Mary Lee Kendal

Move over Dr. Suess, Mary Lee Kendal is in town. Mary frequently refers to herself as a recovering high school & junior high teacher. A graduate of Indiana University’s Education & Sports Medicine Program Mary Lee currently resides in Naples Florida where she enjoys sunsets and long walks on the beach. It’s true! She is a big fan of grilling and chilling and appreciates spending time with family and friends and especially her young nieces and nephews.

One of her favorite pastimes is zipping around in her convertible with her English Bulldog Louie, singing, ever so poorly to Elvis Presley. Louie enjoys the ride much more than the singing. At least that is what he says. A matter of fact, he prefers Jimmy Buffet. Just ask him.

During her years as a teacher, she found the best way to teach was to "entertaining without being entertainment." She saw how children and teens are extremely creative if you just give them a chance. Kids learn in many different ways. Some learn through reading, playing, singing, dancing, rhyming, or even drawing. They learn visually, and by writing poetry. They love to creatively express themselves and her classroom was one place they could do that.

Open the book, read the chapter and answer the questions at the end of the chapter was never done in her classroom. Boring! Have a conversation, ask kids a question and let them draw the answer? Let them, make up a song and sing the answer. Oh yes, she did! If they preferred to do a book report let them do that too.

So how did she come up with the fun signature style Dr. Suess rhyming social stories? As a kid, she loved to rhyme. She was always encouraged to write, read, play, act, sing, dance, and be as creative as possible by her parents. She feels her books bring in many of the favorite ways kids learn. Her social stories are meant to be read aloud bringing the bond between adult and child even closer.

In Gratitude,

Mary Lee Kendal