NEW SHARON – The state’s youngest author was at Cape Cod Hill School Friday morning, reading from her book and discussing writing with some local students.
Lydia Schofield, age 9 of Thorndike, writes under the name JoJo Thoreau. Her book, Bendy-Wendy, is about a gymnast named Wendy who hurts her back and contends with boredom and her annoying brothers. Thoreau began writing when she was 7, according to mother Tiffany Schofield, using a recorder and “idea book” to keep track of her ideas before writing them down.
The book itself began as a rhyming challenge between the Schofields. With its rhyming prose and bright illustrations by Kristina Young, harks back to the work of Dr. Seuss, one of Thoreau’s favorite authors. Another is favorite is Lynn Plourde, a Maine author who wrote “Pigs in the Mud in the Middle of the Rud,” Thoreau’s favorite book.
Bendy-Wendy was published by Little Hands Press, which Tiffany Schofield founded in 2014 with the goal of inspiring young writers and supporting literacy. The funds to print Bendy-Wendy were raised through a successful Kickstarter campaign.
Thoreau had already written an early draft of her next book, about a girl working on a horse ranch. More information about Thoreau and Little Hands Press can be found at its website, located here.
The Schofields met with several classes and donated a copy of her book to the Cape Cod Hill School library.
Way to go JoJo! I know this will be life-long journey for you, but you have started on a road of great self-satisfaction as well as bringing joy and pride to your family and school.
Thanks Daily Bulldog! Such a wonderful article.
We had so much fun visiting this fabulous school!