I love talking to kids at schools and libraries and I can tailor the presentation to the ages and interests of your group. Just let me know in advance if there’s something in particular you’d like me to talk about—or I can give you suggestions for different sorts of talks that I give. To schedule a visit and inquire about fees, etc, email me:
My new book, POOP HAPPENED! A HISTORY OF THE WORLD FROM THE BOTTOM UP comes out on May 11th. It’s for kids ages 8 and up, and is about the history of toilets and sanitation and how societies from ancient times to the present day have had to confront the vexing problem of how to deal with their “waste.” It is published by Walker Books.
Here’s a review from School Library Journal:
Poop Happened!: A History of the World from the Bottom Up
“This self-proclaimed “number one book on number two” takes readers inside the fascinating world of excrement, ranging across the historical spectrum from “Hellenic Hygiene” to “How Do Astronauts Use the Toilet in Space?” Albee’s focus is not only on bodily functions, but also on the larger public-health challenges created by mass urbanization in the ancient and modern world as well as the ability of societies to deal with these problems, which provides readers with an excellent introduction to social history. With a focus on the Western world in general and England in particular, the author touches on an array of topics from diseases such as cholera and plague to the development of increased sanitation in large urban areas such as London. The exciting format is comprised of a two-color (pastel green and blue) layout with numerous illustrations and photos. Interesting sidebars describe occupations and “hygiene heroes” such as Edwin Chadwick and bathroom fashion. The fluid writing style that ensnares and holds readers’ attention from beginning to end. By bringing history alive, this captivating work is without a doubt an essential purchase.”–School Library Journal
Here’s the trailer. I can’t figure out how to hyperlink it so I’m afraid you have to cut and paste it into your browser.
And here’s the cover:
I write under a lot of different pen names. Why, you may be wondering? When I was an editor, my boss had a rule about not using our real names, so my Sesame Street name is Constance Allen (a combination of my mother’s first name and my grandmother’s last name). Then it just seemed to make sense to use different names for the different kinds of writing that I do, so my other names include Sarah Willson, which is my married name (yes, two L’s– part of a special group of double-L Willsons, including the guy who wrote The Music Man, Meredith Willson, and they’re all quite proud of their extra L). I also use various combinations of my kids’ names like Catherine Samuel and Catherine Lukas.
Here are some links to some of my books:
I love hearing from readers and writers of all ages. Email me here:
I was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1962, the fourth of four children. My parents were both professors. We moved from Cleveland to Burlington, Vermont when I was in fourth grade.
My first big job after college was working as an editor at Children’s Television Workshop (the company that produces Sesame Street). I met and eventually married a high-school history teacher, and after our second child was born, we moved from New York City to Connecticut, where my husband got a job teaching at a boarding school, and where we had our third child. Nowadays I’m a full-time freelance children’s book writer.
