Aardema, Verna

Aardema grew up in New Era, Michigan as the third in a family of n ine children. A cedar swamp in the back of her house served a s her inspiration and retreat as a young aspiring writer.
* At Michigan State College, Verna took many writing courses, but none that were aimed at writing for children.She didn't think about the children 's book field until many years later, when she had to make up stories to get her baby daughter to eat.
* Verna writes mostly African folktales because of her fascination with that infinitely diverse continent. Out of its jungles, deserts, and great plains ha...