Connie Schultz debuts first children’s book to rapt young audience at CCPL

Well-known, award-winning journalist, columnist, writer, teacher, and Clevelander Connie Schultz is engaging a new generation of book lovers with her entrance into the world of picture books.

Her youngest readers to date gathered last Saturday, Aug. 16 at the Cuyahoga County Public Library’s (CCPL) Parma-Snow branch to hear Schultz read from her children’s book, “Lola and the Troll.”

Lola and the Troll by Connie SchultzCleveland-area fans have waited excitedly since the book’s February release to attend the only reading of “Lola and the Troll” by Schultz herself. Guests needed to register ahead of time, and there was a waiting list to get in.

“I had no idea what to expect,” Schultz says of debuting her first children’s book. “I was very nervous when it came out.” Fans of all ages weren’t disappointed. “The reception has been wonderful,” she says.

CCPL CEO Tracy Strobel says the long waiting list is an example of how the library system has become one of the busiest in the country.

“It reinforces the idea that books, especially children’s books, are so important in people’s lives,” says Strobel. “The people of Cuyahoga County are huge readers.”

Schultz has always drawn a crowd when she has spoken at CCPL upon the release of her other books, says Strobel, so the staff jumped at the opportunity to invite Schultz to the Parma-Snow branch for a reading.

“We knew as soon as we learned that she was writing a children’s book that we’d want to have her come and read that book here at the library,” she says.

Accompanied by library staff, Schultz walked through the side door of an auditorium packed with 300 people.

“I was shocked,” Schultz says of the number of people who signed up to see her. Her husband, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown, sat in the front row to support his wife and says he has enjoyed watching her move into a different genre.

Connie Schultz“She wanted to do it and was surprised by it, and I guess I was too,” Brown admits. “It was a bit of a different track, but she has loved doing it.” He adds that he enjoys watching the interaction between Schultz and the children—saying he sees the grandma in her come out. “In many ways, it’s not much different,” he observed last weekend.

Schultz wasted no time and walked to the center of the library floor area, where her solo chair was waiting. A new generation of fans gathered around Schultz’s feet. Looking up from a colorful carpet, their eyes were on her as they chatted excitedly.

Schultz waved to the children. Beaming, she scanned the room, looking first at the young children on the floor, then up into the seats at the large crowd that came to see her.

Not all of the adults were accompanied by kids—some were dedicated fans who couldn’t wait to see Schultz in person. “I love seeing all the grown-ups here,” Schultz laughs. “You do know this is a children’s book, right?”

The sound of laughter from the auditorium brings another smile from the author.

Connie Schultz reads Lola and the Troll to children at an event on August16As Schultz reads, she engages the young listeners as she turns the pages. Many of the children were clutching their new copies of “Lola” while eating Mitchell’s ice cream. Both were compliments of the Friends of the Parma Libraries.

Strobel says she believes engaging kids early in reading is important. “I have kids myself, and there are many other things kids could be doing,” she reflects. “We’re bringing them into the library, and it gives them an opportunity to interact with each other and caring adults. It’s a safe place for learning and for fun. I grew up as a library kid, and it’s wonderful to see that tradition continue with our neighborhood kids.”

After the reading, Schultz asked if there were any questions, and tiny hands went up. She called on each child, asked their names, and took her time to get to each question.

Some questions were about the characters in the book. Lola is based on Schultz’ granddaughter, Ella (she says her grandchildren were very involved in the process of editing the book), and the dog, Tank, is based on Schultz’ own dog, Walte

The book explores bullying and how it can be overcome with kindness. Lola is reminded that bullies, like the troll in the book, don’t hold power unless you let them. Lola learns to be brave, just like Ella.

“I will never tire of reading this book to children,” Schultz says. Saturday’s reading drew the largest number of kids for a book reading to date at the CCPL Parma-Snow branch.

Schultz signed books and took photos with each family and the solo grown-ups. While she signed many “Lola and the Troll” books, she also signed copies of her three other books.

Lola and the Troll by Connie SchultzSchultz has published a total of four books. On library and store shelves, you can find Schultz’ two non-fiction books and a novel. Her 2007 collection of essays is “Life happens: And Other Unavoidable Truths,” while her 2008 “…And His Lovely Wife: A Campaign Memoir from the Woman Beside the Man” references husband Sherrod Brown’s 2005 successful race for the U.S. Senate. Schultz’ 2021 novel, “The Daughters of Erietown” landed her on the New York Times Best Seller list.

Schultz’s career has spanned decades, and among her many accolades, she earned a Pulitzer Prize for Commentary in 2005 while working as a columnist at The Plain Dealer in Cleveland. She has written for USA Today and been a professional-in-residence at the school of journalism at her alma mater, Kent State University.

Social media is another outlet for the Ashtabula native. Schultz has 25,000 followers on Instagram, 193,000 followers on Facebook, and 260,300 followers on X.

Schultz is outspoken about issues such as empowering women, politics, and social justice. While her commentary is controversial at times, Schultz famously dismisses the social media trolls, or online bullies, who target her.

“I will sometimes address trolls publicly,” she boasts. “I want other women to see I don’t let it stop me.”

She champions topics that matter to her, and weaved empowerment into “Lola and the Troll.”

“I felt like I was writing this [children’s book] for two audiences—women and children,” she says, adding that women have a lot to contribute at various times of their lives, and she hopes she’s an example of that by publishing two books (so far) in her 60s.

The writer and public speaker is currently a professor of practice in journalism with Denison University and is currently working on her second novel. What’s next? She’s not done writing for her young audience. “I am mulling several ideas for the next children’s book,” she says.