tophat Esther Hershenhorn

Esther Hershenhorn
Chicago author Esther Hershenhorn spends her days doing what she loves and loving what she does: writing picture books and middle-grade fiction, teaching Writing for Children classes and coaching writers of ALL ages to help them tell their stories.

Esther’s titles include CHICKEN SOUP BY HEART, winner of the 2003 Sydney Taylor Book Award for Younger Readers, and the humorous middle grade novel THE CONFE$$ION$ AND $ECRET$ OF HOWARD J. FINGERHUT, a 2004/2005 Crown Award nominee and Bank Street College Best Book of the Year.

A former elementary and middle school teacher, Esther now teachers Writing for Children at the University of Chicago’s Writer’s Studio and Chicago’s Newberry Library. She maximizes her classroom and coaching experiences to customize K-8 Writing Workshops and Family Literacy events that address the Six Traits of Writing, as well as specific curriculum, district and Publishing Institute needs, using current classroom reading programs to enrich students’ writing.

Esther’s ongoing Author-to-Author Program at several CPS schools offers young writers meaningful opportunities to connect and grow. She frequently participates in the Illinois Young Authors Program at both local and state levels, helping young writers create, craft and celebrate their stories. She recently served as a consultant to the Chicago Public Schools, helping to develop an authorship-based program for the Magnet Cluster Writing and Literature Schools. Currently, Esther is facilitating the Chicago-area high school picture book writing component of the Chicago Botanic Garden’s Fairchild Challenge, a federal environmental education outreach program.

To peek behind the scenes of one of Esther’s school visits, please visit her website.

For fees and travel expenses information, email Esther at esthersh@aol.com.

"For the past several years, our school has been fortunate enough to include Esther as part of our Literature and Writing Program. Esther's visits have become the highlight of the year for our students and teachers alike.  Esther has become an integral part of our school, motivating teachers and students, and infusing a new level of excitement for writing into our curriculum. Our program would not be the same without her."
- Michelle Knight, Lead Teacher, Writing and Literature
Louisa Mae Alcott School, Chicago
Contact Information:
Email: esthersh@aol.com.
Website:http://www.estherhershenhorn.com.


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