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Finnegan is Feeling Blue
Praise for Finnegan is Feeling Blue
"I wish this book had been published sooner so that I could have used it last year. We lost a student in a tragic farming accident and it was difficult to talk about as the student and his classmates were very young. Hearing about loss and grief from Finn's point of view could have helped explain what the students were going through as they grieved."
-Jennifer Malphy, Library Media Specialist & Mom
“Through this bittersweet story, "Grandma Riley" helps young readers not only name but lean into the feelings of the loss of a special friendship. Love is the common denominator in Finn's grief, and in how his family cares for him through it.”
-Meaghan Robertson, Educator, and Mom
"A book like this is a wonderfully approachable and touching tribute to the validity of feelings, especially hard ones. After losing our beloved babysitter, Makayla, to cancer last spring, I waited months to tell the children for fear of not knowing how to process my grief, let alone how to help them through it. Finnegan has always been a favorite for our kids and this book will provide a roadmap for conversation and an avenue for unearthing our favorite memories of Makayla as we talk through and process her passing."
-Sarah Wanger, Mom, and Higher Education Administrator
Finnegan Is Feeling Blue is a delightful story about Finnegan's experience with grief. The colorful photographs and narrative writing of the author help the reader understand what grief is and that it is normal to grieve losses in our lives. Having Finnegan experience grief provides a scenario that children can relate to. Having Grandma Riley help Finn through his grief also shows children that they can ask others for help. I highly recommend this book to every family, classroom, clinic, and counselor to have on their bookshelf as we never know when we're going to need it. When you know a child is experiencing grief, let Finnegan help you explain it.
-Sarah Tunks, Reading Specialist
Books and Art
Praise for Thunderstorms & Tiny Turtles
Jane Schmidt's book is wonderful and full of great characters, human and non-human. Her stories are more than just charming; they brim with life.
-Sy Montgomery, author of The Soul of an Octopus, The Hummingbirds' Gift,
The Hawk’s Way, How to Be a Good Creature
As a single woman in midlife, amidst a backdrop of braying donkeys and sassy ducks, Jane wrestles with the past while carving out a new life in the rugged yet beautiful landscape of the Driftless region. Whether the author is crushing on a local cowboy or watching Alzheimer's drain the life of her beloved sister, the essays in Thunderstorms & Tiny Turtles are a poignant reminder of a universal truth: life is bittersweet.
-John Armbruster, author of Tailspin
Jane’s punchlines come out of nowhere and pack a wallop. Her ability to stare down her own foibles and take a fresh look at the obvious is refreshing in this era of blowhards. Her essays, rich in details of rural living in southwest Wisconsin’s Driftless hills and valleys, fit perfectly on my bookshelf next to the stories of Pearl Swiggum, Josie Churchill, and Ben Logan.
-Michael Nordskog, author of The Opposite of Cold
A good essay warms my insides, especially when I recognize my own experience in another’s story. Written straight from life, Jane Schmidt’s stories hit home because they come from home. Readers can easily relate to her tales of trial and triumph with human issues we all face, and admire her love of animals as part of her family. In her writing, Jane shines her light on the bright and the dark, and we see them both better for it.
-John Clinton Gray, author of Gift of Seeds and If I Die Thursday
Praise for Not a Perfect Fit
“If, as my therapist once suggested, the ability to laugh at oneself is a sign of sanity, then Jane Schmidt must be one of the sanest people I know! In daring to share herself fully with the reader through these funny and heartfelt stories of country life, Jane helps us laugh loud into that sometimes heartbreaking gap between our dreams and realities, and between what we hope is true about ourselves and what actually is. Whether you live out in the country or in the big city, Not a Perfect Fit is a gift of laughter, vulnerability, and wisdom.”
~ Jennifer Morales, award-winning author of Meet Me Halfway
“Jane exudes an innocence in her presentation of life that made me want to meet her and see the world through her eyes. She had me laughing and commiserating, shocked and envious, all at once. Definitely a fun read, and I would recommend this book to all, without any hesitation.
~ Readers’ Favorite, 5 stars
Got your book in the mail yesterday, thought I would sit down and glance through it. I could not put it down..read it through in one sitting, ignoring other things I should have been doing. It evoked so many emotions, and I could relate to many of the stories.. I laughed got teary... It is a wonderful book and I enjoyed it immensely. It made my day. Thank you so much!
~ David Patterson
“Jane Schmidt, after reading your book “Not a Perfect Fit”, I can honestly say that it was one of the highlight reads of the year for me. I laughed, and I cried. Seriously, tears running down my face after reading “Mom and Me”. Nobody has done that for me in years. It lives up to Michael Perry’s accolades.”
~ Kerry Barnett
Jane - just wanted to let you know how much my sister enjoyed your book! Stories from the area she grew up in, that include animals, and are so well written! Just some of her many enthusiastic comments! Thanks for writing a book!
~ Pat Flock
So, I bought Jane’s book, “Not a perfect fit” for my mom for Christmas at the co-op yesterday. I got home and had to take a peek. I couldn’t stop reading it and now I am keeping it. It is incredibly funny and now I am off to town for another copy...for my mom..for Christmas. thanks Jane!
~ Robyn Spector
Praise for Finnegan’s Superior Adventure
Finnegan’s Superior Adventure is a wonderful readaloud for kids and their grown-ups! Written from the point of view of a small dog named Finnegan, the story takes readers on an adventure of epic proportions! The high-quality color photographs provide myriad opportunities for stopping to contemplate and investigate. The author has cleverly inserted questions right into the text of the story that promotes connection and conversation.
~Meaghan Gustafson
Reading Specialist, La Farge Schools
I am absolutely in love with this book! As an elementary reading teacher of forty years, I am always looking for books that truly engage children. This is done by tapping into background knowledge and helping them use creative listening and reading skills through the asking of leading, “kid” friendly questions. Jane Schmidt’s book about her adventure with her precious little dog does both. The photographs are incredible both in quality and in telling the story. As a grandma, I can’t wait to hand deliver the books I purchased to my own grandkids and great- grandkids.
~Gretchen Stoehr
Retired Reading Teacher for Prairie du Chien Area Schools
Prairie du Chien, WI
Finnegan’s Superior Adventure is a delightful children’s book about a dog and his backpacking adventure with his Grandma Riley. Reading about the “superior” adventure from Finnegan’s point of view gets the reader interested in each part of the trip. The book engages the reader with beautiful photographs and thoughtful questions throughout the story that allow for good discussion and investigation. Bringing nature, adventure, and fitness to children is an added benefit of this wonderful book by Jane Schmidt.
~Sarah Tunks
Reading Specialist, Viroqua Area School District
Jane reading to local school children
Jane and Finn relaxing on a hike
Jane and Fine on Lake Superior