Author Archives: madelynruth@yahoo.com

Birthday of the Trees

It’s nearly Tu B’Shevat, the Birthday of the Trees, but you don’t have to be Jewish to celebrate your leafy friends. (See Arbor Day, Earth Day and Every Day.)  Here are some activities you might try with your kids, even in … Continue reading

Posted in gardening, holidaze, reading with kids, Trees, Tu B'Shevat | Leave a comment

Cover

Posting an image of the cover for The Canary in the Coal Mine, my first middle-grade, due out in April from Holiday House:

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How the Raccoon Got His Mask

This was my favorite class assignment from fifth grade. I finally found it this week, along with a note from my friend Beth professing her love for Harrison Ford. Note the 70s stove and lamp!

Posted in art, kidlit, writing | 3 Comments

Fame and everything that goes with it

I upped my threshold for speaking in front of crowds today at the JCC of Northern Virginia, where they were celebrating Jewish Book Month. I had a great time at the preschool’s Share-a-Shabbat program.  We played a game and I … Continue reading

Posted in classroom visits, kidlit | Tagged , | 2 Comments

The best kind of mail

This is pretty much the best mail a writer can ever receive: a packet from Mrs. Gagnon’s first-grade class at Allendale Elementary School in Pittsfield, Mass. I got art work! I got book reports! And I got a quick lesson in … Continue reading

Posted in art, kidlit, reading with kids, writing | 5 Comments