Barbara McGrath
Author
Barbara McGrath has written over twenty books for children, including The M&M's Brand Counting Book, winner of "The Teacher's Choice Award" from Learning Magazine, the ABA "Pick of the List", and the Publisher's Weekly Bestseller's List. The Little Green Witch winner of "The Storytelling Honor" from Storytelling World. Her book, The Cheerios Counting Book was also a Publisher's Weekly bestseller. She has worked with Scholastic, Inc., HarperCollins Publishing Company and Charlesbridge Publishing Company.
Her recent title, The Storm, Students of Biloxi, Mississippi Remember Hurricane Katrina is a riveting account of one of the most defining moments in our nation's history - written by children. The book was a result of her relief work done shortly after the hurricane. It has met with outstanding reviews, including The New York Times, Bookshelf.
Barbara graduated from Lasell College with a degree in Early Childhood Education. After graduating from college Barbara opened a preschool where she taught 4-5 year olds for sixteen years. The educational philosophy was to make learning fun and interesting.
Barbara is also a free-lance writer for local newspapers and has two books currently in production with Charlesbridge Publishing Company.
A tireless speaker, Barbara has presented at hundreds of schools and reading conferences nation-wide since 1994. Her practical advice and humor makes her lectures informative and entertaining for children as well as adults.
She lives west of Boston, Massachusetts with her husband, Will, their children, Emily and Louis, and a variety of horrible pets that her children bring home and abandon.
Published Books
The Storm: Students of Biloxi, Mississippi, Remember Hurricane Katrina by Barbara McGrath Reading level: Ages 4-8 Paperback: 64 pages Publisher: Charlesbridge Publishing; 1 edition (August 30, 2006)
ISBN-10: 158089173X ISBN-13: 978-1580891738 
Editorial Reviews
From School Library Journal A compilation of stories and artwork by 91 children in grades K-12. Their submissions range from single-sentence descriptions, short paragraphs, and poems to black-and-white pencil sketches and paintings/drawings in other media. (Teachers and administrators also offer brief reflections.) The book is divided into four sections that parallel the disaster's time line and effects–Evacuation, Storm, Aftermath, and Hope. Stark white pages serve as a crisp backdrop for the text and the variously sized art, which attracts the eye. Readers will be moved by images and descriptions that students share: My house drowned; Shingles were falling like pancakes; Everything in life is a privilege, not a right….I never believed that until I lost it all. The impact of the storm on the families of Biloxi and their struggles to rebuild their lives are vividly portrayed. Ultimately, the book emphasizes the resilience of children and the healing powers of art. It is also a practical means to helping the recovery efforts since a portion of the proceeds from the sales are being donated to Biloxi Public Schools.–Maura Bresnahan, High Plain Elementary School, Andover, MA The Little Green Witch by Barbara McGrath (Author), Martha G. Alexander (Illustrator) Reading level: Ages 4-8 Paperback: 32 pages Publisher: Charlesbridge Publishing (June 1, 2006)
ISBN-10: 1580891535 ISBN-13: 978-1580891530
Editorial Reviews
From School Library Journal Halloween's answer to The Little Red Hen. While her hollow-tree housemates (a ghost, a bat, and a gremlin) laze around, the little witch does all the unhousework–hanging the cobwebs, dirtying the laundry, etc. When she finds some pumpkin seeds and plants them, she discovers that her friends are stubbornly unhelpful at every stage. While the little green witch's question is always, ˜Who will help me…,' the answers are divertingly varied: ˜Can't hear you,' said the bat. ˜Water, schmater,' grouched the gremlin. As readers will expect, when the witch takes her pumpkin pie out of the oven, everyone is willing to help her eat it. Equally predictable is her refusal to share it. But she has an extra comeuppance up her ragged sleeve, one that will make readers laugh out loud. McGrath has done a fine job of meeting expectations while introducing surprises at every turn. Her gentle humor is amplified by Alexander's sweet and funny watercolor-pastel illustrations. Details like a Mickey Mouse cup on the shelf, a wood crate labeled Apples, and a cookie jar shaped like a little red hen can be discovered in successive readings. Children will enjoy this book before, during, and after Halloween.–Susan Weitz, formerly at Spencer-Van Etten School District, Spencer, NY Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
I Love Words by Barbara Barbieri McGrath (Author) Reading level: Baby-Preschool Paperback: 32 pages Publisher: Charlesbridge Publishing (August 2003)
ISBN-10: 1570915687 ISBN-13: 978-1570915680
I Love Words - Not just for Valentine’s Day! A fun way to reinforce letter recognition and learn many sight words. Candy hearts make it fun for student and teacher or parent. Contractions, compound words, color and number words, rhyming words, those hard "W" words, and even silly animal words are on these Children in K-1 feel very grown up when they point at the words they know!
