Julienne Levy Marks has worked as an educator in a myriad of roles throughout her career. She is now retired. She has been a children’s librarian, a teacher, an adjunct college professor, a museum educator, a motivational teacher, a youth advisor, a peace educator, a parenting workshop facilitator of Faber and Mazlish’s “How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk,”™ a parenting lecturer, and a day camp administrator. She was on the Peace Place Steering Committee; founded the Long Island Explorium: A Hands on Children’s Museum; and has served as a parent, teacher, and child consultant. She is also the author of four books for adults in her series Many Pebbles to Make a Difference: Inspiring Ways You Can Improve Children’s Lives by Making Connections: For Families, Parents, Grandparents; Education in Different Environments; Reading and Books; and Multiculturalism and Peace. She has published two previous children’s nonfiction picture books in the Emotional Well-Being Series: How Can You Love Yourself? Finding Many Pebbles to Make a Difference in Learning about Loving Yourself and How Can You Help One Another? Finding Many Pebbles to Make a Difference Learning about Helping One Another. How Can You Discover and Learn about Your Interests, Hobbies, Collections, Causes, and Passions? Finding Many Pebbles to Make a Difference is the third book in this series.
Keep this: 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.
Julienne 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. They 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. They 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 Julienne 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. This interview was put on their Summit information (September 25-26, 2020) and later on a Pod Cast (December 24, 2020)
Julienne worked with parents one on one as a Parenting Consultant via phone or in person using her experience to help them.
Julienne enjoys having pen pals from various countries like Mexico, Tokyo, Israel, Ukraine, and states as Minnesota, South Carolina, New York, Florida, and California.
Julienne enjoys the following: Collecting: dolls, money from different countries, postcards, magnets, flags, birds, books especially children’s and old ones. I used to relish traveling. I like being with children, singing and reading to them, encouraging children reading for pleasure, biographies, historical fiction, English History, Peace, Multiculturalism, conflict resolution, being kind, respectful, the Native American and Asian cultures, Judaism, antiques, cats, twins, lefty, keeping memories of my life alive (through displaying in my home), Waldorf schools (R. Steiner), National Geographic, Barbra Streisand, dance, and twirling. I would like to learn more about playing the piano, Spanish, about the stars, and sign language.
The Author’s Resume:
JULIENNE L. MARKS
WORK EXPERIENCE
May 2008-2013
Youth Services Librarian II at the South Cobb Regional Library, Cobb County Library System, Mableton, Georgia.
I began using Marks’ Sparks (ideas I have picked up along the way by experience, my reading, and conversations with others that I feel are important to share. They may be ideas, thoughts, beliefs, opinions, values for us to think about. They are not necessarily original to me.) At the end of Story Times and Programs for parents I might share them. From my Book, Many Pebbles to Make a Difference: Inspiring Ways You can Improve Children’s Lives by Making Connections: For Families, Parents, Grandparents pages 90-91
Weekly talk to a boy in elementary school about books. I actually lent him some.
Several times someone had asked me for suggestions on how to handle something in the parenting and education field.
January 2008- April 2008
PJ Library Educator
Marcus Jewish Community Center, Atlanta, Georgia.
March 2007-December 2007
Youth Services Librarian I at the Wellington Branch Library, Palm Beach County Library System, Wellington, Florida.
I voluntarily reduced my position and hours to ¾ time.
July 2003-March 2007
Youth Services Librarian II at the Jupiter Branch Library, Palm Beach County Library System, Jupiter, Florida.
March 1999-July 2003
Youth Services Librarian I at the Jupiter Branch Library, Palm Beach County Library System, Jupiter, Florida.
May 1997-June 1998
Librarian at The Unity School of Delray Beach, Delray, Florida.
October 1997-June 1998
Adjunct Professor teaching “Children’s Literature” to future teachers at Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. (three semesters) October 1987-March 1999
Workshop/Program Presenter sharing various programs to groups and individuals of all ages on motivational teaching, parenting, peace education, including conflict resolution, and paper bag dramatics.
