Laurie Schneider grew up in central Wisconsin, not far from where her debut middle-grade novel, GITTEL, is set. A self-avowed kidlit nerd, heron spotter, and library lover, she lives in Norman, Oklahoma, with her partner and two very good cats. When not working at the library (or scoping out the latest coffee shop), she can be found stalking turtles and herons at the neighborhood pond, camera in hand. Laurie studied English and creative writing at Oberlin College and has a master’s degree in American Studies from Washington State University. For more about the history behind the story of Gittel, the author's website has photos, interviews, and oral histories for interested readers. For teachers there are free downloadable lesson plans for g
