Lisa Katz, Neighbor

Lisa is a mom, a teacher librarian and now a blogger. She has created a book review blog, Hooked on Books, to share her knowledge of children and young adult literature with parents, teachers and librarians.

Lisa grew up in Mill Valley. She attended the Mill Valley public schools where she has fond memories of her school librarians at both Alto Edna Maguire School and Park School. She also remembers her librarian at the Mill Valley Public Library (who you can still find today at the Corte Madera Public library). Lisa always loved to read and won a read-a-thon as a 3rd grader in her elementary school. She has many fond memories of spending time at some of her favorite bookstores in Mill Valley such as the infamous: The Clean Well Lighted Bookstore, The Mill Valley Depot and of course the Mill Valley Public Library.

After college where Lisa earned her BA in English/Creative Writing, Lisa came back to the bay area to earn her teaching credential. During her time at home raising her children, Lisa realized that she had not lost that passion for working with kids and one day ultimately writing a children’s book. She continued to take writing courses through the Institute for Children’s Literature. She also spent countless hours volunteering in her children’s school library where she found a real love of children’s literature. In 2006 she decided to go back to school for her Master’s. In 2010 after four years of graduate school she graduated with her MLIS (Master’s in Library and Information Science) from San Jose State University with her family by her side.

Lisa currently lives in Marin County with her husband, two children and dog.  She credits motherhood for constantly providing books to read, whether they are books on raising children, picture books, chapter books, novels or YA literature. Lisa currently is the Teacher Librarian for Neil Cummins Elementary School in Corte Madera where she is surrounded by great books and fabulous children all day long.