Spring 2026

Judy Blume

Tales of a Timeless Children's Author

From the Series Gateway Biographies

  • Interest Level: Grade 4 - Grade 8
  • Reading Level: Grade 5

Discover the person behind books such as Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, Superfudge, and many more.

Growing up in the 1950s, Judy Blume had a big imagination. She made up stories and read everything she could get her hands on. When she entered her first writing class in the 1960s, she wanted to write books that showed the real struggles kids face. And she did, publishing over twenty-six novels throughout her career.

Kids loved Blume’s books. But her life wasn’t always easy. Blume was married and divorced twice before marrying her current husband. She moved from New Jersey to New Mexico to Florida and New York City. The 1980s brought censorship and book bans. While she no longer writes for publication, she owns a bookshop in Key West, Florida. From behind the counter, she still proudly fights against book bans.

Format Your Price Add
979-8-7656-6934-1
On pre-order until 01/01/2026
$24.99
979-8-7656-8409-2
On pre-order until 01/01/2026
$11.99
979-8-7656-7741-4
On pre-order until 01/01/2026
$38.99
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Interest Level Grade 4 - Grade 8
Reading Level Grade 5
Genre Social Studies
Category 5 Kinds of Nonfiction, 5KN: Narrative Nonfiction, Biography, Diverse Books: Social Justice, Diversity
Copyright 2026
Publisher Lerner Publishing Group
Imprint Lerner Publications ™
Language English
Number of Pages 48
Publication Date 2026-01-01
Text Type Narrative Nonfiction
BISACS JNF007030, JNF007120
Dewey 813/.54
Dimensions 7 x 9
Lexile 860
Guided Reading Level U
Features Bibliography/further reading, Index, Source notes, Teaching Guides, and Timeline

Author: Colleen Sexton

Colleen A. Sexton lives in Minnesota, where she has worked as an editor and writer for nearly fifteen years. A graduate of the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph, Minnesota, she specializes in nonfiction books for children.

Lerner eSource™ offers free digital teaching and learning resources, including Common Core State Standards (CCSS) teaching guides. These guides, created by classroom teachers, offer short lessons and writing exercises that give students specific instruction and practice using Common Core skills and strategies. Lerner eSource also provides additional resources including online activities, downloadable/printable graphic organizers, and additional educational materials that would also support Common Core instruction. Download, share, pin, print, and save as many of these free resources as you like!

Gateway Biographies

Discover the human side of newsworthy, historical, and pop culture figures, and learn about people leading key social movements or handling crises. Each biography in this easy-reading series is peppered with quotations and stories, accounts of successes and failures, and descriptions of… View available downloads →