Meet our book Writers

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  Janie Spaht Gill Ph.D      

About the  

Dr. Janie Spaht Gill brings 43 years of teaching experience to her books for young children.  During her career she has taught every grade, kindergarten through college. She has a Ph. D. in Reading Education with a  minor in creative writing.

Gill and her students acted out her books on PBS, which can be viewed under the title, "Storytelling With J.J. and Friends." 

Her fresh, humorous topics are inspired by things students say in the classroom.

Gill was voted the 2000 Louisiana Elementary Teacher of the Year for her outstanding work in education.

She is currently residing in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

 About the Author  

Sharon Oberne is a retired classroom teacher/reading specialist with forty years of service credit. She is a  master teacher, teacher leader, education consultant, presenter, and is a  story reader for children.

Mrs. Oberne has been nationally-recognized as the winner in Nickelodeon’s Bright Orange  Teacher Contest, Cox Cable’s Educator of the Year, National Daily Point of Light Award Winner, among many other outstanding accolades.

Dressed as Mrs. Nichols, with her monkey, Tops, Mrs. Oberne visits classrooms as a story reader motivating children to read. In addition, she focuses on modeling various reading strategies that can be implemented through guided reading, shared reading, or in a read-aloud.

Currently,  Mrs. Oberne is available for classroom visits, presenters for professional development, and as a consultant/teacher observer. 

Bob Reese

About the Author   

 Talented artist and author, Bob Reese,  has written and illustrated over 100 books  with endearing stories and illustrations for beginning readers.

His early years were spent in Los Angeles, California, where, after high school and after winning a cartoonist competition, he was employed as an animation cartoonist for Walt Disney Studios. This experience honed his skill and instilled a love in him for drawing and painting which endues today.

Early in his career he earned a B S. degree in art and business and soon after launched ARO Publishing, which produces books for preschoolers through third grade. His books can be found in schools and libraries all across the country.

When he's not drawing, he spends his time enjoying sports, especially basketball, or hanging out with his family and his cat, Kitty Doo.