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Lesléa Newman was born in Brooklyn, NY, and grew up there and on Long Island. She started writing poems and stories when she was eight years old, and never stopped! Her very first publications were several poems that appeared in Seventeen Magazine when she was a teenager. She graduated from Jericho High School and was very proud to be voted the Class Wit of 1973. In 1999, she was inducted into her high school’s hall of fame. Her creative writing teacher, who had saved all the poems she wrote in her class, had nominated her. Before moving to Western Massachusetts in 1983, Lesléa lived in Boston, Colorado, and New York, and had a variety of jobs including preschool teacher, secretary, waitress, freelance reporter, and sales clerk. She now lives in Northampton, Massachusetts and makes her living as a full-time writer. One of Lesléa’s favorite subject to write about is animals. Some of her picture books include The Best Cat in the World, Dogs, Dogs, Dogs!, Where is Bear? and Skunk’s Spring Surprise. Her middle grade novel, Hachiko Waits tells the true story of the famous Akita dog who waited at Shibuya Train Station in Japan for ten years, hoping for his master’s return. That book has won many awards, including the Maxwell Medal from the Dog Writers Association of America. She says this to anyone who wants to be a writer: "Writing is hard work. It is also lots of fun and very rewarding. If you want to be a writer, you must practice your art. Try to do it every day. Everyone has interesting and important stories to tell. Allow your writing to take you on a journey and lead you to new and exciting places. The wonderful thing about writing is, everyone can do it. All you need is a pen, a piece of paper, and your own imagination." |
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Daddy's Song A bedtime story about a fantastic world where “ice cream cones fall from the sky/and cats grow wings and start to fly.” But no matter what happens, Daddy and his love will always be there. |
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Skunk's Spring Surprise When Skunk wakes from her winter nap, she’s ready to play, but she can’t find her friends anywhere. Have they forgotten her? Perhaps they have a surprise for her—or perhaps she has a surprise for them! Told in rhyming verse and featuring the same lovable animals that first appeared in Where Is Bear? |
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Eight Nights of Chanukah The celebration of Chanukah is seen through the eyes of a child who delights in the festivities throughout the eight-day holiday. Told in the style of “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” this is a wonderful book to read—or sing—aloud. |
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Where is Bear? The animals in the forest are playing hide-and-seek, but Bear, the biggest one of all, can’t be found. Is Bear hurt? Or sick? One thing is certain, Bear’s friends will do anything to find him. Ready or not, here they come! |
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The Best Cat in the World Charlie is a special cat, but even the best cat in the world can’t live forever. Victor is heartbroken when Charlie dies and it takes some time before he is ready to adopt another cat. At first Victor is disappointed that Shelly acts differently than Victor. But soon he comes to love her for her own unique qualities and realizes that every cat is “the best cat in the world.” Awards |
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Fire Engine for Ruthie Ruthie is visiting her grandmother, who has all kinds of toys to play with: dolls, dress up clothes, and pretty paints. But Ruthie wants to play with fire engines, trucks and motorcycles, like Nana’s next door neighbor, Brian. A book that shows how two people can love different things and still love each other. Awards |
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