Jeanne Pettenati
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ABOUT
I have always loved to read and tell stories. And I have been writing stories for as long as I can remember--stories about people that inspire me because they made the world a better place with their talents.
Some are famous like Galileo...because he changed the world with his discoveries--and some, like Arturo Toscanini, made important contributions in the world of music.
I love to bring my stories to kids in schools, libraries, and festivals. Meeting young readers and sharing these stories is the best!
Here's what I learned researching my books:
FUN FACTS ABOUT GALILEO!
*His full name was Galileo Galilei
*Galileo was the first person to look at the night sky through a spyglass
*He liked to do experiments
*He played the lute, a stringed instrument during the Renaissance
*His father taught him to read and play music
*He grew vegetables in his garden
*He was a best selling author
*He dropped out of the Universtiy of Pisa
*Galileo discovered new worlds, but never stepped foot out of Italy
FUN FACTS ABOUT ARTURO TOSCANINI!
*Toscanini had three younger sisters
*His parents were poor tailors
* At age 9, a music school awarded him a full scholarship
*He conducted his first opera in Brazil...at age 19!
*He played music for troops on the battlefield during WWI
*He left Italy to protest Mussolini's government before WWII
*NBC Radio created the NBC Symphony Orchestra just for him in 1937
*Toscanini was born in Parma, Italy and died in the Bronx
MY BOOKS
Galileo’ s Journal: 1609-1610 is a picture book biography for children, ages 7 to 12. My book is made up of journal entries Galileo might have written while building his telescope and making some of the most exciting discoveries in history.
Reviews:
“Book of the Week” --The Washington Post KidsPost “Attractive illustrations and lively text”—School Library Journal“A valuable addition to library collections”—BooklistChosen by McGraw-Hill for its’ Open Court Reading Program 2009 New Mexico Land of Enchantment award nominee
Charlesbridge Publishing reissued the book in 2015 because it was a favorite of students and teachers. Galileo’ s Journal is published in Korea!
I met Paolo Rui, the artist who illustrated my book, at his studio in Milan, Italy.
Arturo Takes a Bow is a picture book biography for children, ages 7 to 12. Arturo learned to play music by watching others play the piano. He conducted orchestras the way Michael Jordan played basketball!
Reviews:
"A delightful story about a willful little boy with a passion for music, even when it gets him in trouble."
"Well researched and lovingly written...."
"Toscanini is a name that can be intimidating but learning about young Arturo makes us remember that a child with a gift is the seed of greatness."--Karen Hall, Cellist, Fort Worth Orchestra, Texas, and Founder, The Hall Ensemble
"Charming"---Staff, The Potter Violin Company, Maryland
My daughter and I visited Parma, Italy, Arturo's birthplace, while I was writing the book. We toured his childhood house and museum and the opera house where Arturo played cello before joining a traveling opera company. It was fun!
Bio
I was born in Queens, New York City. My family moved to New Jersey, where l lived until I graduated college. Before I became a children's book author, I wrote a weekly newsletter on immigration, articles for local papers and newsletters, and reviews of children's books. Today, I help write and edit a monthly newsletter for a community center. I live in Bethesda, Maryland, close to Washington, DC, a great city with lots to do and see for kids!
I have a Master's degree in Italian from Catholic University. My love of Italy comes from my grandparents (Rosa and Emilio in Venice, above), who were born near Parma, not far from Arturo Toscanini's birthplace. I love, love, love to speak and read Italian. Ciao!
Events
Do you want to do experiments to learn about the laws of motion like Galileo did?
I take my interactive presentations on Galileo and Toscanini to schools, libraries, bookstores and community festivals. My visits are in the Washington DC area, and many places across the country. Here are some of the wonderful places I have visited with kids like you:
Burning Tree Elementary School, Bethesda, MD
Murch Elementary School, Washington, DC
Rock View Elementary, Kensington, MD
Main library, Rockville, MD
St. Bartholomew Community Holiday Bazaar and Book Fair, Bethesda, MDBritish School of Washington, Washington, DCKid Museum, Bethesda, MD
St. William of York, Stafford, VA
Big Blue Marble Boostore, Philadelphia, PA, Children's Literary Festival
Chapter One Bookstore, Ketchum, Idaho
Barnes & Noble, Greensboro, NC
Delaware Book Festival, Dover, DE
Pueblo, Colorado libraries
French and German Schools, MD
Powells Bookstore, Portland, Oregon
The Lab School, Washington, DC
I would love to visit your school to talk about Galileo and his discoveries! I would love to teach you about Arturo Toscanini and his world of music! Please send me a message to schedule a virtual or in person presentation on the form below.
This summer the Maryland Writers Association is featuring independently published authors. Check out the challenge above and read, read, read this summer!
Connecting me to other writers and readers:
- Member, SCBWI (DE/MD/WV chapter)
- Volunteer, Montgomery County public schools
- Literacy volunteer
- Writing Barn and Highlights classes
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Milan, Italy
Here I am with Paolo Rui, illustrator of Galileo's Journal, in front of his art studio in Milan, Italy.
If you would like to purchase copies of my books, please send me a message on the form below or find them on Amazon. An e-book of Galileo's Journal is available through Charlesbridge Publishing.