmy is tended by Chippy Hackee, a friendly, mischievous chipmunk who has run away from his wife and is camping-out in the tree. Chippy urges the prisoner to eat the nuts stored in the tree, and Timmy does so but grows so fat he cannot escape the tree. He regains his freedom when a storm topples part of the tree. The tale contrasts the harmonious marriage of its title character with the less than harmonious marriage of the chipmunk.

Berlie Doherty is an English novelist, poet, playwright and screenwriter. She is best known for children's books, for which she has twice won the Carnegie Medal. She has also written novels for adults, plays for theatre and radio, television series and libretti for children's opera.

<i>How the Grinch Stole Christmas!</i> 1957 childrens story by Dr. Seuss

How the Grinch Stole Christmas! is a Christmas children's book by Theodor "Dr. Seuss" Geisel written in rhymed verse with illustrations by the author. It follows the Grinch, a cranky, solitary creature who attempts to thwart the public's Christmas plans by stealing Christmas gifts and decorations from the homes of the nearby town of Whoville on Christmas Eve. Miraculously, the Grinch realizes that Christmas is not all about money and presents.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Judith Jones</span> American book editor (1924–2017)

Judith Jones was an American writer and editor, best known for having rescued The Diary of Anne Frank from the reject pile. Jones also championed Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking. She retired as senior editor and vice president at Alfred A. Knopf in 2011 and fully retired in 2013 after more than 60 years at the company.

Mary Clarissa "May" Byron was a British writer and poet, best known for her abridgements of J. M. Barrie's Peter Pan books. She published under the names May Byron, M.C. Gillington and Maurice Clare. Byron specialised in writing biographies of great composers, poets and writers, before going on to rewrite some of J. M. Barrie's works for younger readers, to write poetry, and to write cookbooks.

<i>Children of Blood and Bone</i> 2018 young adult fantasy novel by Tomi Adeyemi

Children of Blood and Bone is a 2018 young adult romantic fantasy novel by Nigerian-American novelist Tomi Adeyemi. The book, Adeyemi's debut novel and the first book in a planned trilogy, follows heroine Zélie Adebola as she attempts to restore magic to the kingdom of Orïsha, following the ruling class kosidáns' brutal suppression of the class of magic practitioners Zélie belongs to, the maji.

References

  1. ↑ Blair, Gabrielle. "Author Interview: Judith Byron Schachner". Designmom. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
  2. ↑ Lodge, Sally (May 29, 2015). "BEA 2015: Judy Schachner: Welcoming a New Picture-Book Hero". PublishersWeekly.com.
  3. ↑ "Author - Judy Schachner - Skippyjon Jones". www.skippyjonjones.com.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Judy Schachner". Amazon.
  5. 1 2 "Author Interview: Judith Byron Schachner ⋆ Design Mom". 18 June 2012.
  6. ↑ "About Judy - Judy Schachner". www.judithbyronschachner.com.
  7. 1 2 "Judy Schachner - Penguin Random House". PenguinRandomhouse.com.
  8. ↑ "Awards for Judy Schachner". www.fictiondb.com.
  9. ↑ "Judy Schachner - National Book Festival - Library of Congress". www.loc.gov.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.