NEWVILLE - Sherri Maret is a newly published author living her dream. "I taught for 20 years as an English teacher and library media specialist in Chambersburg, Cumberland Valley, and Shippensburg school districts," Maret said in a press release. "I loved teaching, but I wanted to write children's books, too." In April 2016, Maret released her first book, "Help Me!", about a lady who loves animals who flies to Africa for an amazing animal adventure. When it is time to go home, she decides she wants to take a baby animal home with her. The lady ends up having a very different kind of adventure that wasn't at all what she had planned. Maret's new book, "The Gingerbread Man’s School Adventure," will be released Aug. 1. She said she wrote it primarily for the kindergarten teachers she worked with at James Burd Elementary School in Shippensburg. In it, a gingerbread man who fears he will be eaten by two children or their mother finds himself at an elementary school seeking help from many of the people who work there. “Originally, it was to introduce kindergartners to elementary school, but then I decided to adjust it so it serves as a back-to-school book, too," Maret said. As an educator she knows teachers and librarians are busy, so she created multiple follow-up activities that are available on her website, www.sherrimaret.com. “I spent so much time creating lessons and activities for my students when I taught. I know how hard teachers/ librarians work, so I wanted to help them.” Parents who homeschool their children might also find the activities helpful, she said.

"I wish I could draw but I don't have the talent," Maret said. "I was lucky to find two very talented students when I taught at the Shippensburg Area Senior High School."

Noelle Zeigler,a 2016 SASHS graduate, illustrated "Help Me!" Emily McMichael, a 2015 SASHS graduate, illustrated "The Gingerbread Man's School Adventure." "Noelle and I did eight school presentations on our publishing journey in Shippensburg. We had a great time. I hope we get to do more," Maret said. The author also worked for the Chambersburg Area School District at Faust and Chambersburg Area Senior High schools from 1997 to 2003. "Sometimes I run into former CASD students, which is fun," she said. "It doesn’t happen very often since I now live in Newville." Maret will have a reading at Grove Family Library, 101 Ragged Edge Road, Chambersburg, from 6-7 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 5, and a book signing from 9:30-10:15 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 6. Her books may be purchased from the author, online through Sunbury Press or through major online/ traditional bookstores. (from The Public Opinion July 21, 2016: http://www.publicopiniononline.com/story/life/2016/07/21/former-english-teacher-librarian-releases-second-book-kids/87420566/)