About

Hi! I am Sue Morris and I started Kid Lit Reviews when I realized how many reviews I was putting on other people’s websites. I wanted to own my own words. While I still post my reviews on those same websites, I now post the review here first. I began reviewing kid’s books when I began reading my required 100 books in each genre I considered writing. For me that is middle grade and picture books.

**If you have been around KLR you know I have been absent for a while  . . . a long while. One surgery turned into five plus a couple of other incidents lengthened my “vacation.” I even considered quitting. Reviewing takes a lot of time and effort. Time I have; effort was lagging. But a few publishers ignored my request to not send books, which got me reading again. Once I began reading, the desire to return to the awesome kidlit community was overwhelming. So I am back. For as  long as I can. I hope you will also return to  KLR.

Who am I? Here are the basics.

  • Associate degree from The University of Toledo, in juvenile criminology,
  • Bachelors degree from Capital University, in social work,
  • Graduate school at The Ohio State University, in social work,
  • Study at The Institute of Children’s Literature, writing for children and teens.

I have worked with all sorts of kids. My first adult job was at Sunshine Children’s Home. This is a place for children stricken with mental retardation, some also with physical disabilities as well. I loved that job. I moved to Columbus to go to school. I worked at another institution for MRDD in Columbus, this time with children and young adults.  I coached several  teams for a neighborhood elementary school. Mostly girls volleyball and girls fast-pitch softball.  For a while I took x-rays and photographs in a downtown studio.

My last volunteer job was with C.A.S.A.  Court Appointed Special Advocates speak up for children in court. In cases involving the parents but affect the children, such as divorce, drug abuse, child neglect, abandonment, and abuse, and a myrid of other situations.  This gives the child a voice in court and a chance to be heard and have their thoughts and opinions included when a final verdict is rendered.

Now I am retired due to illness and disabilities. The requirement to read for writing courses, beginning at ICL, awakened a love of reading that fell asleep after graduate school. I really enjoy middle grade and picture books. Board books are a different beast. You need to write one and two word sentences and have fantastic illustrative skills or know someone who does. I love board books, but could never write one.

The most important thing for you to know is why you can trust my reviews. The simple answer is that I try very hard to be honest and objective. I take this seriously, am in it for the long haul, and also write my own stories, though nothing as yet been published.

I have been writing since as long as I can remember. My first official book, titled Bunny Hill, I wrote at age eleven. But alas, Bunny Hill was never published, though it did receive an A from my middle grade English teacher. After leaving graduate school, and recovering from a perforated large colon, writing became a bigger part of my life. I have taken several online creative writing classes from the Open University, M.I.T., Stanford University, and The Institute of Children’s Literature. I specifically take courses on writing for children.

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Please comment. When you comment you are helping the writer and illustrator as much as you help me, and maybe even more. They want your comments on their book and art. Please let them hear your voice.

Thank you for clicking over to Kid Lit reviews. Please come back and often.

 

29 thoughts on “About”

  1. I am very saddened today because, over the past couple of years I have reached out to Sue through social media and email. Initially I was hoping her lack of response was because she was recooping from her most recent surgery and was too busy. Having tried again much later, still with no response, recently I thought to try regular mail. Today I received what I feared: “Return to Sender—Not deliverable as addressed–unable to forward” 😦 It is the “unable to forward” that has left me to draw the conclusion I didn’t want to and I thought I should post it here for all those who would want to know.

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    • Thankfully your thought is incorrect. I was actually living at a rehab center due to not being able to climb the flight of stairs to my 2nd floor apartment. I now live in a home, my home, (yeah!!) with a ramp in front and in back, so no more rehab stays except for clear rehab and then home. So sorry I worried you Donna. I would never want to purposely worry, frighten, scare, or not accept post mail (that one confuses me, too). Thanks for caring. ❤

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  3. I’m very pleased to meet you. Mrs P., our fellow blogger and mutual friend recommended your site in a comment about my 9/11 post.

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  4. Hi Sue,
    What a terrific site. And I’m glad to meet someone enrolled in The Institute of Children’s Literature, writing for children and teens. I just got materials to begin this course. Since I’m a published poet trying to publish Picture Books, I’ll heed your recommendations and review. I can’t think of a better way to improve my writing for kids than reading more books. Thanks.

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    • Pam, if you get notice of this reply, first I am so terribly sorry for not replying sooner. Really no escuse. Second, if you ever have any questons about ICL, please email me at smorris@kid-lit-reviews.com with “ICL Help” in subject line so I can easily find it. Good luck with your picture book writing. I’d love to know how it goes for you.

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  5. Hello Sue,
    I’m preparing my marketing and review budget for this year and will keep you at the top of the list. My website is TwinkleTwinkleBooks.com. I am an author of children’s books, as well as interactive storybook apps. My Turkey book is enjoyed by many during the Fall, as well as my Nighty Night Bedtime series of books. Anyway, just wanted to stop by and say hi, and that I enjoy this site. We’ll be in touch soon.

    All best,
    Alexis Purcell
    TwinkleTwinkleBooks.com

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  6. Nice to see a reviewer who ecplains the process of how you tackle the task of creatin g a review. I am currently running a giveaway to help me locate reviewers and would love to send you on my blurb ora copy.

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  7. Oh boy Suzanne, I already had a huge request list at my local library, and after wandering through your lovely blog it has just increased significantly!

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  10. Thank you, Sue, for visiting me over at Being Woven as I shared about my burdens being lifted after finally laying my precious mother’s ashes to rest in Arlington National Cemetery. Your words touched me and gave me comfort. I so appreciate you for them and for you.
    I have moved my book review blog to http://the-reader-and-the-book-reviews.weebly.com as I link up my reviews with a few others on their blogs. Thanks again, ~ linda

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  11. I keep getting to know more about you, Sue, little by little, and am really enjoying it 🙂 You are a very accomplished woman, and I have to say how impressed I am that you read the somewhat shorter books TWICE! You put sincere effort into what you’re doing, it definitely shows and is most certainly appreciated! Thank you for that, and Congratulations on your award! 😀

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  12. How’s my “favorite” reviewer? I love your site, and can testify that you give excellent, thought-provoking reviews, and that you don’t just hand out 5-stars without justification!! I am under contract for my sixth children’s book to be released in 2014, and I look forward to sharing it with you!

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  15. Congratulations, Suzanne! Your blog is wonderful and I love sharing your reviews of great new children’s books with my readers. Thank you for your thoughtful and gracious nomination… Kid Lit Reviews rock and so do you! 🙂

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  17. Hi Sue! I spent some time clicking around your site and really enjoy it. I have a website dedicated to all things picture book called, For the Love of Picture Books.com. I added your website under my Reviews section on the Links page so people can find your children’s books reviews. Have a great day!

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    • Thanks for the link. I am a long time replying. I never thought anyone would comment on my about page. So sorry for the lateness. I’ve seen your sight and love it. Will follow as soon as I hit post.

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