Award-winning children’s author Karen M. Greenwald finds interactive ways to connect history’s hidden heroes to the world of today's children. She is passion about shining a light where it has not been seen (enough). Ms. Greenwald offers educators and parents grade-flexible enrichment opportunities that range from discussion and writing prompts, international geography, civic engagement, and volunteering ideas, to interactive grassroots, art, physical education, and STEM activities. Karen M. Greenwald is an award-winning author of three children's nonfiction picture books. Her newest picture book, THE CABBAGE SEED'S COLASSAL SECRET (Tilbury House Publishers), launched with a virtual event for classrooms nationwide thanks to the National Women's History Museum! They said re the book, "What begins with a single seed becomes a powerful lesson in empathy, leadership, and civic action." Likewise, celebrated Food Network celebrity chef and two-time winner of Tournament of Champions, Maneet Chauhan said, "What an absolutely lovely book...Our young girls need to read this and I love that you [Karen Greenwald] are spreading the strength." According to the the largest heirloom seed company in the United States, Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, Greenwald's "...efforts to inspire young minds and promote positive values are truly commendable and we are excited to see the continued positive impact...[her] book will have." Finally, the Children's Museum of the Upstate's (SC) Play and Learning Specialist said of CABBAGE, "...This story will inspire kids to do amazing things they may not have thought was previously possible; and more than inspiring, it's also shaping them and teaching them selflessness and the joy of sharing and giving and helping those less fortunate."
Greenwald's book, A VOTE FOR SUSANNA, THE FIRST WOMAN MAYOR, is the perfect book to celebrate the semi quincentennial! It is the first/only book to shed light on this long-forgotten, ceiling-breaking, bully-trouncing hero. It was named one of fifteen Kansas 2022 Notable Books. The Kansas State Center for the Book honored it as their Library of Congress Great Reads from Great Places selection. Ms. Greenwald's book represented Kansas at the 2022 Library of Congress National Book Festival and is permanently featured on the Library of Congress Center for the Book’s website. A VOTE FOR SUSANNA appeared on the engineer/editor run website, WeHaveKids.com’s 2023 list of, “The 20 Best Children’s Narrative Nonfiction Books About Women” It also appeared on A Mighty Girl's 2021 Books of the Year list.
THE MUD ANGELS: HOW STUDENTS SAVED THE CITY OF FLORENCE (Albert Whitman) launched to an international audience of over 100. Like all of her books, it is based on a wealth of primary research. Sixteen Mud Angels, Florentines who lived through the flood, and other related parties were interviewed. Booklist praised Greenwald's vivid descriptions, calling her book, "an event worth commemorating." The state librarians of Massachusetts gave the book their equivalent of a star. Her trailer was played in Florence at a conference on the flood and has received wide support from the Center for Flood Studies at the University of Florence (the group responsible for hosting academic and cultural events and doing research on and about the Florence flood of 1966).
Ms. Greenwald is active in several children’s literature (“kidlit”) organizations. She has been admitted into The Children's Book Guild. Ms. Greenwald co-founded #SunWriteFun, a popular nonfiction writing contest that promotes indie bookstores and garners donations of books to under-resourced school and public libraries. #BOOKHERO is her other initiative that helps elementary school libraries in need (and schools that do not have a library) get free, brand new books. She has just completed her eleventh book drive.
Professionally, Greenwald is a brand strategist. This year, she won her 18th and 19thinternational awards: a BEST IN CATEGORY Marketing Effectiveness Award (MEA) for Educational Marketing and a SILVER in the same category. The award's principal said re Greenwald's win, "...set the benchmark for marketing excellence. It means industry leaders deemed Greenwald’s work the best in its field." Last year, she won a PLATINUM MEA in her first year competing against companies in this 31 year old global competition. Her other wins include international awards in the following categories: STEM creative, writing, video, rebranding, and self-promotion.
Bylined credits include online, print magazines, and The Washington Post. When serving as an honors attorney, she focused on international environmental protection and compliance. A Phi Beta Kappa, Ms. Greenwald earned both undergraduate and JD degrees from Georgetown University.
