Janie Writes a Play
Jane Yolen's First Great Story

Name: Janie Writes a Play
Brand: Recorded Books
Availability: InStock
Author: Heidi E. Y. Stemple
ISBN: 9798897568024

Author: Heidi E. Y. Stemple

Narrator: Laura Knight Keating

Unabridged: 8 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Recorded Books

Published: 08/05/2025

Categories: Children's Nonfiction, Biographical, Performing Arts, Theater & Musicals

Synopsis

Based on a true story about children’s book author Jane Yolen, "the Hans Christian Andersen of the Americas," this charming book celebrates creativity and the magic of a loving community. Janie Yolen loves to read, write, dance, and sing. So when her teacher announces Janie's elementary class will perform a play, Janie is thrilled. There's just one problem … the play is boring. With the support of her teacher and classmates, Janie rewrites the play, resulting in a hit class musical. "An inspiring and funny look at how a writer became a writer, told by another prolific author."—Heidi E. Y. Stemple, Jane's own daughter!

About Heidi E. Y. Stemple

Heidi E. Y. Stemple is an experienced author who specializes in children's books, short stories, and poems. Growing up, she never wanted to be a writer. She went on to become a probation officer and, at the age of 28, realized she wanted to follow in her mother's footsteps. The daughter of renowned children's author Jane Yolen, she went on to publish over twenty-five books. She currently resides on a big farm in Massachusetts.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Reading_ on August 27, 2024

She saw stories everywhere and needed to write them! Thank you, Charlesbridge, for the ARC. This is such a beautiful and inspiring story written on Jane Yolen who wrote more than 4 hundred books! The writing, the illustrations, the cover and everything is just PERFECT! This book will bring out the wr......more

Goodreads review by Michelle on August 29, 2024

Janie Writes a Play Jane Yolen's First Great Story by Heidi E. Y. Stemple Pub DateFeb 11 2025 Charlesbridge Biographies & Memoirs| Children's Nonfiction Charlesbridge and Netgalley sent me a copy of Janie Writes a Play for review: This is a true story about the beginning of the storied career of children'......more

Goodreads review by Erica on August 28, 2024

This is a cute biography that celebrates the beginning of Jane Yolen's career as a writer, written by her own daughter. A celebration of creativity and writing.......more

Goodreads review by Karla on April 05, 2025

The origins of one of America's beloved children’s book authors is intimately portrayed in this book about Jane Yolen. As a child, Janie was no stranger to imagination and creativity, thanks to an abundant exposure to reading and writing. Recreating the everyday world into colorful scenarios, plots......more

Goodreads review by Panda on October 22, 2024

This charming picture book biography is about the renowned author Jane Yolen. When she was a little girl, she loved stories, and she was all excited to be in a school play, but the play was so dull that she ended up writing an alternative and showing it to her teacher. The school performed her work,......more