Megan Dowd Lambert

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Megan Dowd Lambert first came to the Pioneer Valley to study at Smith College, and returned to raise her family in Amherst Clip 1). In the intervening time, she studied and taught children’s literature at Simmons University. She is the creator of the Whole Book Approach (Clip 2) based on her philosophy of reading books with rather than to children, and she has authored several books for adults on this topic (Clip 3). Since returning to Amherst, she has been involved in local literature through independent bookstores, libraries, starting her own publishing company, and the Eric Carle Museum (Clip 4).

Megan got into writing books for children based on her desire to see diversity represented as part of everyday life (Clip 5). Her children have served as inspiration for many of her books. A Crow of His Own, her first picture book for children, won the Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Honor and was illustrated in collaboration with David Hyde Costello (Clips 6 & 7). Her daughters are the inspiration behind her April and Mae early reader series, books about girls who build a friendhsip through differences (Clip 8), and Real Sisters Pretend, a book about children's experience of adoption (Clip 9). These are the products of a writing journey that began with teaching about children's books! (Clip 10)

When you go to the Eric Carle Museum, make sure to stop by their reading library and ask the librarian how their books are organized… it might be a little different than the system you’ll encounter at the Jones Library—that was Megan’s idea! (Clip 11)

You can find more information about Megan Dowd Lambert and her books (including all sorts of awesome resources for adults reading with children) on her website, megandowdlambert.com