Judith Jango-Cohen
© Eliot Cohen
Judith Jango-Cohen’s career began in the classroom, where she created lessons to excite her students’ interest in science. Eleven years later, after the birth of her two children, she turned to writing full time. Her adventures as a naturalist and photographer have inspired her forty-two books, which cover an assortment of subjects from Bionics to Ben Franklin and from ladybugs to librarians. Besides researching and writing books, Judith also writes science news stories for Scholastic classroom magazines.
As a former teacher, Judith loves visiting classrooms and libraries to share her stories as a writer/photographer and to help children learn to express themselves through poetry and prose. She also enjoys meeting teachers and librarians when she presents programs at conferences.
Judith’s titles have been selected for the Children’s Choices Reading List by the IRA/CBC, recommended by the National Science Teacher’s Association, chosen for the Children’s Literature Choice List, named a Notable Social Studies Trade Book by the NCSS/CBC, and selected as Best Children’s Books of the Year by the Children’s Book Committee at Bank Street College.
Interview
What was your favorite book when you were a child?
Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh
What’s your favorite line from a book?
“Life is very strange.” From Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh
Who are your top three favorite authors or illustrators?
Roald Dahl, Theodor Seuss Geisel, Henry David Thoreau
Why did you want to become an author or illustrator?
Since I was about eight, I have gotten a thrill out of playing with sounds and creating worlds with word.
Do you have any advice for future authors or illustrators?
Go for it! You are happiest when you do what you love.