Soccer Counts! by Barbara Barbieri McGrath (Author), Peter Alderman (Author), Reading level: Ages 4-8
Paperback: 32 pages Publisher: Charlesbridge Publishing (July 2003) 
ISBN-10: 1570915547 ISBN-13: 978-1570915543
Editorial Reviews
From School Library Journal .... ESL students may be the best audience for this mixture. Each numeral (0-15) is accompanied by a rhymed couplet in large print. ..... Smaller, italicized print provides the factual information. Gouache-and-ink illustrations are colorful and bright, filling entire pages, and serve to clarify the rules. .... Blair Christolon, Prince William Public Library System, Manassas, VA Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
The Baseball Counting Book by Barbara Barbieri McGrath (Author), Brian Shaw (Illustrator) Reading level: Ages 4-8 School & Library Binding Publisher: Charlesbridge Publisher
ISBN-10: 0613163249 ISBN-13: 978-0613163248
Cuenta Con El Beisbol
by Barbara Barbieri McGrath (Author) Reading level: Ages 4-8,
Publisher: Topeka Bindery (February 2005) Language: Spanish ISBN-10: 1417744316 ISBN-13: 978-1417744312
Editorial Reviews
From School Library Journal Numbers from 0 to 20 are featured in this rhyming picture book. Some of them fit naturally into baseball terminology, such as 3 strikes, 2 teams, and 9 positions. Others, like 12 pieces of gear and 19 ice-cream cones, are more arbitrary, but still tie in to the theme. Kids without basic familiarity with the sport won't fully understand why "5" is a "full count" or why there are 6 infielders. The double-page spread for "20" helps, though, by showing baseball cards, several of which offer glossary-type information about the sport. A game seems to progress along with the counting, starting with a 0 to 0 score and ending with a game-winning grand slam. .... Steven Engelfried, West Linn Public Library, OR Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Booklist, February 1999 ...uses baseball to count from 1 to 20 in verse. The rules and culture of the game are introduced... --
Teaching Mathematics, December 1999 Throughout the book, many opportunities can be found to extend its role as a counting book...
COMING SOON
The Little Red Elf, Charlesbridge Publishing 2009
McGrath Math, The Teddy Bear Counting Book, Charlesbridge 2009
Earth Magic, Publisher TBA
On-Line Sales (Click the covers t order)
M & M Counting Book Series Cheerios Counting Book
Presentations
Barbara's literacy enrichment program is educational, informative and fun for students. Through personal experience, from idea to finished product Barbara takes young audiences through the writing process. Her presentation is visual and interactive. With practical advice, each word is carefully selected to inspire and encourage young readers and writers to practice without being discouraged at having to rewrite and edit. Information is presented in a entertaining manner that hold the attention of students. The audience will recognize that an author is a "regular" person and they can be capable writers. Presentations are tailored to similar grade levels. Barbara is not afraid of kindergarteners!
Barbara has 15 years experience as a teacher and 15 years experience as a national speaker at schools and conferences.
Professional Fees: $1,200 per School Day (4 sessions - 50 minutes each)
Contact
Barbara McGrath
2 Jennings Pond Road
Natick, MA 01760
Phone (508)653-2653
Email mailto:bbmcgrath@aol.com
Website http://www.barbaramcgrath.com/
08/15/08 date this page was last edited Click HERE to return to state page
