The Bloomingdale community is saddened to note the passing of a wonderful author, Robie Harris. Robie authored many fine books, and her books for preschoolers were specifically written from a child’s perspective. As her son David noted in The New York Times obituary, “She dealt with kids’ emotions.The thing about her was, it was always children, first.”
Robie honored us with her friendship, and her granddaughter Ella also volunteered in our Homework Help program and our Extended Day after school program. In our slideshow below you can see her author visit to Extended Day, in which she read two of her books, Crash, Boom! and Maybe a Bear Ate It!. It also highlights a spread from a more recent book, Who? A Celebration of Babies.
Marilyn Barnwell, our program director of education, remembered Robie’s visit: “Her warm presence impacted the children in a very soothing and welcoming way. The children were easily drawn to her – even before she began reading her wonderful books. She related to the uniqueness of children as they listened to her story and as they drew their thoughts with crayons and markers. Seeing Ella alongside her grandmother participating in the activity spoke volumes to how she has Robie’s beautiful traits. Robie Harris will live on in the stories she created and shared with young children. We are grateful that she shared her gifts with our Bloomingdale children.”
Robie will be profoundly missed, but children will be loving her books for many years to come. Take a look at her website here