This charming picture book biography is about the renowned author Jane Yolen. When she was a little girl, she loved stories, and she was all excited to be in a school play, but the play was so dull that she ended up writing an alternative and showing it to her teacher. The school performed her work, and this book celebrates what a milestone moment this was for her childhood and future career.

This book is written by Yolen's daughter, and the author's note at the end includes additional details about her mother's childhood and career, along with some cute photographs. Fans of Yolen will also enjoy seeing her titles on the books illustrated on the endpapers, and will notice some of her future characters and stories reflected in imagination-driven scenes in the book.

I really enjoyed the story and the illustrations, and my only critique is that I would have liked to know more about the play itself. The book highlights the experience she had writing and performing it, but I wanted to know more about the story that she wrote.

This book will appeal to fans of Jane Yolen, and to people who enjoy reading true stories about young writers. This will especially appeal to kids who are interested in writing, and it can be great for a classroom read-aloud.

In this delightful story about author Jane Yolen, young Jane has a wonderful imagination and a need to write. She and her brother write and distribute a newspaper centered around their building, and young Jane is always making notes of ideas for future stories. When faced with a less than exciting class play, Jane takes the initiative and writes a new play. With the support of her teacher, Jane's play is rehearsed and presented with much success.

The illustrations by Madelyn Goodnight give life to this well-written story that celebrates the imagination and creativity of a talented author.

Thanks to Charlesbridge, Heidi E. Y. Stemple and NetGalley for this ARC.

Janie Writes a Play is a bright, delightful young reader's biography about author Jane Yolen. This book makes the reader fall in love with the magic of storytelling and inspires all to chase after their dreams. The text is accompanied by beautiful illustrations to capture the imagination of young Jane and to entertain readers to the fullest.

Beautifully illustrated, charmingly written, and inspiring -- little Janie is disappointed that the class play isn't great, so she writes her own version. Happily, her teacher is supportive and the play is a hit.
I'm an older adult who's been reading Jane Yolen for decades, and I recommend her books to everyone. She really does have a great imagination, and she's written such a variety of stories! Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this

I requested this for you daughter. We like tonread before bed time. This was such a cute book. She's falling in love with reading just like me and this book was great for that.
This boom shows how Janie speaks up and uses her imagination and writes her own play. This gives confidence and inspires little children ti be more creative.

I recommend this book on three shelves in my True Story Bookshop:
📕 True Stories~Women’s History
📕 True Stories~Book People
📕 True Stories~Stage and Screen
https://bookshop.org/shop/KarlinGray

Love it! Engaging picture book biography of Jane Yolen focusing on her life long love of writing and the first play she wrote and performed at her school. A winner. We will be purchasing copies.

Follow Janie as she goes about her day imagining stories, and rewrites her class play. A good title that speaks to creative writing and creativity, and fostering individuality.

This is a fantastic biography book that celebrates the beginning of Jane Yolen's career as a writer, written by her own daughter Heidy Y. Stemple. This book is a celebration of creativity and writing skills. I like that the teacher Mrs. Jiler was very supportive of the young girls with talents.The illustrations are colorful with a lot of kids and events from the past in the home of Jane or in the school. I really enjoyed reading this book from the NetGalley about the beginning of writing od Jane Yolen!

See my full review at https://michelleardillo.com/2024/09/03/book-review-janie-writes-a-play-by-heidi-e-y-stemple-and-illustrated-by-madelyn-goodnight/.

Beautifully illustrated! A fun book to introduce biographies to students. well-written story that motivates children to pursue what makes them tick!

A lovely, beautifully illustrated story about children's book author Jane Yolen, penned by her daughter. Will inspire readers 5-8 and anyone who wants to write.

Janie Writes a Play
Jane Yolen's First Great Story
by Heidi E. Y. Stemple
Pub DateFeb 11 2025
Charlesbridge
Biographies & Memoirs| Children's Nonfiction



Charlesbridge and Netgalley sent me a copy of Janie Writes a Play for review:


This is a true story about the beginning of the storied career of children's book author Jane Yolen, written by her own daughter.


Janie Yolen enjoys reading, writing, dancing, and singing. So Janie is thrilled when her teacher announces her elementary class will perform a play. There is only one problem with the play. It's boring. With the support of her teacher and classmates, Janie rewrites the play, resulting in a hit class musical.


I give Janie Writes A Play five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

Thank you so much to Charlesbridge and Netgalley for the ebook to read and review.

Janie is an imaginative girl, she loves creating stories in her mind and writing them all down. When her school play is dull, with no plot line she creates her very own play and the teacher puts it on, bringing her the first success of her career.

This was adorable her imagination was so free and wild, she would mix so many things based on what she would see and made these wonderful stories out of it. I really liked that everyone around her supported her with her stories and imagination, helping to encourage her with her dreams.

The illustrations were absolutely beautiful, I loved seeing her vibrancy and her full on imagination come to life with each of the pages. This was a wonderful story and I loved reading about her young life that helped stem her future career as a writer.

This is a cute biography that celebrates the beginning of Jane Yolen's career as a writer, written by her own daughter. A celebration of creativity and writing.

She saw stories everywhere and needed to write them!

Thank you, Charlesbridge, for the ARC.

This is such a beautiful and inspiring story written on Jane Yolen who wrote more than 4 hundred books!

The writing, the illustrations, the cover and everything is just PERFECT!

This book will bring out the writer in you. No famous author was born writing perfect books from the very beginning!

Lots to learn from this book and it is so DARN PRETTY! Artist, you nailed it!

I received an ARC of this children's book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is an adorable book. The pictures were really cute and so was the story!

My daughter and I cherished this sweet story! It was so fun to watch Janie and the process of her writing her play. It got my daughter excited to write a story. So cute!