Sarah Albee, New York Times best-selling children’s author, has written over 150 books, ranging from Sesame Street classics to middle school science and history tales. She was at Woodbury Elementary School Oct. 30, introducing her latest books: “The Painter and the President,” and “Bounce – a Scientific History of Rubber!”
The students paid rapt attention as pages of her book appeared on a large screen with Albee adding interesting details including. “Gilbert Stuart, born in 1755, was considered America’s foremost portrait painter. In the 18th Century, a selfie was a self portrait,” Albee explained. “Gilbert Stuart painted over a 1,000 likenesses of political and society people.”
She explained that George Washington did not like Stuart because he talked too much. Another fun fact was that when “Stuart was painting Washington’s portrait he had been fitted with new dentures and his mouth was puffy because of that. The picture of Washington on a dollar bill is the one painted by Stuart. The author shared that on new currency you can tell there is swelling by looking at the tightness around his mouth.
Albee says that she loves writing for kids and talking to them. “They ask the coolest questions.” That was evident when she presented to three third grade classes. The kids listened closely as Albee talked about her family and her childhood. Her two older brothers did not allow her to play with them but she worked hard at sports and became the best athlete in her family. “Bounce is inspired by a lifetime of playing basketball. That’s how I met my future husband as a 19-year-old in Egypt. I was the only girl on the boys’ basketball team.”
At question time several hands were up and for 20 minutes she happily answered questions like: Do you have a favorite word to put in a book? Which is your oldest book? Early in her career, Albee worked as an editor for Sesame Street’s print division and used a pen name, Constance Allen, to tell stories about Sesame Street. History and science are her forte, and Albee has won numerous awards. Several of her books have been Junior Library Guild selections.
When a Woodbury student asked, “What’s your favorite book?” She thought a bit and said,” Sometimes the one that just came out.”
