CLiF would like to introduce or re-introduce you to Linda Urban of Montpelier, VT. Linda wrote: “In my books, I write about the small things that matter in a big way.” She writes picture, early chapter, and middle grade books.

Watch a clip of Linda’s presentation from CLiF’s Virtual Author’s Series here.

Things to think about:

• What kind of small things inspire you?
• Linda writes picture books, early chapter books, and middle grade books. How do you tell stories for kids of different ages? Can you use the same small and big things?
• As a writer, what is difference between a perfect book and a book that is perfectly you?
• Weekends with Max and his Dad and Road Trip with Max and his Mom, what made you turn Max’s story into a series?

Here are a few ways to get to know Linda’s work better:

• Listen to Mile Speck, Accidental Agent (free trial required); access teaching resources
• Watch and listen to Mouse Was Mad; access teaching resources to use it to talk about emotions
• Story Time – hear Little Red Henry; access teaching resources
• Story time – hear Mabel and Sam at Home; read an interview with Linda by author Kate Messner
• Check out her middle grade books The Center of Everything, Hound Dog True, A Crooked Kind of Perfect

CLiF has created literacy activities for students of all ages here. Here are some that would go nicely with Linda’s work:

For younger kids:

• Circle Story – write a group story based on a character’s emotions – maybe mad like Mouse?
• Fridge Magnets – find images of different emotional responses and tell stories about them

For older kids:

• Character Facebook Profiles – create a bio for one of Linda’s characters
• Letters to Book Characters – write to one of Linda’s characters asking about their experiences and reactions

For families:

• Matchbook chapter summaries – read aloud and create visual summaries
• Step into a Book – illustrate yourself in your favorite book