I was born in 1953, in Brooklyn, New York.  I was surrounded by art, music, and books. 

My father, William, worked on the art staff of the World Telegram & Sun, one of New York's major newspapers. My mother, Florence, was a junior high school home economics teacher. 

They both enriched my life with the love of reading, playing the piano, singing, dancing, science and stamp collecting. 

I was the youngest of three girls.

My favorite possessions were my microscope, a box of 64 crayons and my library card. 

I loved being a Girl Scout.  I was a Brownie all the way through Cadets.  I enjoyed it so much, especially selling Girl Scout cookies.  The Thin Mints were and still are my favorites.  My best friend, Pat, and I would work on badges together.
 

I also loved to draw, read and make up stories.  I started writing my own stories and drew pictures to go with them.  I would make a bookcover for them and write down the name of a publisher.  I also spent a great deal of time reading. The public library was about 5 blocks from my house and I went every week.  At that time you were only allowed six books at a time.  I gobbled up all of the books by Beverly Cleary, Marguerite Henry, the DR. DOOLITTLE series and books about animals. 

When I read ELOISE, by Kay Thompson, illustrated by Hilary Knight, it became one of my favorites.  I also loved, STUART LITTLE, by E.B. White, illustrated by Garth Williams. (Most people are big CHARLOTTE'S WEB fans, but Stuart won my heart!)

And of course, I adored THE CAT IN THE HAT, by Dr. Seuss!

I'm honored to be able to say that the three publishers of those 3 titles, are also the same publishers of my books!

HarperCollins, who published STUART LITTLE, did IF YOU GIVE A MOUSE A COOKIE, IF YOU GIVE A MOOSE A MUFFIN, IF YOU GIVE A PIG A PANCAKE and THE CHICKEN SISTERS!

Simon & Schuster, who published ELOISE, did WHAT MOMMIES DO BEST,  TWO FOR STEW, WHY A DISGUISE?, SOMETIMES I WONDER IF POODLES LIKE NOODLES, DOGS DON'T WEAR SNEAKERS and CHIMPS DON'T WEAR GLASSES!

And Random House put my book MONSTER MUNCHIES in the Dr. Seuss Beginner Reader Series, along with THE CAT IN THE HAT!
 

What a thrill!