Marilyn's Monster Book Party TODAY, April 18!

Can't wait for today's MARILYN'S MONSTER PARTY at WORD Brooklyn! Marilyn's Monster is my new picture book, illustrated by the amazing Matt Phelan. It looks like this:

And do you know what else will be at the party? CUPCAKES. Also, MONSTERS!

So if you're in the NYC area, I hope you'll come by! Hear a story, get a signed book if you like, eat some cupcakes, color and do fun kid-friendly activities, and take home a free mini-monster of your very own! My other books will also be available for signing if you want to stock up! :)

It's Pub Day for Marilyn's Monster!

Know what is super exciting? When a book you've been working on for a long time is finally released into the world. And today is the day that happens for my new picture book Marilyn's Monster! It has beautiful, beautiful illustrations by the amazing and wonderful Matt Phelan. Here is the cover so you can begin to see what I mean:

And here is what reviews have been saying so far:

"Rich with feeling, it’s a warm, gently funny reminder to chase down one’s dreams, rather than waiting for them to appear on the doorstep." —Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)

"A surprising spin on monsters with nicely effective artwork—and heart." —Kirkus

"Knudsen’s charming story is a great fit for Phelan’s gentle watercolor-and-pencil illustrations. With just a few lines and brushstrokes, he depicts the wide range of Marilyn’s emotions, from wary hopefulness to sullen grumpiness to, finally, utter joy. The whimsical, friendly monsters are equally expressive, and their supernatural antics in the background will tickle funny bones. Little ones feeling lonely or worried about making friends will be empowered by Marilyn’s determined, take-charge attitude." —Booklist

"Knudsen’s brilliantly simple narrative and Phelan’s whimsical pencil and watercolor drawings speak to the universal need for belonging and the anxiety born of impatience ... Every one of Phelan’s monsters is wonderfully weird, and readers will have fun noting similarities between them and their human friends." —School Library Journal

"A charmer ... Ms. Knudsen has packed a surprising amount of relatable emotion into this story of humility and derring-do." —Wall Street Journal

Also, it is a Junior Library Guild selection!

You can read and/or download a fun Q&A with Matt and me on the Candlewick Press website. 

And you can see some of Matt's early sketches for the book on his blog.

Finally, see yesterday's post for how you can get a signed copy! It's too late to pre-order (now that the book is out, you'll just be, you know, regular ordering, but that is also good!) but you can still order a signed/personalized copy from Word Brooklyn, and/or you can come to the launch party at Children's Book World on March 14 to meet Matt and me and have cake and stuff!

LAST CHANCE TO PRE-ORDER MARILYN'S MONSTER!

Hey, look, it's my blog! I had sort of misplaced it for a while. But thankfully I'm back just in time to tell you that TONIGHT IS YOUR LAST CHANCE TO PRE-ORDER MY NEW BOOK BECAUSE IT COMES OUT ***TOMORROW***!!!

What book, you ask? I will tell you! It's my new picture book MARILYN'S MONSTER, illustrated by the incomparable Matt Phelan! Look at the beautiful cover! But then keep reading for important info below.

1. You can pre-order a signed copy NOW from WORD in Brooklyn, NY. If you pre-order by March 9, they'll send the book out to you on or just after release day (or if you live nearby, you can stop in and pick it up). Place your order here, and be sure to specify either the name of the person(s) to whom you'd like the book inscribed or "signature only" in the comments field.

2. If you live near Haverford, PA, you can come to the MARILYN'S MONSTER LAUNCH PARTY! The wonderful Children's Book World is throwing us a celebration, and Matt and I would love for you to come. Signed books, fun activities, and CAKE! Here is the info:

Saturday, March 14th, 1:00pm
Matt Phelan & Michelle Knudsen
Launch Party for Marilyn’s Monster
17 Haverford Station Rd., Haverford, PA 19041
610.642.6274

You can, of course, order the book from anywhere you like, but you can only get signed books in the ways listed above. And even if you don't want a signed book, I still encourage you to support independent bookstores! You probably have an awesome indie bookstore right there in your very own town. And if not, pick one in some other town and they will ship books out to you. 

