Mary Winn Heider is the author of over 30 books for kids, including THE LOSERS AT THE CENTER OF THE GALAXY, THE UNICORNS WHO SAVED CHRISTMAS, and THE STUPENDOUS SWITCHEROO series, which she co-created with Chad Sell. Mary Winn’s very first novel, THE MORTIFICATION OF FOVEA MUNSON, was based on her time working in a real life cadaver lab, and now that it’s a musical. In a School Library Journal column a few years ago, Betsy Bird wrote, “In an era of information overload, Mary Winn Heider is the author who will lead us through the pandemonium into the light.” Mary Winn’s books have been on state lists, appeared on Bank Street Best Books, received Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection status, been long-listed for the Edgar Award, and landed on Indies Introduce and Indie Next lists.But before all of that, Mary Winn was a company member with Playmakers Lab, where she spent a decade pretending to be a chicken, an astronaut, and a princess, and sometimes, all three at once.
This event is a fundraiser to support PML’s outstanding creative writing programming in partnership with Chicago Public Schools. 100% of the tickets proceeds will support PML classes! For 28 years PlayMakers Laboratory has served Chicago Public School students by providing a creative writing residency program aimed primarily at elementary schools. Our company of over 60 teaching artists utilize creative drama and storytelling to promote literacy and self esteem during our in-school residencies and park district programming. Each year, our programs serve more than 4,000 young people across Chicago. In our 6 week writing residencies, a whopping 88% of students improve writing scores by at least one level over the course of our residencies. Plus, 100% of classroom teachers report that our program supports their student’s writing and improves confidence and self-esteem.
By Lavar E. & Jamont G., Morton School of Excellence
That's Weird, Grandma
Setting: Foodmart.
Characters: Gary, Wild Pony, Justin Beaver, Rhianna
Gary: (pick up the cereal) I want this kind, this is the last box.
Wild Pony: (Running in the food mart and zaps him) Got ya. Too bad.
Gary: Oh noooo.
Wild Pony: It’s mine (Ran into Justin Beaver)
Gary: (walks to Wild Pony) Justin Beaver
Gary: Go find a life.
Justin Beaver: But can you be quiet about it.
Justin beaver try to marry Rhianna, Gary smacks Justin Beaver
Rhianna: Rihanna sing her song) work, work, work, work, work.
Justin Beaver: You need to be done, done, done, done. And come over.
THE END.
By Jezabell P., 4th Grade, Paderewski Elementary
That's Weird, Grandma
Once there was a factory that made babies and one day the boss had to go home for his darther birthday. The boss left one of the worker at the factory. One day the gril came late to work, then sees that nobody was there. The worker name is Angela. Angela was confused then she said “own I remember no work today. Then she headit out for the door then she couldn’t get out then she heard a biggie crash then she heard foot steps then she saw a baby then the baby had a knife and the baby AKA Little b she was shock that the baby was alive the the baby went close and…
To Be Continued…
THE END.
By Maya W., Loyola Park After-School Program
That's Weird, Grandma
Dear Bobby/Me, Hello me. I am writing a letter to myself to remember who I am. For example, I am tall and handsome, nice hair. Maybe not to other people, but people love my eyes that change colors by my mood. Look I’ll make a chart. Happy = Hazel, Excited = Green, Angry = Brown, Sad = Blue. I have light Brown hair. I am nice. OH COME ON JERK! Sorry about that, talkin to the TV. I was watching a show. THE END.
By Kamia S., Super 7 Program at Cather Elementary School
That's Weird, Grandma
One day I asked my mom can I hold my little brother, I gave KJ a kiss and I forgot to burp and KJ threw up in my mouth and cried. I screamed my mom name April! April! KJ threw up some more it got in my shirt. My mom did not come. I screamed again April again and again. She came she said What do you want. She got him. I made a bracelet. Me an my brother go to the store he hand bought 4 bags of hot chips. THE END.
By Stephanie O., Loyola Park After-School Program
That's Weird, Grandma
Characters: The Chief, The Rookie, The Witness, Ms. Gua-pa-ya (in tableaux), Ms. Doofalmor (in tableaux)
Props: Picture Frame, Puppies, Trash Bag
The Chief: I am here with you today because our city’s superhero: Ms. Gua-pa-ya, has saved our town from evil guy: Ms. Doofalmor from stealing all the puppies in Chicago!
The Rookie: BUT HOW WE GONNA PROVE IT?
The Chief: What did they teach you in the academy?
The Rookie: IT’S ALL IN THE EVIDENCE!
