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Kari Allen
Early Reader/Early Chapter Book
Writer. Teacher. Learner.
Kari Allen is an elementary teacher at a local independent school where every day she gets to share stories with kids. She has an MA in the Teaching of Writing, and one of her favorite things is to help kids fall in love with words. Kari feels happiest with her toes in the water and a book in her hand. She lives in New Hampshire with her husband and two book-loving boys.
To learn more about Kari Allen, visit her website here.
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BOOKS:
Maddie and Mabel: Take the Lead (Fall, 2022)
Your biggest literary influences:
Maurice Sendak, Julie Fogliano, Arnold Lobel, Ann M. Martin, Grace Lin, Tomie dePaola, Dan Santat
Last book read:
I just re-read the Emily of New Moon series by L.M. Montgomery, and I just read Phoebe Wahl’s Little Witch Hazel to my class. It is so wonderful!
The book that changed your life:
There are have been so many influential books in my life, but I have a vivid memory of reading Bridge to Terabithia while on my family’s boat when I was ten or eleven. The smells of the lake and summer are seared into my brain as is the strong emotional reaction I had to the book. I do not remember ever crying over a book before until I read that one. It’s what made me realize how deeply books can affect a reader.
Your favorite literary character:
Can the entire membership of the Baby Sitter’s Club count? Those characters and that series made me a reader. I tore through the books and absolutely adored them. Now I get to watch and witness my students loving the graphic novel versions of the books. I love seeing the staying power these characters have for so many readers.
Currently working on:
Maddie and Mabel three and four!
Words to live by:
My dad has a three-year rule. You measure how big a deal something is by thinking about if something is going to matter in three weeks or three months or three years. In three years, am I still going to be worrying about one rejection? It helps put things into perspective and I can sift through things to think about what is important to hold on to and what I can let go of.
Advice for aspiring authors:
Don’t give up. Everyone’s journey is different and you can’t compare yourself to other people’s paths. If you stop trying it will never happen. Also, read lots and lots and lots (it counts as writing work).
