She gave me an empty cardboard cigar box. My mother noticed this tendency in me and gave me a hand with my deep and abiding desire. I collected words because I liked the way certain words sounded, what they meant, how they made me laugh because they sounded so silly. Among some of the other things I did to amuse myself, I collected words. I enjoyed the company of my dolls or my little toy lamb, and I enjoyed my own company. I don’t think I was ever bored as a child. I simply loved hearing about when they were my age-in “the olden days.” So, when students ask what I did for fun when I was a little girl, I tell them about “my olden days.” It didn’t matter what it was they were telling me, how they walked to school or got in trouble. I remember feeling desperate and starved to hear the stories of my parents’ childhood. I think we are all so eager to know about ea ch other. JN: When I do school and library visits I love to tell young people about my young life.

Tell us about this formative part of your youth. JN: Thank you very much-and what a pleasure and a privilege for me.īBS: You’ve stated that writing and words have been an important part of your life for as long as you can remember. Jerdine Nolen.īBS: Welcome to the Brown Bookshelf, Jerdine. It is an honor and a privilege on this 21 st day of our campaign, to present to some and introduce to others, Vanguard Picture Book Author, Ms. Since 1994, she has consistently entertained the young (and the young at heart), with her imaginative and tender tales of family, folklore and childhood. So says Jerdine Nolen–wife, mother of two, educator, school administrator, and author of numerous picture book titles, at least 11 of which are currently in print: Harvey Potter’s Balloon Farm, In My Momma’s Kitchen, Raising Dragons, Big Jabe, Plantzilla, Plantzilla Goes to Camp, Hewitt Anderson’s Great Big Life, Max and Jax in Second Grade, Lauren McGill’s Pickle Museum, Thunder Rose…and her latest, Pitching in for Eubie (Amistad/HarperCollins). This is what I love about being a writer.” Stories give us hopeful answers and insights to questions no one person can answer on their own - stories help us share our lives. “Stories help us examine and shape the world we live in.

Big Jabe by Jerdine Nolen