Janet Morgan Stoeke is the award-winning author of the delightfully entertaining Minerva Louise books: Minerva Louise, A Hat for Minerva Louise, Minerva Louise at School, A Friend for Minerva Louise, Minerva Louise and the Red Truck, and Minerva Louise on Christmas Eve. Born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, Janet grew up in Connecticut as part of an artistic family. In fact, when she and her siblings get together, they paint. She earned a bachelor's degree from Colgate University and a Master's from George Washington University. She and her husband, Barrett Brooks, have four children: Harrison, Colin, Elliott and Hailey. In fact, Janet wrote and illustrated Waiting for May because of her family's experiences surrounding the adoption of her daughter from China. She and her family live in Virginia near Washington, DC.
Selected Reviews of Janet's Books
The Bus Stop
Janet Morgan Stoeke
What a perfect read-a-loud for kindergarten or first grade! The beginning of the school year is always accompanied by a certain amount of angst and Janet Stoeke is here to do away with that myth! Sweet, candy colored illustrations accompany this rhyming story about what to expect at the "bus stop." The children's excitement is evident by all the goodies that they bring aboard the school bus - "Jack Bowles has a backpack that rolls. And he can't wait to bring it to the bus stop." The illustrations are simplistic and clear. The repetition would work very well for a language arts lesson - primary teachers could use the pattern and have students write about what they would bring to their bus stop. Multiethnic illustrations represent today's student body in most schools and therefore all students could relate. It is clear that Stoeke wants the readers to be comfortable riding the bus, as at the end of the school day, the bus can be seen in the background pulling into the school driveway and the students "can't wait to be riding the bus back home to the bus stop!" 2007, Dutton Children's Books, Ages 4 to 6, $12.99. Reviewer: Terri Finch (Children's Literature).
Minerva Louise and the Red Truck
Janet Morgan Stoeke
The reader will humorously discover that the hen, Minerva Louise, does not have much worldly experience beyond her farmyard. She decides to play teatime in one of her favorite places, the back of the farmer's red pickup truck. The flowerpots become her chairs and the tool box her toy box, when all of the sudden, the farmer begins driving away. Minerva Louise is so excited to see the world; she mistakes a swimming pool for a lake and a construction site for a truck farm. Her innocence is hilarious and will have children wanting to read this new addition to the "Minerva Louise" collection again and again. The illustrations are bright and cheerful with simple lines and primary colors, all of which adds to the humor of the text. Overall, this is a highly recommended book for preschool and elementary-age children. 2002, Dutton Children's Books, $14.99. Ages 2 to 9. Reviewer: Melissa A. Caudill (Children's Literature).
Minerva Louise and the Colorful Eggs
Janet Morgan Stoeke
As usual with Minerva Louise's amusing adventures, readers can revel in their superior knowledge; simple illustrations, featuring flat spring colors and an expressive black line, show an Easter egg hunt in progress. 2006, Dutton, 15.99. Ages 2 to 5. (The Horn Book Guide, Fall 2006).
Make A Story:
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Minerva Louise stars in the original program, aimed at K through 2nd graders. Janet reads from some of the books, pointing out the events in her life that prompted her to think them up. Then, asking open-ended questions, the author elicits a character, a plot (beginning, middle and end) and plenty of hilarious twists and turns from the students. Sketching quick and lively images on the board, the author pulls together their ideas, having them vote on the best ones, and tugging them toward a satisfying conclusion. In the end, they have made a story. The students see first hand that they can do it! Creating a book is not only possible, but great fun. Questions about authoring round out the session. 45 minutes.
Personal Narrative:
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The new program, aimed at fifth and sixth graders, focuses on writing from personal experience. It features the author's latest book, Waiting for May, her son's story about anticipating the adoption of his sister. Using the book as an example, Janet helps the students search for which events from their lives might be story-worthy. The focus is on the emotion the event elicits. Students are reminded to write the whole piece with that feeling in mind. Life happens in a random sort of way, but stories need some structure. I will show the students how to rethink the event and find the inherent structure, building on their central feeling throughout. Teachers can refer to this streamlined writing tactic again and again throughout the year. 45 minutes.
Janet will conduct up to 3 presentations in one day. Each presentation is 45 minutes. Her ideal group is up to 50 students at a time of similar grade level: Pre-K to grade 2, or Grades 3 to 6. The maximum number of students is 80.
Costs: Basic fee for one presentation is $550; for two presentations it is $715; and for three presentations it is $990. Discounts are provided for a second day. For four presentations the cost is $1265; for five presentations it is $1595; for six presentations it is $1925. Janet is currently making presentations only in the DC area.
To learn more about Janet and her publications please visit http://www.minervalouise.com.
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