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 amazing fantasy with interesting historical events.

Becoming a Writer: Elvira Woodruff's Journey

Elvira Pirozzi was born in Somerville, New Jersey. She went to Adelphi University and Boston University to study English literature. 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 became a librarian in Easton, Pennsylvania. She loved reading stories to young children there. 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

Book critics often share their thoughts on new books. Here's what some said about Elvira Woodruff's stories:

• 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 came to America to escape hardship.
• Publishers Weekly described The Summer I Shrunk My Grandmother as a fun mix of "magic and farce." They called it a "lighthearted romp" about a young scientist who gets into some funny trouble.

Elvira Woodruff's Books

Elvira Woodruff has written many popular books. Many of them combine history with exciting adventures or fantasy elements.

Dear Levi Series

This series tells stories through letters.

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

Time Travelers Series

These books often involve characters traveling through time to different historical periods.

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

Other Exciting Books

Here are some more of Elvira Woodruff's books:

• Awfully Short for the Fourth Grade (Holiday House, 1989) – This was Elvira Woodruff's very first published book!
• The Summer I Shrank My Grandmother (1990)
• Tubtime (Holiday House, 1990)
• Mrs. McClosky's Monkeys (Scholastic, 1991) – This was the first story she sold to a publisher.
• 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)