July 1994-October 1995
Weston Reading Center Manager, Broward County Library System, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
April 1993-July 1994
Professional Collection Liaison, Broward County Library/Broward County Public Schools, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
March 1998-June 1988
Floor Manager, Miami Youth Museum, Miami, Florida.
June 1984-June 1986
Educational Coordinator of the Fort Lauderdale Historical Museum, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
October 1983-June 1984
Auditor of Professional Magazines, Per Q Corporation, Boca Raton, Florida.
1972-1976
Administrator and Group Leader, West Hills Day Camp. Huntington, New York.
1969-1976
Elementary Teacher, Parliament Place Elementary School, North Babylon, New York.
Throughout my life:
Consultant to diverse people, one on one and in groups, including children of all ages, teachers, administrators, librarians, parents, and camp counselors in schools, museums, libraries, and synagogues, on many different topics. I have developed, co-developed, and presented numerous workshops/programs/presentations to/for children, parents, teachers, librarians, and camp counselors.
I also prepared and sold “Informal Bibliographies” on different topics, as well as, affirmation cards.
I began ending my presentations with a sharing called “Mrs. Marks’ Sparks” which are ideas picked up along the way through experiences, readings, and conversations with others that I feel are important to share. They are not necessarily original to me.
EDUCATION
1993-present
Throughout my life
I attended workshops in: Peace Education including conflict resolution; Children’s Literature; parenting; self-awareness; museum education; teaching; marriage.
I attended various workshops in my field, for example: Who Moved my Cheese? Why Family Stories Matter, Cultural Sensitivity in the Library, Storytelling, Young Adults in the Library, Peacemaking in the Eye of the Storm, Children’s Services 11th Annual Conference, Share-A-Rama, Multicultural Literature, Readers’ Theater, heard specific Children’s Authors speak, attended the Association for Library Service to Children’s “National Institute,” September 2010 and several “The Conference on Children’s Literature” in Broward County, Delegating to Others, and supervisory workshops from Broward County and Palm Beach County Library Systems.
I was continually reading Children’s and Young Adult books, books and professional periodicals on children’s literature, education, and parenting. I also discussed children’s books with patrons and other Youth Services Librarians.
December 1996
A Master of Arts in Library and Information Science, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida.
August 1971
A Master of Arts in Education, Adelphi University, Garden City, New York.
October 1969
A Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and Sociology, Hofstra University, Hempstead, New York.
September 1995-October 1995
My family provided housing and a connection to an English exchange student.
August 1992 and July 1991
My family lived and worked on a Kibbutz in Israel.
August 1971
New York State Permanent Certification in Education, Nursery, Kindergarten-6th grade.
AWARDS
I receive many oral and written compliments about my work which can be shared on request.
October 2006
“Above and Beyond Award” Palm Beach County Library System, West Palm Beach, Florida.
July 2003
“Morale Boosting/Team Building,” Palm Beach County Library System, West Palm Beach, Florida.
2003
“Kudos Award” from YS staff, Palm Beach County Library System, West Palm Beach, Florida.
July 2002
“Kudos Award” for leading a special book discussion of “Fahrenheit 451” as part of the “Read Together Palm Beach County” Campaign.
January 2002
I was chosen as one of twelve Reader’s Advisory Board Members of the South Florida Parenting Magazine, Sunrise, Florida.
August 2000
“Above and Beyond Award,” Palm Beach County Library System, West Palm Beach, Florida.
January 2000
“Customer Service Team Award,” Palm Beach County Library System, West Palm Beach, Florida.
April 1998
Chosen by the facility of USF to be a member of Beta Phi Mu, the International Library and Information Science Honor Society.
December 1994
“Courtesy Award,” Broward County Library System, Fort Lauderdale, Florida. (dealing with the public.)
May 1972
“Honorable Mention” in Early Years Magazine Learning Center Contest.
