Judy Blume Born:
February  12, 1938
Elizabeth, New Jersey,

Current Home:
New York City, New York,

Judy Blume

Biography

When I was growing up, I dreamed about becoming a cowgirl, a detective, a spy, a great actress, or a ballerina. Not a dentist, like my father, or a homemaker, like my mother — and certainly not a writer, although I always loved to read. I didn't know anything about writers. It never occurred to me they were regular people and that I could grow up to become one, even though I loved to make up stories inside my head.

I made up stories while I bounced a ball against the side of our house. I made up stories playing with paper dolls. And I made them up while I practiced the piano by pretending to give piano lessons. I even kept a notebook with the names of my pretend students and how they were doing. I always had an active imagination. But I never wrote down any of my stories. And I never told anyone about them.

When I grew up, my need for storytelling didn't go away. So when my own two children started preschool I began to write and I've been writing ever since! My characters live inside my head for a long time before I actually start a book about them. Then, they become so real to me I talk about them at the dinner table as if they are real. Some people consider this weird. But my family understands.

Many of my books are set in New Jersey because that's where I was born and raised. I lived there until my kids finished elementary school. Then we moved to New Mexico, the setting for Tiger Eyes. I also spent two years in Connecticut, where Just as Long as We're Together and Here's to You, Rachel Robinson are set. And Fudge-A-Mania grew out of a summer spent in Maine. I don't think I could set a book in a place without knowing it really well.

Now I live in New York City and Key West, Florida, with my husband, George Cooper, who writes nonfiction. He thinks I'm lucky because I get to make things up. I think it would be fun to do research and discover stories, like George. Between us, we have three grown children and one incredible grandchild, whose first word was “book”! That makes sense since we all love to read to him.

  • Teacher Store
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    Judy Blume Collection Grades 3-5

    Judy Blume Collection Grades 3-5

    by Judy Blume

    See below for complete list of titles. Appropriate titles of equal value may be substituted if any of the listed titles are unavailable at shipping time.

    Set Includes:

    • Double Fudge
    • Fudge-a-Mania
    • Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great
    • Superfudge
    • Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing

    $20.00 You save: 32%
    Paperback Book Collection | Grades 3-5
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    Judy Blume Collection Grades 3-5
    Grades 3-5 $20.00
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  • Teacher Store
  • The Teacher Store  
    Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing

    Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing

    by Judy Blume

    Peter, just because he's the oldest, has to put up with his baby brother's disgusting cuteness. It's almost too much to bear! "Will bring a chorus of laughter from sympathetic readers." - Publisher's Weekly.

    $5.95
    Paperback Book | Grades 3-5
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    Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing
    Grades 3-5 $5.95
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