Wendy Gelsanliter, a singer/songwriter, was born in Africa. Due to the nature of her father's job as Foreign Service officer and newspaper journalist, she lived in a half dozen cities along the east coast of the United States. As a child, Wendy sang into hairbrushes and stethoscopes while listening to records. In high school and college, Wendy performed in musical choirs, acappella groups, and bands. She also started playing guitar and writing songs of her own. After graduating from Hamilton College in 1986, she moved to New York City. In two years, Wendy became a weekend headliner at the Speakeasy, played at many clubs and colleges in the Northeast, and appeared at the First Annual Greenwich Village Folk Festival. During this time, Wendy began teaching, and for the past 19 years, she has worked with young children. A graduate of Bank Street College of Education, she has taught preschool, Kindergarten, first and second grade, headed an elementary school library and taught music and movement. Now Wendy teaches four and five year olds, and writes and performs for children of all ages. In the earlier 1990's, Wendy released her first recording, Dancin' in the Kitchen, with internationally celebrated singer/songwriter, guitarist and producer, Frank Christian. The title song, co-written by Gelsanliter and Christian, inspired a children's book by the same name. Illustrated by 1996 Caldecott Honor Winner Marjorie Priceman, Dancin' in the Kitchen, was published in 1998 by G.P. Putnam's Sons.