Judy

Schachner

Presentation by Lauren
Burgess

SLIS 325
About Judy

Judy is from New England where she was born into a Roman
Catholic family. When she was young, money was tight, so to
entertain herself, Judy enjoyed using her imagination to make
up stories. Soon Judy realized her love for art and began to work
for Hallmark designing cards. Soon after meeting her husband,
Judy quit her 9-5 job to pursue her childrens book portfolio. Judy
worked hard until her two daughters were born, again putting
her dreams on hold. After reading them countless childrens
books, Judy soon realized she must continue to follow her heart
and created her first book The Prince and the Pond: Otherwise
Know as De Fawg Pin. In 2003 Judy published her Hit Skippyjon
Jones and her career has taken off ever since!
 Skippyjon Jones

Skippyjon Jones is a childrens book about a Siamese kitty with HUGE

imagination. Skippyjon continued to wake up in the birds nests every
morning, so his mom scolded him saying he needed to learn to be
more like a cat. When she put him in his room, she warned him not to
go in his closet, so skippyjon began to jump on his bed instead. As he
was jumping, he saw his reflection and thought he was a Chihuahua!
Skippyjon marched into his closet where he met his imaginary
Chihuahua friends who said he was going to save them from
Bumblebeeto, who kept stealing all the beans. Suddenly Bumblebeeto
appeared and Skippyjon popped him with his sword and jelly beans
flew everywhere! His mother hear the raucous and went in to his room
to find Skippyjoon sprawled on the floor with all the contents in his
closest. She then exclaimed Oh what am I going to do with you? as
she scooped him up.
 Skippyjon Jones Snow What

Snow What starts out with Skippyjon playing with his sisters in the
snow. When they decide to go inside, his sisters want to read Snow
White, but Skippyjon wants a story of his own, so he goes in his
room and begins his own fantasy. Skippyjon imagines running into
the forest where he finds his sidekick Chihuahua friends who help
him journey to find the ice princesa. Suddenly they come across a
dragon who is guarding the frozen princesa, and Skippyjon manages
to get around him. When he gets to the frozen princesa he declares
he will not kiss her, and instead he yells as loud as he can to try to
break the ice, but all he does is scare off the dragon. His friends
suggest he kiss the frozen block, and when Skippyjon comes to from
his imagination, he has an ice cube stuck to his face. Skippyjon then
finds his mother and snuggles into her before bedtime.
 Skippyjon Jones Class Action

Class Action begins like any other Skippyjon Jones

book where Skippyjon is sent to his room and he
heads into his closet to begin another adventure.
This time Skippyjon believes he is at school with his
Chihuahua friends and they tell him about a Bull-ito
(a bully). Well Skippyjon goes about a normal school
day going to math, the library, French class etc.
when they hear a rumble from the Bull-ito. Come to
find out the bully is smaller than the rest of them,
and just wants to eat lunch with everyone else.
Suddenly the poodle principle blows her whislte and
Skippyjon tumbles out of his closet where his mother
finds him on the floor again.
 Dewey Bob

Dewey Bob Crocket is a raccoon who hoards nearly

everything he finds. When his mom sends him to leave
home, he finds a new place where he begins to collect
everything. Dewey bob has buttons, wheels, furniture, and
other goodies he turns from trash into treasures. Dewey
Bob is so busy collecting, that he neglect that something is
missing a friend. So Dewey Bob goes out gathering other
critters to bring home, but none of them work out well until
one day he finds a kitten named Mudball whose back legs
dont work, so Dewey makes him backwheels. At first he
treats Mudball like a toy, and realizes Mudball is a living,
breathing, animal, and he decides to set him free, but
Mudball rolls right back into Deweys arms.
 bits & pieces
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOAvxoDpVN0

bits & pieces was actually inspired by Judy Schachners old

kitty who was 20 years old. For a cat, Tink was a odd cat
because of random reasons, but no matter what his family
loved him to bits. On day his sister found all sorts of funny
things in his head, and his mom had to take him to the
clinic. When he got home, Tink realized how much he
loved outside, even though he still enjoyed being an
indoor cat. Suddely his family decided to give Tink
another friend kitten friend, and two cats loved each other
to bits & pieces. As he got older, Tink snuck outside where
he explored the world, and soon learn how much he loved
his home and his kitten friend. Luckily, strangers found
Tink, and returned him home to his family.
Awards

The Grannyman: 2002 Golden Sower Award K-3 winner, 2002 Young
Hoosier Book Award K-3 nominee
Skippyjon Jones: 2004 E.B. White Read Aloud Award Childrens Winner,
2005 Ladybug Picture Book Award Winner, 2005 Washingtons
Childrens Choice Picture Book Award Winner, 2006 Colorado Childrens
Book Award Winner, @007 Pennsylvania Young Readers Choice Award
Grades K-3 Winner, @009 Monarch Award Grade K-3 second place
Skippyjon Jones, Class Action: 2013 Keystone to Reading Book Award
Primary Nominee
Yo, Vikings!: 2003 Carolyn W Field Award- Childrens Winner
Common Themes

Judy is known for her memorable characters,

playful illustrations, and her themes of
learning and exploration.
She resides in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania with
her husband, two daughters, and her major
inspiration, Skippy her cat.
Additional Resources

http://www.judithbyronschachner.com/
https://
secureapps.libraries.psu.edu/PACFTB/bios/biography.cfm?Autho
rID=7937