About Janie Reinart
My Story
Here’s how I became a reader and a writer.
1 year old
That handsome man is my Dad. You’d never guess I only weighed 2 ½ pounds when I was born. After six weeks, I came home from the hospital at a “hefty” four pounds.
3 years old
My Mom read to me. My Dad sang to me and played the harmonica. My favorite pastimes were to sing and swing outside on the swing set. Drawing and coloring kept me busy too! Did you know drawing is the first way we tell a story? I played with dolls and love dolls even today. I was the oldest child in my family with two younger sisters and a brother.
6 years old
In 1956, it was time for first grade. Can you find me in my class picture? Our readers at school were the Have Fun with Dick and Jane series. At recess, I was the hopscotch champ. We’d play jacks, jump rope, and tag.
9 years old
When I was in third grade, my grandmother would give us 15 cents for the corner store. The dime was for a comic book. I liked Archie and Little Lulu. The nickel was for ice cream: a fudgesicle, an orange creamsicle, or a drumstick.
One of my favorite books
My family made many trips to Morley Library in town and checked out stacks of books. I read everything, including Nancy Drew mysteries. I read at school during lunch, on the bus, and every chance I could. My favorite place to read at home was a red maple tree. I climbed in the tree and sat in the branches hidden by the leaves.
14 years old
My Mom, our 4-H leader, taught our group the Sewing Belles. 4-H is a national hands-on, learn-by-doing program. I learned to sew on a Singer sewing machine and to read patterns to make clothes. My first project was a bean bag. During that time, I was a camper then a counselor at 4-H Camp Whitewood in Winsor, Ohio. I remember running to the mailbox and looking for letters from pen pals around the state.
16 years old
I entered my 4-H sewing projects in the Lake County fair until I was eighteen years old. By then, I was creating tailored coats, dresses and hats. I even won blue ribbons at the Ohio State Fair. Here is a picture of a dress I designed for homecoming in high school. Check out my white gloves.
Eliza aka Janie & Mr. Shaner
My high school English and speech teacher, Mr. David Shaner changed my life and inspired me. I was very shy and quiet. Remember, I said I liked to sing. Auditions for My Fair Lady, the musical for our senior class play took two days. Eliza Doolittle, a Cockney flower seller learns how to use words correctly from a professor who then passes her off as a lady in high society. Guess who got the part?
Play review in local paper
Read full text here
Medal from the VFW contest
In Mr. Shaner’s class, I began to write and present speeches to an audience. Mr. Shaner encouraged me to enter a VFW Speech Contest (Veterans of Foreign Wars). My speech answered the question—what do you want to do in the future? I expressed my desire to teach students and to give them confidence to find their voice and tell their story. I wanted to be like Mr. Shaner. I won first place and a $25 savings bond.
After I graduated from Ursuline College in 1971 with a teaching degree in Speech/ Theater and English, I married my charming husband, Ed. We have five children. When our children were little, we would draw and write notes to each other on a blackboard in our home. I left notes in my kids’ lunch boxes and under their pillows. And we read stacks of books from the library. Today on FaceTime, I read with my grandkids who live in other states. My grandkids think it is cool to send letters in the mail to each other. I love being a mom and a grandmother.
Teaching high school.
Performing musical stories.
I’m Cha-Cha Chicken.
Clowning Around with two of my daughters.
My Careers:
- Taught school.
- Tried my hand as a professional puppeteer.
- Wrote and performed interactive musical stories
- Presided as a poet in residence at an elementary school.
- Clowned around in a children’s hospital bringing silliness to patient’s everyday routine.
Today, I continue to check out stacks of books from the library, but now only read under the branches of trees. As an author, I write every day. What do you want to do in the future? I’m eager to write poetry with you and hear your story.
“Reading is like breathing in, and writing is like breathing out.”
~Pam Allyn