About the Author

Robin Heald, children's book author and teacher

Before Robin Heald became a licensed teacher, she was a stage manager in regional theaters, and on and off Broadway.

For 30 years, she taught drama to children of all ages in public and private schools. In 2006 she founded the Pomegranate Preschool for the Arts, in Ashland, Oregon

Robin’s traditionally published books include Pat, Roll, Pull: A Challah Braiding Story, illustrated by Erin Taylor (Hachai Publishing); Liberty Saves the Day, illustrated by Andy Elkerton (Colonial Williamsburg Press); Whistling for Angela, illustrated by Peggy Collins (Pajama Press); and The Light From My Menorah, illustrated by Andrea Blinick, will be released by Pajama Press in September of 2024. Her self-published work to date includes the Sapphire Family Series: Jackson and Jillian, Alicia and Annie, and Mason and Invincible Igor, illustrated by Alexandra Artigas (Robin Ray Books). Robin’s articles have appeared in Exceptional Parenting Magazine and Children’s Literature in Education. Robin was the 2015 recipient of the Katherine Paterson Prize at Hunger Mountain, the Vermont College of Fine Arts Journal, for her picture book Isadora’s Sandálias.

Robin holds an MFAW in Writing for Children from Spalding University. She hails from Philadelphia and now lives in Ashland, Oregon with her husband, actor Anthony Heald. They have two grown children, Dylan and Zoë; a granddaughter, Amelia; and a cuddly mutt, Milo.

More about me…

children's author Robin Heald at age six, busy typing on her grandfather's typewriter

first book

In this photo I’m six-years old and typing on my grandfather’s typewriter. My first book was called The Treasure and the Trashman. It was about a sanitation worker who brings all sorts of gifts home to his family. Stuff he finds in the trash.

best friend

My best friend in elementary school was named Toni.

family

I live with my husband, Tony, who is an actor. We have two grown children, Dylan and Zoë, and a dog, Milo.

home

I grew up in center city Philadelphia but have lived in many places: New York, New Jersey, Los Angeles and the town I live in now, Ashland Oregon. Here is my house.

teaching

My first teaching job was at Nishuane School in Montclair, New Jersey. I was the drama teacher and we performed 6 plays a year with around 120 children in each play. When we moved to Ashland, I founded the Pomegranate Preschool for the Arts. Here I am reading stories to the Pomegranate students. Other jobs I’ve had include: Selling lemonade, babysitting, gas station attendant, waitressing, and stage managing on and off-Broadway.

swimming

I love swimming, even in the snow.