Leslie Kimmelman

The very first word I learned to read was A-L-L. It was particularly appropriate because from the joyful moment I got my first library card, my goal was to read every single book in the children’s book section. Books were magical. I still feel that way.
When I was in college in a small New England town, a young woman came to speak as part of an alumni career day. She lived in mysterious, glamorous, and slightly intimidating New York City. She talked about her career as an editor at a publishing house where, she told us, she got to read books all day long.
It was one of those aha! moments. Suddenly, I knew what kind of work (if you could call it that) I wanted to do. After graduation, I moved to New York City and began my publishing career. I spent many happy years as a children’s book editor at various publishing houses. It took me a while to get used to reading on the job; at first, whenever someone walked by my desk, I would guiltily hide my reading material. Then I’d remember that I was doing exactly what I was supposed to be doing! The more I read on the job, the more I realized I wanted to write my own books. After some stretching of my writing muscles, my first book, Frannie’s Fruits, was published in 1989.
Eventually, I discovered how to get to Sesame Street. I worked at Sesame Workshop for almost twenty-five years, first as Senior Editor of Sesame Street Magazine and then as an editor in the publishing department and a writer for special projects. I now write full-time. I live in a small town north of New York City, where my husband and I have raised two children and two dogs. I still read everything I can get my hands on—and write stories and poems that, I hope, introduce children to the magic of books.

If you want to learn more about Leslie, visit her website!