ABOUT MARY



Mary Kuehner has read about a billion picture books (that’s an estimate). As an early literacy librarian for more than 24 years, she’s shared and recommended books to young children and their caregivers for her entire career, and has no intention of stopping anytime soon. As a kid she devoured books, and one of her earliest reading memories is of waking up at 6am on Easter morning, knowing that she wasn’t allowed to leave her bed yet, and picking up her current read: A Wrinkle In Time. Later she would be proud to report that she had read A WHOLE CHAPTER by herself.

Mary is a member of the Rocky Mountain chapter of SCBWI and of the critique group the Story Spinners. She has given countless presentations to parents, teachers and librarians about early literacy skills development, executive function, social-emotional and brain development in young children, and how to make thoughtful screen time choices. She chaired the inaugural Excellence in Early Literacy Digital Media Award committee given by the Association of Library Service to Children. She is a founding member of Colorado Libraries for Early Literacy and has been a member of ALA, NAEYC and CAL. 
 
When she’s not writing she’s reading (OBVIOUSLY), mostly middle grade and YA, but also finds time to drink a lot of coffee, hike, watch British comedy panel shows (Taskmaster, anyone?), play storytime songs on the ukulele and talk to her cat, Pip.