Julienne Levy Marks has had a myriad of educational experiences throughout her work career. She is now retired. She has been a Children’s Librarian; Elementary Teacher; College Adjunct Professor; Museum Educator; Motivational Teacher; Youth Advisor; Peace Educator; Parenting Workshop Facilitator of “How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk”™ By Faber and Mazlish; a Parenting Lecturer on such topics as Indoor Activities for your Elementary Age Child, Competitiveness VS Cooperation, and TV and Technology, etc. She was also on the Peace Place Steering Committee; Founder of the L.I. Explorium, A Hands on Children’s Museum; Consultant; Camp Administrator and Author of four books for adults and two children’s non-fiction picture books.
I was interviewed via Zoom by Bridgette Bradley, a child advocate, active volunteer, CASA, Panel Review Member and founder of Adoption Discovery, a nonprofit organization focused solely on finding a home for every child for their Summit. We talked about Family Rituals, Rites of Passage, the Growth of One’s Child, Celebration of One’s Child’s Birthday, and Volunteering as a Family. We also talked about the Parenting Communication Workshop, “How To Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk”™ By Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish which is based on Dr. H. Ginott’s philosophy which Bridgette took with me as the Facilitator. “What do you think is most beneficial about taking parenting classes? Can you share a little bit about what makes the “How To Talk” classes work so well?” were sample questions she asked me. This interview was put on their Summit information (September 25-26, 2020) and later on a Pod Cast (December 24, 2020)
For a few months I had a blog called “Marks’ Sparks” with articles I found to help reinforce my four books. Due to health reasons I needed to discontinue writing it.
I worked with parents one on one as a Parenting Consultant via phone or in person using my experience to help them.
I enjoy having pen pals from various countries like Mexico, Tokyo, Minnesota, South Carolina, Ukraine, etc.
Julienne’s educational background includes a Master of Arts in Library and Information Science with an emphasis on Youth Services, a Master of Arts in Education and a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and Sociology. She has been married since 1969 and has a daughter and grandson. She has lived and worked in Long Island, New York, South Florida and near Atlanta, Georgia.
Although Julienne is the author and Leigh the illustrator they worked together sharing ideas and making suggestions and thus the writing and the artwork in this book became one of collaboration.
The Author’s Personal Philosophy About Children:
Children are like flowers ready to bloom in their own way. Their uniqueness can be encouraged as they learn about themselves and the world around then. Their appetite for learning and knowledge must always be nurtured and sparks curiosity and offers an invitation to learn.
Each child is precious and unique and this idea needs to be danced and celebrated. There will never be another person exactly like your child. And yet, human beings also have many commonalities. We are all important and we are interconnected with all living things.
Encourage the child’s individual imagination and creativity by supporting the child’s potential, guiding it to be released. Have her/him experience the joy, happiness, wonder, and fun that is in the world. Encouragement of a child’s interests by sharing with her/him all forms of information: written, oral and experiential is one way for her/him to grow. The above philosophy builds a child’s positive self-concept, an important key in the learning process.
About the Illustrator:
Leigh Ann Schuttler grew up on the east end of Long Island. A self-taught artist, she began drawing from a young age. She resides in Marietta, Georgia. She met Julienne while working as a Library Assistant.
