29 Sep Nadine Poper, Librarian and Writer, plus a GIVEAWAY!

Hi Everyone! As I say all the time, one of the perks of being a kidlit writer is meeting so many amazing people. Today I want to introduce you to Nadine Poper who is both a school librarian and a writer. And she’s doing great things on both fronts!  Sometimes I wonder where she gets all the energy. When you read about her, I bet you’ll wonder too!

Welcome to Writing Outside the Lines, Nadine! Would you please tell us a little about yourself?

NP: I live in Blandon, PA. I am a mom of three grown men and two dachshunds. I am active in local theater. I am currently in a murder mystery dinner theater production. I am the author of two fic-informational picture books titled Randall and Randall, about the symbiotic relationship between the goby fish and the pistol shrimp and Porcupette and Moppet, about the predator-prey relationship between the fisher cat and the porcupine. Both books received positive Kirkus reviews, with Randall and Randall receiving a Kirkus Blue Star. Through my research for this book, I had the opportunity to connect with the world-renowned Dr. John Randall, hence the title, who has written over 200 books about various fish species around the globe. He provided a forward for Randall and Randall. What an honor that was. Unfortunately, these books are currently unavailable due to a publisher transition.

EL: These books are so good! Not only is Nadine’s writing informative and entertaining, but the illustrations by Polina Gortman (“Randall”)and Alicia Young (“Porcupette”) are gorgeous. Kirkus got it right!

In many schools I’ve been to, librarians are the heart of the school. They do WAY more than check out books. Nadine, will you share what a typical day is like for you?

NP: Sure. Before the students arrive at 8:40, I am sometimes in an Events Committee meeting where I help plan big events for our school like our Family Reading Night, which includes bringing in an author each year, and our whole-school read called Panthers Read (like One School One Book). Every Thursday morning I am in a Teacher Leadership Academy class, a partnership with our local Kutztown University. As soon as students begin to arrive, I am hopping back and forth from greeting them in the hall to helping them find books during Open Library time. I teach 3^rd and 1^st grade classes until 11:00, then head to the cafeteria for lunch duty. I then eat lunch while answering emails and getting ready for my afternoon classes with 4^th, Kindergarten, and 2^nd grades until 2:25. Then I have several 4^th grade clubs until 3:10. I have a Flashlight Readers Club (think blanket forts and flashlights), an Author’s Lab Club where we write stories, and a Library Pages Club where students help with library tasks such as creating displays, bulletin boards, helping to process books and whatever else I may need. Sort of like a student advisory for the library. Once a month, I record a podcast with the amazing guidance counselors and a few students, where we discuss important topics and connect the topic with a book. Then off to bus duty until 3:40. Later in the year, I will begin coaching the elementary Reading Olympics team after school. I squeeze in time to create book orders, connect with vendors, and reach out to families. I am working with my local public library on a proposal to win a visit from Mac Barnett, the current National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature. Fingers Crossed!! Yeah…jam-packed day! My evenings are often spent grabbing a work-out, attending library-related webinars or PA School Librarians Association meetings where I am on the selection committee for our state book award, The Mountain Laurel Book Award. I end my day by reading a middle-grade novel in bed. At the time of this writing, I am reading The Library of Unruly Treasures by Jeanne Birdsall, illustrated by Matt Phelan.

EL: I’m exhausted just reading all this!  As a writer yourself, I’m wondering if you’re part of a writing group.

NP: I have two critique groups, one with two talented authors and illustrators, Jennifer Raudenbush and Meg Auchenbach where we try to connect monthly virtually, even though we are local to each other. We share our current works in progress, and they are invaluable. I also have many authors and writers with whom we have an understanding that if any of us need a manuscript critiqued at any point, we can reach out to each other for that purpose. You are in that group, Ellen. Your feedback is extremely helpful.

EL: As is yours for me!  How has being a librarian in an elementary school affected what you read and what you write?

