Shondra M. Quarles is an early childhood educator and children’s book author 

who resides in Dallas. In 2014, Ms. Quarles’ students inspired her to write and self-publish her first e-book titled Kindergartner Wisdom: The Best Advice I Ever Got Came from Kindergartners. Shondra later went on to publish her first paperback book titled The Teacher Who Didn’t Want to go to school, in 2016. This book earned her a prestigious award from the National Celebrity Educators for authoring a book about teachers.  The Teacher Who Didn’t Want to go to School was also a children’s book finalist for the 2017 and 2018 Indie Author Legacy Awards. 

In 2017, Shondra co-authored a book about diversity titled Trees.  In 2018, she published Black Lives Matter: A Picture Book for Kids, and My Black is Beautiful. Both books were written to promote self-love. Shondra went on to be a featured author at the 2018 NAACP Convention, and her books were featured at the 2018 Essence Music Festival.  

Her book Curly Hair, Don’t Care, was written to encourage children to be proud of their natural hair. Shondra’s recent projects include Young King and Fati’s Garden.  Young King is a book of affirmations for young boys, and Fati’s Garden follows a young girl who discovers the power of planting seeds.  

Shondra’s most recent publications include The Three Bears go to School. The Teacher Who Was Quarantined and Couldn’t go to school, Jamal’s Nursery Rhyme Remix, and No Calvin. You can follow Shondra’s writing journey on all social media platforms @eyeheartteaching.

PWH: What motivated you to start writing? 

SQ: I was motivated to write by my kindergartners. They were the inspiration for my first e-book.

PWH: How would you describe your writing style? 

SQ: My writing style can be described as Poetic at times.

PWH: What inspired the title “The Teacher Who Didn’t want to go to school”?

SQ: I was inspired to write The Teacher Who Didn’t want to go to school because I was overwhelmed with the duties of being a teacher.

PWH: What key message do you hope readers gain from your work? 

SQ: While being a teacher, I learned that 3rd-grade reading scores are a determinate of the number of prisons and/or prison beds built. I want kids to love reading. I promote literacy!

Connect with Shondra and read her book https://www.amazon.com/Shondra-M.-Quarles/e/B00MHG23K0