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.

BIG MEAN MIKE!

Hooray! It's pub day for my new picture book Big Mean Mike!

I'm so excited for this story to be out in the world at last. And so grateful to illustrator Scott Magoon for his absolutely perfect amazing wonderful fabulous artwork! I would try to describe it here for you, but there is no way I could do it justice. You must see it. MUST. Because Mike is awesome. And the bunnies. OMG THE BUNNIES. That is all I will say at this time.

I'll be having a book party for Big Mean Mike next month, on September 15, at WORD in Brooklyn. I would love to see as many people there as possible! More details to come. For now, please help me celebrate the official release with good thoughts and best wishes for Mike and his friends. Purchases of multiple copies of the book from your local independent bookstore are also a great way to celebrate! ;)

BIG MEAN MIKE pre-order drive and book party!

For a limited time only, pre-order a signed, personalized copy of my new picture book, BIG MEAN MIKE!

Between now and August 7, you can pre-order my new book from WORD in Brooklyn, and I will sign it, and they will either:

• send it to you the week of the book’s release on August 14!

or

• hold it for you to pick up in person at the BIG MEAN MIKE BOOK PARTY on September 15!

Some important things:

1. You only have about a week to place your order! Only orders received by August 7 will be able to be signed and personalized in time for mailing.
2. If you want the book personalized (e.g., “For Margaret” or “Happy birthday, Uncle Len!”), just let us know in the comments field when you order.
3. If you’d like to pick up your pre-ordered copy in person at the BIG MEAN MIKE BOOK PARTY on September 15 instead of having it shipped to you the week of August 14, please mention that in the comments field, too.
4. Feel free to order some of my other books at the same time! :)

Here is a handy link for ordering:  http://www.wordbrooklyn.com/michelle-knudsen

More information on the book party to come soon, but I can tell you that it will be at WORD in Greenpoint, Brooklyn on Saturday, September 15, from 4–6pm, and also that it will be very fun and if you live in the NYC area, you should come! Children are welcome and encouraged. Some of my other books (Library Lion, Argus, The Dragon of Trelian, The Princess of Trelian) will also be available for purchase/signing at the party.

Stay tuned for more info. In the meantime, feel free to post questions below or email me through my website.

We Believe in Picture Books!

Get ready for a year-long celebration of picture books with Candlewick's wonderful collection of videos featuring authors, illustrators, publishing professionals, readers, teachers, librarians, and more! This trailer gives a taste of what's to come. 

My editor Sarah and I recorded a we-believe-in-picture-books video at BEA, which will be among those shown during the celebration at some point. :)  

BIG MEAN MIKE!

Look! It is the awesome, awesome cover to my forthcoming picture book, BIG MEAN MIKE, illustrated by the wonderful and amazing Scott Magoon:

The good news is that Scott Magoon is, as previously stated, wonderful and amazing, and the illustrations throughout are SO GOOD I CANNOT EVEN TELL YOU. The slightly-less-good news is that you have to wait until August 14 to get this book. BUT! There will possibly be an opportunity to pre-order a signed copy (stay tuned), and some of you will get to see MIKE sooner at BEA, if you come to my signing on June 6.

In the meantime, you should be reading The Princess of Trelian.

Boulevard Books & Cafe, This Weekend!

Come see me at Boulevard Books & Cafe this Saturday, January 28! (This is a rescheduling of last week's event, which was postponed due to the snow.)

I'll be reading Argus and Library Lion, signing books (both picture books plus The Dragon of Trelian), and there will also be fun activities for kids!

NEW DATE: Saturday, January 28, 2012
11:00am
Boulevard Books & Cafe LLC
7518 13th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11228-2410

Facebook invite: http://www.facebook.com/events/179336918832486/
(RSVP not required, but it would be great to know if you're coming!)