NP: So many of my friends talk about their current adult fiction and I have no idea who the authors are or the titles. I tell them that I allow myself one ‘grown up’ book a year. I only read children’s literature. I need to be able to talk about books with my students and I can’t do that if I am not reading what they are reading. I can’t feed their drive for books if I can’t offer them anything. I need to know what is current, what is upcoming, and what book a specific student may need at any point in their life. And constantly reading children’s books, especially picture books, helps so much with my own writing because I know the power of the page turn, the power of the poetic language, the impact of the emotional real estate a story can offer. I see how my read alouds effect students…how they either stay engaged or fall away from a certain book…and I know why. These observations of student reactions to books teach me what I need to have in my work and what to stay away from.

EL: What made you decide to be a librarian?

NP: I was a classroom teacher at the time when the school librarian shared with me that she was going to be retiring at the end of the following year. I did not hesitate to go to my principal and ask if I could have the librarian role if I got my library certification. She said, “Of course.” Back then, 20+ years ago, that is all the principal had to say, and I told my husband that night that I was going back to school to be a librarian. I knew that my passion for books and reading needed to be extended beyond just my classroom. I wanted to affect an entire school. It’s been an amazing career.

EL: I can tell how passionate you are about your career. So, how did you decide to begin to write kidlit?

NP: I have always been a linguistic learner. As a child, words, grammar, books, a blank notebook, and a pencil gave me tingles in a good way. I absolutely loved diagramming sentences! Numbers and I never really connected. I also found science to be easy and interesting. So, when I became a classroom teacher, I tended to use literature to teach science, social studies, and math. I enjoy how picture books especially, can launch a unit of study and balance out facts or math processes. They are such a great tool. Then, when I became a mom, I read to my boys consistently. Seeing the joy that the written word and illustrations can bring to a tiny human ignited in me the desire to create my own stories. So I began writing.

EL: Can you tell us a little about what you’re working on now?

NP: I am currently revising a lyrical nonfiction picture book about the importance of healthy streams, and I hope to branch that out into other topics such as meadows, forests, and even construction sites. I am querying agents and smaller presses with picture book manuscripts, hoping for representation.

EL: I know that story! 🙂 What do you think is the best thing about all that you do?

NP: As a children’s librarian, I think one of the best things is making amazing connections with authors throughout my career, many of whom I can call friends and at any time look to for support in my own writing. I know what is current in children’s literature because of these relationships, which enable me to better support my library and students, and certainly comes in handy when writing those dreaded query letters and choosing comp titles. I get to attend librarian conferences through the support of my school district to learn best practices in the field of school librarianship, and these events allow me to meet more authors and connect with ones I already know. It truly is the best of both worlds. I am lucky to be the writer of a children’s activity calendar put out by Demco, which is a leading library supply company. When writing the monthly calendar, I include read-aloud suggestions that coincide with holidays, celebrations, historical events, observances and shout-outs for book birthdays. I love promoting other authors this way. Here is the link for October’s calendar. Have a look. https://ideas.demco.com/blog/childrens-activity-calendar-october-2025/

EL: This is outstanding, Nadine! What is the most difficult about what you do?

NP: Finding the time to do everything and do it well. I try to begin my day with writing or revising my own work-in-progress. My mind is the most fresh first thing in the morning, and I need the quiet, slow start to the day.

EL: Nadine, thank you so much for visiting today! You are truly inspirational!

To find out more about Nadine, visit here:

website nadinepoper.weebly.com and Nadinepoperlibrarian.weebly.com

It’s time for a fabulous giveaway, and YOU have a choice! Do you ever wonder what librarians are looking for in an author visit? Or how to juggle job and family? Nadine is offering an Ask Me Anything call to answer these questions and whatever else you may want to know.  OR she’s happily offering a copy of one of her books. Comment on this post to get in the running. Let me know if you’re a subscriber or have shared the post to get an extra chance to win. Good luck! 

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On a personal note, I’m currently scheduling school author visits for the 2025-2026 school year. I’d love to visit YOU or a school near you! Please check out  https://EllenLeventhal.com.   

Here’s a review! Ellen Leventhal is an amazing presenter who tailors her presentations to meet the needs of all students and age levels.  I am amazed at how she can talk about her love of writing, how to become a writer, encouraging students to do what they love and how we can all be kind into a 45 minute presentation. A school visit from Ellen Leventhal is a treat for everyone!  Suzanne Ritchey:  Carroll T Welch Elementary School Clint, TX

Until next time,

Ellen