Big Mean Mike storytime in Montclair, NJ!

I'll be reading and signing Big Mean Mike at Watchung Booksellers TOMORROW (Saturday), March 16, at 10:30am!

I would love to see you there!

Brooklyn Museum Children's Book Fair TODAY!

Come to the Brooklyn Museum Children's Book Fair TODAY from 12-4pm!

Meet lots of Brooklyn authors and illustrators and get signed books! There will be stories and activities and other fun things for kids all day long. I'll be there signing BIG MEAN MIKE and other books — come by and say hello!

Rochester Children's Book Festival!

The wonderful Rochester Children's Book Festival is happening tomorrow, November 10, at Monroe Community College in Rochester, NY! I've been going to this festival for more than a decade and it is always super fun and awesome. It runs from 10am to 4pm, and there are readings and activities and fun all day long! Talk to some amazing authors and illustrators, get some signed books, pick up free goodies (mini monster trucks! bunny pens! temporary tattoos!) and lots, lots more!

The festival is free and open to the public, and features authors and illustrators of books for children, middle graders, and teens. Click the link above for more info. I hope to see you there!

Online auction to benefit Red Cross and those affected by Hurricane Sandy

Author Kate Messner has organized Kidlit Cares, an online auction to benefit the Red Cross and people affected by Hurricane Sandy. Auction items include school skype vists with authors, manuscript critiques by authors and agents, artist portfolio critiques, writing retreats, and much more. Please scroll through to see everything being offered (note that different items have different auction end dates), and please spread the word!

Click here to read more about Kidlit Cares and to access the full list of auction items.

Click here to bid on my contribution to the auction: a picture book manuscript critique. It's Auction #22, and the deadline is November 12!

Brooklyn Book Festival!

I'll be signing BIG MEAN MIKE at the Brooklyn Book Festival this Sunday, September 23, from 2-3pm. Come find me at WORD's booth (#151), get a signed book, and say hello!

Come to my party!

The official launch party for my new picture book, Big Mean Mike, is happening this Saturday, September 15! And you should come, because there will be books and snacks and cupcakes and mini monster trucks and other fun things. Here are all the deets:

Who: YOU and all your friends and your kids and your friends' kids (and your kids' friends, and their parents and cousins and aunts and uncles and grandparents)


What: BIG MEAN MIKE launch party and reading and book signing

When: Saturday, September 15, 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.

Where: WORD in Greenpoint, Brooklyn

Why: Because it will be a good time, and you will be supporting an awesome independent bookstore, (and also, you know, me), and you will hear a fun story, and you can even get some early holiday shopping done, because hey, who doesn't like a signed, personalized book? NO ONE. That's who.

I'll be reading the story around 4:30 p.m., and all the rest of the time there will food and drinks and fun things like coloring activities for the young people and the young-at-heart people and anyone else who likes to color.

Facebook RSVP encouraged, but not required. Did I mention CUPCAKES AND MINI MONSTER TRUCKS?

Also, bunny pens.

You know you want to come.

So, yay! I can't wait to see you there! :)

Sarah and Michelle discuss picture books

Look, I'm in a video!

My wonderful editor Sarah Ketchersid and I talk about our favorite parts of creating picture books in this short video, which was featured today as part of Candlewick's We Believe in Picture Books celebration! You can also see it right here:

I hope you like it, and I hope you visit ReadingStartsHere.com often, because Candlewick will be posting a new video every day through August 2013! Authors, illustrators, editors, librarians, readers, and other book-loving friends share favorite stories, reveal behind-the-scenes info, and talk about why picture books matter.