Bio:

Sydnie Kleinhenz grew up writing poetry and playing volleyball. When assigned the position of benchwarmer, she wrote motivational poetry to encourage the team to victory. Later, she refined that skill to give a boost to the volleyball, track, and gymnastics teams she coached. Then, after reading countless books to her five sons and helping with years of homework, she felt prepared to enter the realm of the professional writer.

Poetry and stories by Sydnie Meltzer Kleinhenz have been published in Children's Playmate, Ladybug, Boys' Quest, Highlights and other magazines. She has written non-fiction books (ELEPHANTS, CORAL REEFS, WORK AND PLAY, etc.) and fiction (OTTO'S MESS, THE MYSTERY OF THE MISSING MALAMUTE, PLEASED TO EAT YOU, etc.) for a variety of educational and trade publishers including Scholastic, Harcourt, The Wright Group, and Steck-Vaughn. Her "Hello-Math Reader", MORE FOR ME, has been a Scholastic Book Club pick several times.

Sydnie eventually switched from the gym to the classroom and now teaches fourth grade in Houston, Texas. She writes when she's not grading papers. Sometimes, she writes using the name Charlene Norman because she thinks her mom and dad are great.

Writer
PAL
Member since 1989
Region: Texas: Houston

Contact Information

Published In Children's Market: Yes
Available for Speaking Engagements? Yes