avg_rating: 3.68
name: Barbara Odanaka
about: I'm an author of four rhyming picture books published by Simon and Schuster/Margaret K. McElderry Books and G.P. Putnam's Sons. I wrote my first story at age 6 after discovering my grandparents' typewriter—a manual Royal model dating to the 1930s. The story was titled "The Happy Hamster" and dedicated to my first of many pet hamsters (Hamlet). Before becoming an author, I was a sports reporter for the Los Angeles Times. At one point, one of my editors asked me why I was rhyming some of the lines in my columns. "Rhyming?" I asked, incredulous. "Yes, rhyming," the editor answered, pointing to the lines in question. That's when it dawned on me: maybe it was time to trade daily journalism for my lifelong dream of writing for children!I love cat I'm an author of four rhyming picture books published by Simon and Schuster/Margaret K. McElderry Books and G.P. Putnam's Sons. I wrote my first story at age 6 after discovering my grandparents' typewriter—a manual Royal model dating to the 1930s. The story was titled "The Happy Hamster" and dedicated to my first of many pet hamsters (Hamlet). Before becoming an author, I was a sports reporter for the Los Angeles Times. At one point, one of my editors asked me why I was rhyming some of the lines in my columns. "Rhyming?" I asked, incredulous. "Yes, rhyming," the editor answered, pointing to the lines in question. That's when it dawned on me: maybe it was time to trade daily journalism for my lifelong dream of writing for children!I love cats, chocolate and inspiring children through my school visits (in-person and virtual)! ...more