Thalia Kids' Book Club: Judy Blume's The Pain and the Great One series

The beloved author, who has received more than 90 literary awards, makes a rare appearance to discuss her series for young readers ages 6 and up with the Children's Librarian at the Bank Street School for Children, Lisa Von Drasek. The event will feature a discussion with the audience, a creative writing project, and a book signing.

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Performance playlist:

Reading
Judy Blume

Conversation
Judy Blume and Lisa Von Drasek

A Conversation with the Audience

Judy Blume spent her childhood in Elizabeth, NJ, making up stories inside her head. She has spent her adult years in many places doing the same thing, only now she writes her stories down on paper. Her many young adult novels include Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret; Blubber; Just as Long as We're Together; and the five-book series about the irrepressible Fudge. She has also written three novels for adults: Summer Sisters, Smart Women, and Wifey, all of them New York Times bestsellers. More than 80 million copies of her books have been sold, and her work has been translated into 31 languages. In 1996, the American Library Association honored her with the Margaret A. Edwards Award for Lifetime Achievement. Other recognitions include the Library of Congress Living Legends Award and the 2004 National Book Foundation's Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. Finding herself at the center of an organized book banning campaign in the 1980s, she began to reach out to other writers, as well as teachers and librarians, who were under fire. Since then, she has worked tirelessly with the National Coalition Against Censorship to protect the freedom to read. She is the editor of Places I Never Meant To Be: Original Stories by Censored Writers.  Most recently, she has completed a four-book series for younger readers-The Pain & the Great One books, illustrated by New Yorker cartoonist James Stevenson-and she has begun work on a new YA novel.

Lisa Von Drasek is the Children's Librarian for the Bank Street College of Education and Bank Street School for Children. She teaches Pre-K through 8th grade, as well as Children's Literature to graduate students. A member of the National Book Critics Circle, Lisa has reviewed children's books for School Library Journal, The New York Times Book Review, The Washington Post Book World, and is a contributor to the Barnes and Noble Review and EarlyWord.com. She has been named a 2007 Mover and Shaker by Library Journal as a leader in the field of librarianship. Lisa has served as a juror on the New York Times Best Illustrated Books issue, the Newbery Committee, American Library Association's Notable Children's Books, and the Bank Street College of Education's Children's Book Committee. If it is during the school day and she isn't in her library, Lisa can be found at the Bank Street Bookstore looking for recommendations for the next great book to read.