Elvira Woodruff facts for kids

Elvira Woodruff (born June 18, 1951) is an American author who writes exciting books for kids. Her stories often mix fantasy with real history, making them fun and educational.

Becoming a Writer

Elvira Pirozzi was born in Somerville, New Jersey. She studied English literature for a year at Adelphi University and another year at Boston University. Before becoming a writer, Elvira had many different jobs! She worked as a janitor, a gardener, and even drove an ice-cream truck. She was also a receptionist, a window-dresser, a store owner, and a baker.

Later, she worked as a librarian in Easton, Pennsylvania. There, she loved reading stories to young children. This experience inspired her to start writing her own books. By 1999, she had already written twenty books for kids!

What People Say About Her Books

Reviewers often praise Elvira Woodruff's books. For example, Kirkus Reviews said her book Small Beauties was a "little history in a lovely story." They also noted that The Memory Coat explored how Russian-Jewish families found freedom in America.

Publishers Weekly described The Summer I Shrunk My Grandmother as a clever mix of "magic and farce." They called it a "lighthearted romp" about a young scientist who gets into funny situations.

Her Books

Dear Levi Series

• Dear Levi: Letters from the Overland Trail (Alfred A. Knopf, 1994), illustrated by Beth Peck
• Dear Austin: Letters from the Underground Railroad (Knopf, 1998), illustrated by Nancy Carpenter

Time Travelers Series

• George Washington's Socks (Scholastic, 1991)
• George Washington’s Spy: A Time-travel Adventure (2010)

Other Books

• Awfully Short for the Fourth Grade (Holiday House, 1989) – This was Elvira Woodruff's first published book.
• The Summer I Shrank My Grandmother (1990)
• Tubtime (Holiday House, 1990)
• Mrs. McClosky's Monkeys (Scholastic, 1991) – This was the first book manuscript she sold.
• Back in Action (1991)
• The Wing Shop (1991)
• Show And Tell (1991)
• Dear Napoleon, I Know You're Dead, But ... (Holiday House, 1992), illustrated by Noah and Jess Woodruff
• The Disappearing Bike Shop (1992)
• Ghosts Don't Get Goose Bumps (1993)
• The Secret Funeral of Slim Jim the Snake (1993)
• The Magnificent Mummy Maker (1994)
• Dragon in My Backpack (1996)
• The Orphan Of Ellis Island: A Time-travel Adventure (1997)
• Can You Guess Where We're Going? (1998)
• The Memory Coat (1999)
• The Ghost of Lizard Light (1999)
• The Christmas Doll (2000)
• The Ravenmaster's Secret: Escape from the Tower of London (Scholastic, 2003)
• Small Beauties: The Journey of Darcy Heart O'Hara (2006)
• Fearless (2007)
• To Knit or Not to Knit: Helpful and Humorous Hints for the Passionate Knitter (2014)