Sixth Grade
Worksheets
Laura Amy Schlitz
American author Laura Amy Schlitz, born in January 1956, is a talented writer and storyteller. She has always been exposed to books, from her childhood and into her adult years as a librarian and professional storyteller at Park School in Baltimore County, Maryland. During her more recent years, she has also worked as a professional writer. Her genre is largely children's books. During her life, Schlitz has also enjoyed being a playwright, a costumer, and an actress.
Schlitz believes that she always had "melodramatic leanings." She knew she was a dramatic child because her parents often told her she was not Sarah Bernhardt (a French actress). Schlitz was a child with a big imagination, often playing "pretending games." She enjoyed playing with her dolls and stuffed animals, imagining herself to be a witch, a mermaid, a horse, and a Civil War spy. She played dress up in her favorite room, the cellar. According to Schlitz, "I was a happy-go-lucky, curious, proud child. I haven't changed much." As a child, she found that drama came naturally to her. She dreamed of being an actress.
Schlitz also enjoyed reading and writing, referring to herself as a habitual writer. From a young age, her parents read to her often. There were always books in her house. Schlitz especially enjoyed fairy tales. One particular book, Hansel and Gretel, impacted her as a young child. According to Schlitz, "I remember hiding crusts of bread under the dining room table, so that if famine ever struck, I could save the family from starvation." Other important books during her childhood were Sara Crewe's What Happened at Miss Minchin's and a Dickens' book that contained several abridged versions of some of his works such as A Christmas Carol, David Copperfield, Oliver Twist, and Great Expectations. Other memorable childhood books were the Little House series, Betsy-Tacy, Louisa May Alcott's books, and the Melendy books.
