Joy Berry is a highly successful, pioneering educator and child development specialist. She is also the bestselling author of Joy Berry books for children with more than 250 titles and 85 million copies of her books sold. Joy Berry's message has always been the same: Empower children by helping them become responsible so they can have the control over the lives that they want and need.

Simply put, Joy Berry knows and understands children.

As an administrator and educator, childcare provider, recreation and camp director, and teacher's aide, Joy began her public school career teaching the second, third, fourth, and fifth grades. She supplemented her teacher's salary by establishing and maintaining quality after-school and summer programs.

Dismayed by the politics and bureaucracy that often plagues public education, Joy decided to begin her own school. She created a highly acclaimed preschool and daycare center. Several years later, she created a second preschool and daycare center that grew into one of the top three infant-through-early-elementary private schools in Southern California.

Joy's experience led her to conclude that in addition to academic subjects, children need to learn life skills which traditional education could not provide. The light bulb went on when she was asked to talk to a boy who was flunking out of school. She visited the boy at his house, and what she found was astonishing. Located in the back yard there was a tree house that spanned three trees. The structure was home to The Tree House Club--a popular neighborhood group put together and managed by the boy. Under his very capable leadership, the club members participated in a plethora of innovative, profitable, moneymaking projects. Although not successful in school, this boy was running a business while keeping track of its earnings, expenses, and profits using a comprehensive bookkeeping system.

She joined The Tree House Club to better understand kids. While a member, she discovered who children really are and what they really want and need to learn. And so together, Joy and the boy began teaching classes on practical subjects such as money management and time management. Joy discovered that the materials needed to teach children living skills were non-existent and she began filling the void by creating and developing materials that speak directly to children about everyday life issues.

Embarking on a lifetime mission to help children, Joy spoke out about modifying conventional perceptions and traditional approaches to education. She left the school system and began writing books, music, television and radio programs, and other supplemental materials that teach children about life skills.

"Children should be 100% responsible for all of their choices and decisions by the time they are 12 years of age. Parents need to encourage their children to make as many choices as possible as early in their lives as possible", says Joy Berry.

Joy's understanding of children and her pragmatic approach to educating and empowering children, has given rise to one of the most extensive juvenile product lines in the world.

Joy is a frequent media guest and speaker. She has been on many national television shows, and has been featured in national magazines and newspapers. She has spoken at book publishing, library, toy and bookseller associations in the US and abroad. She also speaks at national education and parent/ teacher's associations.

Joy Berry has a lifetime teaching credential as well as an administrative credential. She holds advanced degrees in Human Development and Education.