Jane Kurtz was one of fourteen children's book authors and illustrators invited to Washington D.C. for Laura Bush Celebrates America's Authors day, part of the 2001 inaugural ceremonies. As someone who has taught writing at the elementary, secondary, and university level, Jane is in high demand as a speaker. She has presented at schools and conferences from California to Maine, from Minnesota to Texas, and in East and West Africa. School Library Journal called Jane Kurtz a 'superb storyteller.' Her books have gathered accolades, starred reviews, and awards. She also receives praise for her vivid vocabulary (in both speaking and writing), her ability to clearly show some of the ways professional writers achieve writing excellence, and her use of pictures to demonstrate the way her life--from her childhood in Africa to her experiences with a disastrous flood--has shaped her fiction and nonfiction.