COMMUNITY SERVICE
September 13, 2010
Presented a talk about reading to children, library programs offered, etc. to the Austell//Mableton Mom’s Club, Austell, Georgia.
February 2, 2009
Presented at a Breakout Session, “Connect to the World at your Library,” Children’s Services 11th Annual Conference, Macon, Georgia.
Began two Women’s Support Groups, 1998 (Florida) and 2009 (Georgia).
November 1998-February 1999
Read, presented finger plays, and used puppets both 1:1 and in small groups to all age children on the Pediatric ward of Plantation General Hospital, Plantation, Florida. I was called the Library Lady.
February 1991
Part of the committee for “Imagine Peace,” an exhibit at the Miami Youth Museum, Miami, Florida.
March 1990
Participated on the Task Force of “Challenges of our Society” (Values), The School Board of Broward County, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
1990
Helped to organize and set up a library at Ramat Shalom Synagogue, Plantation, Florida.
June 1986-June 1988
Member of the Steering Committee of Peace Place, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
1983-1984
Library Volunteer at the Levittown Public Library, Levittown, New York and the Waldorf School, Garden City, New York.
1980-1983
Founder of The Long Explorium, A Hands on Children’s Museum, Long Island, New York
1971-1973 and 1976-1977
Advisor to two Teen Youth Groups, BBG, in Hempstead and New York
RETIREMENT
2023-2026
I have written The Emotional Well-Being Series books. All three books are inclusive. The first two books are called children’s non-fiction picture books. The first is titled How Can You Love Yourself? Finding Many Pebbles to Make a Difference in Learning about Loving Yourself. How Can You Help One Another? Finding Many Pebbles to Make a Difference in Learning about Helping One Another is the second book. How Can you Discover and Learn about Interests, Hobbies, Collections, Causes, and Passions? Finding Many Pebbles to Make a Difference completes the series. This last book is a text-only book and there are no illustrations except for the cover. On some of the pages there are some suggestions for the Reader to draw or write about what they have read on that page making the book interactive. These books are designed for children in elementary, middle school, and their adults. In all of the books they meet people of all ages and walks of life.
These books tell the journeys of two elementary-aged children, Evan and Ruth and their mentor and older friend, Mrs. Hope and her service dog, Kindness. The children are looking for ways to positively change themselves and make their world a kinder place. As they travel to different locations, they visit a library while learning about Loving Yourself and then go to see an Inclusive School and Playground, soup kitchen and animal hospital where they share ways of Helping One Another while meeting children with health issues. In the last book, they tour a community center where they observe and participate in many different interests, hobbies, collections, causes, and passions; perhaps, aiding the child’s well -being and turning them into a possible career (life work) or continue to have them when one is an adult. Mrs. Hope guides them to learn about specific themes and experiencing activities to gain understanding of the topics.
I now have a website https://www.mrsmarkssparks.com which has added information about my books.
Put my Personal Papers in order
2022
Compiled “Family History” both written and put in notebooks including Primary Sources and photographs.
Read my Dad’s letters of 1945 written to my Mom while he was in World War II either stationed in the Philippines or on board a troop carrier as a dentist.
Wrote up about “Schools and Camps” family members attended and “Addresses” and “Phone Numbers” through the years.
Wrote up an article about “Reading For Pleasure for Children”
Exhibited pictures of “My Mentors”with books of theirs.
2021
Wrote up an article about “Some Ideas/Activities for Children “
Found copies of front pages of Newspapers Headlines of both positive and negative News through the years
September 2020
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” tm by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish which is based on Dr. H. Ginott’s philosophy. What do you think is most beneficial about taking parenting classes? One question she asked was: Can you share a little bit about what makes the “How To Talk” classes work so well? were sample questions.
This interview will be put on their Summit (Sept. 25-26, 20200) and later on a Pod Cast.