Boulevard Books & Cafe Event Postponed

Hi guys - just a quick note to say that my event today at Boulevard Books & Cafe has been postponed due to the snowy weather. It's now next Saturday, January 28. Would love to see you there!

Reading (Argus and Library Lion), book signing (both picture books plus The Dragon of Trelian), and fun activities (coloring! clay! eggs! dragons! yay!)

NEW DATE: Saturday, January 28, 2012

11:00am
Boulevard Books & Cafe LLC

7518 13th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11228-2410

Why Picture Books Are Important

My post is up today at http://picturebookmonth.com!


You can read why I think picture books are important here. And if you haven't already, go back and read earlier posts by the other authors and illustrators who have been singing the praises of picture books all month long!

Make November Picture Book Month!

Celebrate picture books every day this month at http://picturebookmonth.com!

Picture Book Month is an international initiative to designate November as Picture Book Month, encouraging everyone to celebrate literacy with picture books. Founder, Dianne de Las Casas (author & storyteller), and Co-Founders, Katie Davis (author/illustrator), Elizabeth O. Dulemba (author/illustrator) , Tara Lazar (author), and Wendy Martin (author/illustrator), are putting together their worldwide connections to make this happen.

Each day, you can see a new post by an author, illustrator, or editor about why picture books are important. Mine will be up on November 23! The site also includes great information and resources about picture books, authors and illustrators, literacy, industry news, kidlit bloggers, and more.

Click here to learn how you can help celebrate picture book month!

Three Weekends of Reading and Signing

This Saturday, November 1, at 1 p.m., I'll be reading and signing Library Lion at Best Bargain Books in Centereach, NY (WalMart Shopping Center, 217 Middle Country Road). Please come by and say hello!

The following weekend, I'll be reading and signing at the Rochester Children's Book Festival on Saturday, November 8. If you're in the area, this is a GREAT event with lots of authors (more than 40!) and fun activities and wonderful people. I've been going to this festival for about five years now, and it's one of my favorite annual events, both because of the author friends I get to see while I am there and because of all the great kids, parents, teachers, librarians, and other folks who come out for it every year.

The weekend after that, I'll be presenting and signing at the Savannah Children's Book Festival on Saturday, November 15. This is another fabulous event with multiple authors, including Marc Brown, Katie Davis, Charles Ghigna, and Mo Willems! Plus, it's in Savannah, where you can get delicious Chick-fil-A and pralines (yum!).

Somehow, in between all of these events I will be keeping up with my reading and writing for school, going over the pages of The Dragon of Trelian ("pages" are when the publisher sends the text all laid out in pages for the first time, in the same typeface and everything that will be in the book, and it's my last chance to make any significant changes), and finally really getting to work on a sequel to TDoT, which so far is just some vague ideas and a page or two of notes.

And sometime soon I will need to work on editorial revisions to my upcoming picture book ARGUS (no pub date yet, but we're looking at 2011 at the earliest, sigh) and hopefully one of the other picture book manuscripts I'm working on will come together into something my editor will want to publish. There are three or four I'm actively working on right now; I will give them some code names for further discussion, because that's fun and will let me avoid having to talk about their actual prospective titles or what they are about:

Picture Books Currently in the Running:

1. Codename "Secret" (has been through multiple drafts, still trying to find the right approach)
   
2. Codename "Baker" (first draft completed; will be included in my next packet for school so I can get some feedback from my MFA advisor)
   
3. Codename "Two" (latest draft currently with my agent for her thoughts)
   
4. Codename "Mike" (revised version currently with my editor)
   
5. Codename "Frank" (first draft in progress)
   

Okay, the fifth one is currently only one sentence long and so obviously has quite a ways to go, but it's a good sentence, and I'm kind of excited about it, so I'm still going to consider it as being in the running.

But speaking of writing...I should get to work. Blogging doesn't really count, I guess.