The Chief: That’s right. Now, this can take all night if we have to, but we gotta PROVE that Ms. Doofalmor is guilty! What have you got?
The Rookie: I got allergies and half a cup of coffee.
The Chief: (sigh) what have you got for EVIDENCE.
The Rookie: Right. Gotcha. I got this. First of all we got the Who! Ms. Gua-pa-ya and Ms. Doofalmor
The Chief: Good start!
The Rookie: Then we got the What: Ms. Doofalmar wants to steal all the puppies of Chicago
The Chief: Ah yes the motive. Keep going…
The Rookie: And there is out When: March 13 at 3:54 p.m.
The Chief: Alright. And where is the where?
The Rookie: I’ll tell you where the where is! The Where: downtown Chicago
The Chief: Excellent. Excellent. But how?
The Rookie: I KNEW YOU WOULD ASK THAT! The How: Ms. Doofalmor hates all kinds of puppies and she tried to kill all of them.
The Chief: And what did out eye witness see?
The Rookie: Come on out key witness and tell em what you saw!
The Witness: I saw Ms. Doofalmar sneaking behind an adoption center planning to steal all the puppies of Chicago.
The Rookie: Boom!
The Chief: Boom!
The witness: Boom?
The Chief: There’s our case!
The Rookie: Thanks Chief! I couldn’t have done it without my WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN and HOW!
The Chief: THE END!
THE END.
By Heaven T. & Cormia H., Super 7 Program at Cather Elementary School
That's Weird, Grandma
Characters: Trillionaire, Billionaire
Setting: Mall
B: Let’s go shop at the mall.
T: We finna ball out (Bop)
B: Yasse shawty.
T: First we gon buy some new shoes.
B: Then we finna go buy some truu’s.
T: We just going to throw money at every body.
B: Shawty you trippin.
T: We rich so it don’t matter (bouncing)
T: and I’m not a shawty (with a pouty face)
B: I’m just being sarcastic with yo lil ugly (Hand motion)
T: It doesn’t matter when you’re a trillionaire.
B: SO what (Jealous face)
THE END.
By Kinnaria D., Super 7 Program at Cather Elementary School
That's Weird, Grandma
Nikki Manaj = (walking in) hey fans let’s bring out Condurre tonight
Condurre = (Walking and talking) howdy y’all I like to be on this show
The crowd = the crowd (mumbling) is she a country person
Condurre = (Loud) “Saying leave me alone im new to this show”
Nikki Minaj = Crowd give Condurre respect ain’t that’s right
The crowd = NO NO NO NO!
Nikki Minaj & Condurre: “Sayin bring out Jerry Springer now”
Jerry Springer saying could I bring two girls out here tonight to fix their problems their name is anyia and Arieel C’mon out Ladies (Yelling)
THE END.
By Genise Y., Learn Campbell Academy
That's Weird, Grandma
Once opon a time there was a princess she lived in a magical palace in Alaska. The girl father and mother went to Chicago to visit their family this girl was supposed to go, but she ran away. The parents searched and searched but they couldn’t find her. Years and years went by final 15 years came and the still couldn’t find the princess one day a magical angel came to the place, the angel said to the king and queen I will grant you one wish and the mother and father wished for money instead of there daughter. The angel said you don’t want to wish for something more valube so the angel gave them there wish. She gave them money. But 2 days later there daughter showed up she asked why didn’t you wish for me. The said what. And that’s when they regrated wishing for money. THE END.
By Preleah, Elijah, Michael, Tyeler, Jakaya, & Keldric, Learn Campbell Elementary School
That's Weird, Grandma
Once there was a man named Big Sean Brown and his friend Cheryl Brown. She was also his wife. One night they went to dinner and a movie. They saw “The Haunted House.” They had popcorn. They went to a party at a big hotel. Cheryl didn’t want to walk in the hall because of the movie, and the man acted like he wasn’t scared but he really was. That night he had nightmares about the movie and woke his wife up. Cheryl was tired of him being scared so she left and smacked the door in his face. Sean Brown cried and said, “What you do that for?” He said, “Don’t leave me and I’ll never be scared again.” THE END.
By Rachel D., Graham Elementary School
That's Weird, Grandma
Every Dream I have my dad appears he started to appear after 12:00 three days after he died and he appears and we always start off dancing and he sings a song about loving me he always tries to remind me but when he goes to say I love you I had to wake up at 6:30 and get ready for the day and I always think about it and last Sunday he got to tell me everything like I love you, your safe, don’t cry, will see each other again, and we remember each other using are hearts, that’s what my dreams are.
THE END.