March 2020-June 2020
“Family Tree” with Photos and a number legend
Use of a Science board project
Shared Family Tree with photos of each person and a number that corresponds with a legend. Another paper has the family tree with words and who married who, children, date of birth and death, marriage date. Photos with many of the family from a family gathering in a separate panel again labeled with a number.
July 2020- August 2020
“Worklife”
After each job, paid or volunteer, I collected professional cards, references, brochures, photos, etc. and put them in a notebook by job.
Recently I took out the highlights of these jobs and put them on a science board project, oak tag and large picture frame. (There were so many)
I also made a smaller notebook with the highlights that didn’t fit on the board, oak tag and picture.
I arranged them by job category (teaching, libraries, museum, outreach, volunteer, etc.) and not chronologically. I also listed my education and about these notebooks.
February 2020-present
Wrote up and took photos about “My Home Museum Exhibits” or “My Life Story” or “Instead of Decluttering, Keep Your Precious Things Organized into Exhibits or “Scrapbooking Your Home.” (Collecting Hoarding or Collecting, You Decide)
March 2020-June 2020
Wrote up an article about “Interests/Passions/Hobbies/Collections/Motivating Through Interests of Your Children”
September 2019 -March 2020
I volunteered weekly playing, singing, and sharing finger plays with 2-4 years old at The Garden, a Waldorf outdoor school, Marietta, Georgia
June 2019 –May 2020
Free consultant/guide/mentor interested in 1:1 with parents via phone or in person the sharing of ideas, skills/techniques on parenting based on Between Parent and Child by Dr. H. Ginott and How To Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk and Siblings Without Rivalry by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish plus the sharing of other parenting books, articles, etc. and my experience
March 2018-September 2019
I had been volunteering sharing a small Adult Book Discussion at the East Cobb Senior Center, Marietta, Georgia of the Mitford Series (14 books) by Jan Karon.
I used artifacts/items to trigger the Discussions.
November 2018-January 2019
For a few months I sent www.kindness.org resources about information/resources about kindness.
November 2013-2017
Since I retired I have written 4 Books for adults, Many Pebbles to Make a Difference: Inspiring Ways You Can Improve Children’s Lives by Making Connections: For Families, Parents, Grandparents; Education in Different Environments; Reading And Books; and Multiculturalism And Peace.
They are about my work life. Please see Yawn Publishers or Amazon for purchase information.
I also had a blog called “Marks’ Sparks” for 7 months that continued information (articles) to help reinforce these books for adults.. I also gave presentations about my philosophy discussed in these Books. Due to health reasons she needed to discontinue writing it.
January 2014-approximately 2018
I volunteered at Head Start sharing Story Times to three and four year olds every week.
I also shared a “Teacher Training” and “Peacemaking Skills for Little Kids”: (Peace Education Foundation) for 10 weeks for 4 year olds at Head Start.
I also volunteered at the Waldorf School of Atlanta with kindergarteners and second graders following the latter up the grades to 6th grade. (Experiencing Music, Spanish, handwork, Games, Woodworking, and Orchestra.)
At several venues (libraries, Waldorf School, Hindi Temple) I was the chairperson or supported other chair people with the Parenting Communication Workshops, How To Talk So Kids Will Listen (7 weeks) ™ and Siblings Without Rivalry (6 weeks) ™ by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish. I also shared an introductory hour talk about this program at different places.
I also shared the programs, “Discover Books” and “Paper Bag Dramatics” at different libraries.
PERSONAL
Married
One daughter
One grandson
INTERESTS
Children, parents, grandparents, teachers, librarians, Children’s Literature, drama, art history, classical music, museums, ballet, Peace Education, animals, nature, light houses, sunsets, self-expression, kindness, reading for pleasure, twins, cats, Waldorf School, doing for others.
The illustrator from my first two children’s books, Leigh Ann Schuttler has gone on to other artistic projects. The author thanks her for her wonderful work as did many readers who commented on her colorful illustrations. She will be missed.
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.