Jody Jensen Shaffer
Jody Jensen Shaffer is the author of more than 27 books of fiction and nonfiction for children. She’s written about everything from ninja warriors to celebrities to grizzlies. Her picture books include The Way the Cookie Crumbled, Prudence, The Part Time Cow, and A Chip Off the Old Block. Jody’s poetry and short fiction have been published in Highlights, Highlights High Five, Babybug, Clubhouse Jr., Turtle, and Humpty Dumpty, among others. Jody once received a bicycle for winning a haiku contest. Jody lives in Missouri with her husband and children.
Interview
What was your favorite book when you were a child?
Ooh, that’s a tough one. I liked The Teeny Tiny Woman and the original Clifford books. But I also liked flipping through the pages of the Encyclopedia Britannica.
What’s your favorite line from a book?
Impossible to answer! But the line we repeat around my house comes from Melinda Long’s How I Became A Pirate: “The Meat!”
Who are your top three favorite authors or illustrators?
Only 3? Arnold Lobel, Jerry Spinelli, and David Shannon are right up there.
Why did you want to become an author or illustrator?
I always enjoyed writing, my parents and teachers told me I had a knack for it, and I loved being creative.
Do you have any advice for future authors or illustrators?
Learn everything you can about how successful authors and illustrators work. Then practice, get feedback, practice some more, and get more feedback. And stick with it! You can’t win if you don’t play!
