Dasher

I'm excited to share the cover of my next book, Dasher! I answered a few questions about it on the Mile High Reading blog.

Dasher comes out on September 10, but for now it's available from pre-order from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or an independent bookstore near you. 

20 years ago today...

Twenty years ago today, on February 13, 1998, I walked into the Candlewick Press office for the very first time. That was the day I found out that Candlewick wanted to publish my first book. That was the day my dream of being a children's book author-illustrator came true.

There were a few milestones in the months leading up to February 13, 1998. There was the day I met my agent, Rosemary Stimola, in June of 1997. And the day when Rosemary emailed me in early February saying that "something was happening" with Candlewick, but she "still had a bit to go".  But twenty years later, I think of that meeting at Candlewick on February 13, 1998, as the day my career as an author-illustrator began.

It's been a pretty amazing twenty years. Of course, there have been ups and downs. It hasn't always been perfect. Not every book is a hit. Not every review is a star. But for the most part, it has been a dream. I get to spend my days making books and sharing them with young readers. Even after twenty years, I still can't believe I get to do this.

So I just wanted to say a great big THANK YOU to all the great people at Candlewick who I've had the pleasure of working with during these past twenty years. The 42-year-old me is eternally grateful that you took a chance on the 22-year-old me.

Twenty years is a long time, but I still feel like I'm just getting started. So here's to the next twenty!

And hey, look at all these books we made together!

Zachary's Ball, 2000

'Twas the Night Before Christmas, 2002

Oliver's Game, 2004

Mudball, 2005

Jack and the Beanstalk, 2006

Iron Hans, 2007

Lady Liberty: A Biography, 2008

The Gingerbread Pirates, 2009

Henry Aaron's Dream, 2010

Over the River and Through the Wood, 2011

There Goes Ted Williams, 2012

Becoming Babe Ruth, 2013

Jubilee, 2014

Growing Up Pedro, 2015

Crossing Niagara, 2016

Lighter Than Air, 2017

Red & Lulu, 2017

I won't ramble on any longer, because I'm busy working on my next Candlewick book RIGHT NOW!

Thank you

I love seeing that people are still reading Red & Lulu, even after the holiday season is over. I've heard from so many teachers, librarians, parents and kids who have enjoyed the book, and every time it makes my day.

Thank you to everyone who has helped this book soar.

2017 SIBA holiday catalog cover

Check out the cover of the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance's 2017 holiday catalog cover, featuring artwork from Red & Lulu. Such an honor to know that nearly a million customers across the southern United States will see/have seen this. Thanks, SIBA!

Indiebound National Bestseller List, 12/13/17

Red & Lulu made the Indiebound National Bestseller List for the 3rd consecutive week! It's at #6 this week, right between Chelsea Clinton and Goodnight Moon. Awesome. What a fun ride this has been.

Red & Lulu hits #5 on the Indiebound National Bestseller List!

Wow. Number FIVE! This is really exciting. It's such an honor to see my book on this list.

Thank you, independent bookstores!

Where to find signed copies of Red & Lulu...

Now that December is here and the holiday season is in full swing, I've been getting lots of messages lately from people looking for signed copies of Red & Lulu. Here are a few easy ways for people to find signed copies...

My friends at G. Willikers in Portsmouth, NH always have plenty of signed copies of my books, including Red & Lulu. You can order online or give them a call at (603) 436-7746, and they'll send the book to you. Or if you're near Portsmouth, stop in and visit their awesome store!

You can also find signed copies at Animal Instinct in Ogunquit, Maine. Whenever they get a new batch of books in, I walk over there and sign them. Give them a call at (207) 646-7728.

Another way to get signed books (if you can't come to one of my signings) is to pre-order from one of the stores or museums I'll be visiting between now and Christmas. Here's where I'll be:

Dec 3 Books of Wonder, both locations, New York, NY,  (212) 989-3270
Dec 7 4:00-6:00 pm, The Wenham Museum in Wenham, MA, (978) 468-2377
Dec 9 6:00 pm, The Odyssey Bookshop in South Hadley, MA, (413) 534-7307
Dec 10 2:00 pm, The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, MA, (413) 559-6300

And of course, if you can make it to any of my signings, that would be awesome! Visit my events page for details and full list of events.

Thanks, and happy holidays!