Mary grew up in rural Virginia. There she would hear the bobwhite call of the quail, the whicker of horses, the pit-pat of rain against tin roof of her home. Now, she lives in a city--Washington, D.C.-where she listens to the beep-beep of horns, the tromp of shoes on sidewalks, the murmur of many voices. She has always been fascinated with sounds. Writing for young readers continues to be a wonderful challenge to Mary who has had several jobs as an adult, including working as a theme park waitress, an 18th century tavern wench for Colonial Williamsburg, a poetry instructor, and the director of a writing and family folklore program for older adults. As a medical writer for a children's hospital, she first became interested in writing for kids. Mary ties to listen carefully to the world (to others this might look like daydreaming) and bring a sense of different voices and rhythms to the page. The people, pets, and happenings of her childhood and her current neighborhood are lively muses. Mary also writes frequently for the Washington Post and various magazines, teaches creative writing, and enjoys spending time with my husband and daughter.
Selected Reviews of Mary's Books
Jackson Jones and Mission Greentop
Mary Quattlebaum
Plot 5-1 is rented in the name of one basketball-loving Jackson Jones. Not his choice, mind you, but his mama thinks the city is no place for a boy to connect to the earth. This little square of dirt behind a garden gate downtown is just what he needs to ground him, or so she thinks. What she does not realize is that just showing up to tend the weeds with his fellow Rooters is causing this 11-year-old more grief than seems fair. The school bully, Blood Green, goes out of his way to make Jackson's life miserable. Snide greetings like "Bouquet Jones" and "Barn Boy" do not help. Mary Quattlebaum's lively story about a plucky kid who learns the value of protecting the past is an entertaining look at the very real historical significance of victory gardens. Her author's note at the end explains that millions of Americans planted vegetable gardens during World War II to provide food for families at home and U.S. soldiers overseas. She and her husband tended just such a plot. Although some of the problem-solving skills young Jackson employs seem a bit beyond his experience, it is nevertheless a lighthearted peek into the life of one young boy growing up in the city. Though raised by a single mother, Jackson is never without the wisdom of experience afforded by the older neighbors around him. This book is a good pick for an educational opportunity wrapped in light fiction reading. 2004, Delacorte Press, $15.95. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Francine Thomas (Children's Literature).
Winter Friends
Mary Quattlebaum
Illustrated by Hiroe Nakata
This collection of eighteen poems of various styles and lengths depicts a child's point of view over the course of a wintry day. Beginning with "After the Storm," we follow a little girl as she peeks out her window at dawn to find "the world in its white nightclothes." A few poems later, now outside and in the thick of it, she discovers another child's lost blue mitten. Several poems later, she comes across a boy whose "shyly waving hand is bare." After reuniting him with his mitten, the two new friends spend the afternoon together, building snowmen and sledding. When evening falls, neighbors gather in the little girl's home over hot chocolate and, as the day comes to a close, the wind outside brings a promise of more snow to come. With the exceptions of "My Mama's Whistle" and "Mrs. Malley's Dog" (neither of which has any connection to winter), these poems capture all the highlights of a snowy day, from snow angels to icicles to "a first time taste of floating flake." Quattlebaum's vivid imagery is lyrical and original, and Nakata's whimsical, exuberant drawings double the book's charming appeal. 2005, Doubleday/Random House, $15.95. Ages 3 to 7. Reviewer: Naomi Milliner (Children's Literature).
Why Sparks Fly High at Dancing Point: A Colonial American Folktale
Retold by Mary Quattlebaum
Pictures by Leonid Gore
Colonel Lightfoot considers himself the best dancer around. He struts and prances over the countryside, gloating about his fine dancing skills. Another cause for pride is his fine Virginia land. It stretches green and lush along the James River. But one patch of land is a soggy, boggy mess. Folks say it's the devil's stomping ground. They've seen sparks fly through the darkness. Colonel Lightfoot, determined to reclaim his land, challenges the devil to a dancing contest. The devil agrees and soon they are stomping and twirling, striving to outdo each other. Hours pass and the devil is sure it is only a matter of time before the colonel will give up. But the colonel gets a brilliant idea. "If I can trip up the devil on account of his pride," muses the colonel, "perhaps I'll come out the winner yet!" Based on a Virginia legend, this tale is filled with action and suspense. Dramatic acrylic and pastel illustrations capture the passion and mystery of this tale. A great read aloud. A fun resource for a study about colonial Virginia, and useful for generating discussions about legends. The book's addendum gives interesting historical facts and explains how the author wove the story together. 2006, Melanie Kroupa Books, $16.00. Ages 6 to 12. Reviewer: Cheri Stowers (Children's Literature).
Because Mary's books range from picture books for younger kids to poetry to chapter books and middle-grade novels, she can gear presentations toward the different grade levels at an elementary school.
Grade Level: Kindergarten through fifth Number of Students per Presentation: No more than 70.
Location: Classroom or school media center with table and chair (no auditorium settings).
Length of Presentation: About 45 minutes.
Mary's presentations cover a variety of topics:
- Poetry (especially good for National Poetry Month).
- From draft to finished book - a look at the process, including looking at student's work.
- Presentations focused on most recent books - Why Sparks Fly High at Dancing Point (400th anniversary of Virginia) or Jackson Jones and the Curse of the Outlaw Rose and gardening.
- Preschool and kindergarten programs focus on movement and sound.
Fee: Local (Washington, D.C., Northern Virginia, parts of Maryland): $400 for one, $600 for two, $800 for three, and $1000 for four presentations at one school in one day. Travel and lodging costs to be paid by sponsoring organization.
Writing Workshops for Kids
Kids can explore and shape their ideas into poems or stories. If time, a public reading at end of workshop gives young authors a chance to celebrate their voices. Especially fun for National Poetry Month in April or National Children's Book Week in November. Grade Level: Second through Fifth.
Number of Students Per Workshop: No more than 30.
Location: Classroom with desks or tables for student writing.
Length: About 50 minutes.
Fee: Local (Washington, D.C., Northern Virginia, parts of Maryland): $500 for one, $800 for two, $1000 for three workshops at one school in one day.
Out of Town: $1000 for two workshops and $1400 for three workshops at one school in one day, plus travel expenses.
To learn more about Mary and her publications please visit www.maryquattlebaum.com.
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