From earliest times, the concept of play has been part of the human experience. And while some pastimes have gone in and out of favor over the years, some never change or lack for enthusiasts.
When Judy was about ten years old, she showed her grandmother a poem she had written. Her grandmother encouraged her to keep writing and Judy has done so ever since. Judy's fiction, poetry and nonfiction children's books are used extensively in classrooms across the country and have also been honored with numerous awards and recognition. One of Judy's most cherished honor was having "R is for Rhyme, A Poetry Alphabet" performed by the Tanner Creative Dance Program and Children's Dance Theatre of the University of Utah for their 58th annual performance.
A frequent speaker at schools nationwide, Judy's author visits include both educational presentations and poetry writing workshops for elementary and middle school students. Judy also conducts writing workshops for teachers for their professional development in-services and is a frequent speaker for educational organizations and professional conferences. With twenty years previous experience in the public schools, Judy has first hand experience with improving students' writing skills and her presentations and workshops are directly related to school curriculum.
Judy resides in the country near Springfield, MO, where she writes full time. Her husband, Ross B. Young, is a professional artist. He illustrated Judy's "S is for Show Me, A Missouri Alphabet" and "Show Me the Number, A Missouri Number Book." They have a grown daughter and son, and several dogs. When not writing or speaking at schools and conferences, you can find Judy hiking, fishing, or gallivanting around the country in "Arlo," the Young's traveling studio.
