Kelly Fischer Book Review

By Kiki Whartenby

Born in Memphis, Kelly Fischer currently resides in Bern, Switzerland as a writer and painter. Having been the founder and headmistress of the Bern Montessori school, she now devotes her time as a published children's books author. 

Kelly Fischer was born in Memphis and currently resides in Bern, Switzerland. She studied sociology and early childhood education at the University of Memphis, and recently received a master’s degree in painting and drawing. Having been the founder and headmistress of the Bern Montessori school for many years, Fischer now devotes her time to writing and painting. Today she is a published children’s story writer, an abstract artist, and the is the founder and director of KTF-Writers-Studio. Many books of hers have been published through this, including The Most Beautiful Color of All, The Moon Throws a Birthday Party, Polly Popular Plays Dress Up, Lillypad, Santa Delivers Presents in the Big City, Colorwheel, The Grand Smorgasbord, With Kicker It’s Okay to Cry!, and Capu Capuchin Goes to the Monkey College!. Her first nine books were illustrated by Michelle Duckworth, but her latest book, Beany the Star, was illustrated by local artist, Paul Edelstein. She feels that “the most rewarding part of publishing a new book is getting to read it to children and see their reactions.” Now she devotes all of her time to writing and painting.
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Her books are not only enjoyable and fun but many also have deeper meanings. Using the depth of her books, she created a project for Art Santa Fe 2016 entitled “Art Through the Lense of a Child.” For this project, Kelly read her book, The Most Beautiful Color of All, to a group of children and allowed them to analyze what they heard. Then, as a group, the children came together to design a mural made up of various illustrations based on their analysis. Another book of hers, With Kicker It’s Okay to Cry!,was created for Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital and was based on patients’ stories written in “Once upon a Heart.” Moreover, her most recent book, Capu Capuchin goes to The Monkey College!, was written on behalf Helping Hands Monkey Helpers, a non-profit organization that helps adults with spinal cord injuries and other mobility impairments. All of her books contain unique stories and everyone, regardless of age, is encouraged to give them a read. ​