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Judith Caseley was born in the small town of Winfield, New Jersey, a converted army development. All of the houses were painted white. Her mother compensated by decorating her bedroom with paintings by Matisse, Rousseau, and Van Gogh. Later she added the German Expressionists. She remembers her wall of flaming reds and banana yellows and jungle greens. She's loved color ever since. Judith went to Syracuse University and majored in English, but felt she'd never get all of the reading done because she worked in the cafeteria. She switched into art in her sophomore year. During her four years in college, she never took a single course in illustration or writing. Ten years later, from greeting cards to gallery work, she was an author and illustrator of children's books. Judith worked part-time as a receptionist for years until she could support herself. Much of Judith's work is semi-autobiographical. She takes small events from her life or from the lives of her children, and fictionalizes them. Field Day Friday was based on her son Michael's field day, when his new sneaker fell off in the middle of the race. Mickey's Class Play dealt with his kindergarten play, in which he played a duck. Mama, Coming and Going was written about her actual mishaps as a mother. She accidentally locked her (then infant) daughter Jenna in the car, and took her to a birthday party on the wrong day, and thanked Aunt Mary for a gift that she never sent. Currently, Jenna is 20 and Michael is 16. She tends to follow their curriculum, choosing nuggets from their day and spinning them into stories. Judith tries to limit how much material she steals nowadays, but it's difficult. Judith wrote Praying to A.L. a few years ago, while her father was dying of Alzheimer's Disease. It is a book that is close to her heart. It deals with loss, death, and rebirth, and she was able to read all about Abraham Lincoln in researching the book. She really did have a framed picture of Lincoln on her wall, and her sister and she really did have an A.L. Club, where they told him all our problems! Bully came next, and Judith used a handful of stories from Michael, Jenna, and her nephew John about bullies they had dealt with. Her father was a bully when he was little, and liked to tell about the time another child's mother called him a rat, when he used to be a mouse. Both of Judith's parents died in the year 2000, and she was afraid that her work might become much too weighted down with sorrow. However, in that same year, On the Town: A Community Adventure was created. Painting the pictures for it was a release and a pleasure. |
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Beauty Day Price: $15.95ISBN: 978-1-933-71806-4 (hardcover) Grade level: K-2 "Beauty is a big subject for little girls; Kirkus declares that this trendy tale of hair salon hijinks by award-winning author Judith Caseley will appeal to the inner divas of readers. The story of Rosie and the day spent at her grandmother's workplace, a hair salon, is full of adventure and the intriguing world of beauty treatments! Readers will love the chance to participate by picking their own choices of hairstyles, lipstick colors, and hand lotions. " |
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Bully Price: $16.99ISBN: 978-0-688-17867-3 (hardcover) Grade level: K-3 "Mickey and Jack used to be best friends. Then something happens. It becomes a war of words between the two former friends. Jack starts calling Mickey names, then stealing his lunch and threatening him if he tells. Jack takes things from Mickey's desk and Mickey begins to feel helpless. He decides to talk to his dad. After many attempts at healing the relationship between the two, it is finally the use of humor that becomes the key. Young and older readers alike will relate to the problem and find this story practical without preaching. " |
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Dear Annie Price: $6.99ISBN: 978-0-688-13575-1 (paperback) Grade level: K - 3 "My grandpa is my pen pal." Annie tells her class at show-and-tell one day. It's true. Annie and Grandpa have written each other letters since the day Annie was born. When Annie was a baby, her mother answered Grandpa's letters. When she got a little older, Annie told her mother what to write. But now that she is in school, Annie can read Grandpa's letters herself -- and answer them, too. " |
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Harry and Willy and Carrothead Price: $16.99ISBN: 978-0-688-09492-8 (hardcover) Grade level: pre K-2 "Harry was born with no left hand. When he got to school, the kids asked him what was wrong with his arm. "Nothing," said Harry. "That's my prosthesis." Harry's hand didn't keep him from being a good baseball player -- or a good friend. Harry and Willy and Carrothead are three of the most real kids you are apt to meet between book covers, and you will like them as much as they like each other!" |
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Kissing Diary Price: $16.00ISBN: 978-0-374-36346-8 (hardcover) Grade level: 5-8th "These days, a last name of Goldglitt is the least of 12-year-old Rosie's problems. Figuring out the dos and don'ts of boyfriend behavior, a first real kiss and tolerating Mary Katz's evil and derogatory public comments cause Rosie much mental anguish.... Caseley spins a believable tween lifestyle full of complicated bumps and cracks along an uphill road of emerging adolescent issues. Rosie's budding romantic notions together with her more pressing concerns lay a foundation for a serious message that while verbal bullying can be ignored, physical violence is never acceptable. More importantly, Caseley allows her protagonist to learn from her mistakes and develop newfound confidence through her relationship with peers. Will ring true with the female tween crowd in today's complicated world. (Fiction. 10-13) "Kirkus Review |
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Mr. Green Peas Price: $15.95Grade level: pre K-2 "When petless Norman tells his classmates about his houseguest—an iguana named Mr. Green Peas—they don't believe him. So Norman arranges for them to meet Mr. Green Peas for themselves. Everything about this book is charming: the tantalizing subject, the large text in bold print, the decorative borders, and the colorful illustrations, which brim with interesting details to hold children's attention. And it's so nicely combined that the story is sure to be popular with the preschool crowd."Booklist |
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On the Town: A Community Adventure Price: $16.99ISBN: 978-0-060-29584-4(hardcover) Grade level:pre K-2 "Sparked by a school assignment, a boy and his mother keep track of the people and places in the neighborhood in On the Town: A Community Adventure by Judith Caseley. The child's notebook entries appear throughout in lively watercolor, colored pencil and ink illustrations. "Publishers Weekly |
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Sisters Price: $15.99ISBN: 978-0-060-51046-6 (hardcover) Grade level:pre K-1 "This delightful book tells the story of parents who adopt a sister for their daughter Melissa. Her name is Kika and she comes from an unnamed country. The brief one or two page chapters are told in the first person by the little girls. Their feelings and adjustments to each other are honestly portrayed. The bold, brightly colored illustrations add greatly to the text. All in all this is a good portrayal of adoption. " |
| The books below are no longer available. | |
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The Cousins NO LONGER AVAILABLE "This is one of Caseley's perkiest books, and her recognizable style is dressed in its Sunday best." School Library Journal |
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When Grandpa Came to Stay NO LONGER AVAILABLE During Grandpa's first visit since Grandma died, Benny helps Grandpa and learns a lesson about grieving. A CHILDREN'S BOOK OF THE YEAR - CHILD STUDY CHILDREN'S BOOK COMMITTEE |
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Author & Illustrator Current Location: Long Island, NY Honorarium (fee includes three 45-minute sessions):
Program Description A few things you'll need to have ready. You'll need the following:
*If anything will be unavailable please let us know ahead of time. In addition to supplies, these presentations work best if the children are properly prepared. This is best accomplished by having the children read at least a few of Ms. Caseley's books beforehand. (A popular idea is to 'buddy up' children, having older grades read to younger grades.) This helps the lesson flow smoothly (similar themes run through both the picture books and the middle readers), and also lends an air of 'magic' to the presentation; when a photograph of Ms. Caseley's daughter pops up on the screen followed by a photo from 'Dear Annie', the children will experience a 'eureka' of recognition! |
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