My Books
Why So Many Pen Names?
I write fiction under a lot of different pen names, also known as pseudonyms. Why, you may be wondering? When I was an editor, my boss had a rule about not using our real names, so my Sesame Street name is Constance Allen. Then it just seemed to make sense to use different names for the different kinds of writing that I do, so my other names include Sarah Willson, which is my married name (yes, two L’s). I also use various combinations of my kids’ names like Catherine Samuel and Catherine Lukas. I haven’t listed all of my books below; here are just a few, to give you an idea of the kind of writing I do.
Fiction
“Clever Trevor” A science-oriented story about levers and a kid named Trevor who outsmarts a bully.
- Buy at IndieBound
- Buy at Amazon
“Diego Saves the Tree Frogs” A picture-reader for preschoolers; Diego and his sister help save some little tree frogs. Preschoolers can follow along and supply simple nouns using the rebus pictures.
- Buy at Amazon
“Dora the Explorer: Dora’s Backpack” One of the first Dora books to be published! I wrote this before the show even aired, based on a script that was still in development.
- Buy at Amazon
“Elmo Loves You” I’ve written a bunch of Sesame Street books (usually under the name Constance Allen). This is one of the bestsellers. I will always love Elmo.
- Buy at Amazon
“Halloween ABC” I wrote this quite a few years ago but it’s been reillustrated and is still extremely popular!
- Buy at IndieBound
- Buy at Amazon
“Hocus Focus” A science-oriented story that explains sight/vision and near-sighted, far-sightedness for any kid who needs glasses.
- Buy at IndieBound
- Buy at Amazon
“Little Star” Dora helps Little Star find her way back into the sky. Kids may learn a few new Spanish words along the way.
- Buy at Amazon
“Pet Peeves” A story about how kids start a pet-sitting business and how they learn the ins and outs of organizing and marketing.
- Buy at Amazon
“SpongeBob: Behold, No Cavities!” SpongeBob, a star dental patient, finally drags Patrick to the dentist. Dental X-rays get switched, and the usual Bikini Bottom chaos ensues.
- Buy at IndieBound
- Buy at Amazon
“The Dragon’s Scales” A leveled reader with math concept (grades 2 and up) about a hot-tempered dragon that won’t let villagers cross a bridge.
- Buy at IndieBound
- Buy at Amazon
Non-Fiction
“Amazing Animals: Chimpanzees” I love chimps. I loved them even more after I wrote this book.
- Buy at Amazon
“Amazing Animals: Elephants” Elephants are the coolest animals. Lots of great photos in here.
- Buy at Amazon
“Amazing Animals: Giraffes” Lots of great pictures and info about giraffes for a range of ages.
- Buy at Amazon
“Poop Happened” Aimed at kids 8 and up, Poop Happened examines how societies from ancient times to present day have had to confront the vexing problem of what to do with their waste. Readers will discover that the improper disposal of human waste has led to very bad consequences, namely, wars, disease, insect trouble, plagues, high infant mortality, heavy alcohol consumption, shortened stature, shortened life spans, cave-ins, explosions, asphyxiation, peasant revolts, and collapsed empires. To say nothing of extremely smelly city streets.
Reviews
“What sounds like a keen grossout gimmick is actually an original premise, as Albee traces history, mostly European and American, through its sanitation practices and the consequences and benefits thereof. It’s therefore less a poop book than a poop-inspired social history, but the lively, browsable format and irreverent tone will keep the interest of kids who ordinarily might balk at historical exploration. The book touches on Roman plumbing and Renaissance bathing, Enlightenment sewage (both London and Paris had legendary Big Stinks), and Victorian disease, making a cogent argument throughout for the role of sanitation in allowing societies to succeed and even prosper. Page layouts involve quippily titled paragraphs and a multitude of illustrations, some of them contemporary cartoon drawings, others period art (some of it satirical as well); running sidebar features include “Icky Occupations,“ “Hygiene Heroes,” and “Too Much Information?” While a few questionable assertions slip in, the volume is surprisingly rigorous on a topic often choked with lore, and it’s got a refreshingly deep and savvy view of history (there’s a sharp observation that improved British standards of sanitation weren’t used to help colonial subjects, for instance). A lot of desperate students in search of a bearable history text will heave a sigh of relief at this, and other readers will find it a fascinating view of a little-traced historical component. The book closes with chapter-by-chapter source notes, and the bound book will include an index.” —Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
“This self-proclaimed ‘number one book on number two’ takes readers inside the fascinating world of excrement, ranging across the historical spectrum from ‘Hellenic Hygiene’ to ‘How Do Astronauts Use the Toilet in Space?’ Albee’s focus is not only on bodily functions, but also on the larger public-health challenges created by mass urbanization in the ancient and modern world as well as the ability of societies to deal with these problems, which provides readers with an excellent introduction to social history. With a focus on the Western world in general and England in particular, the author touches on an array of topics from diseases such as cholera and plague to the development of increased sanitation in large urban areas such as London. The exciting format is comprised of a two-color (pastel green and blue) layout with numerous illustrations and photos. Interesting sidebars describe occupations and ‘hygiene heroes’ such as Edwin Chadwick and bathroom fashion. The fluid writing style ensnares and holds readers’ attention from beginning to end. By bringing history alive, this captivating work is without a doubt an essential purchase.” —School Library Journal
More reviews!
- Buy at IndieBound
- Buy at Amazon