Punk Farm Nursery!

The greatest thing about being a published author over these past several years? Seeing my readers grow up. That ten-year-old girl on the left? She had a nursery themed after Punk Farm when she was a baby. (Yes, THAT Punk Farm nursery!) At the LA Times Festival of Books today, she brought a Platypus Police Squad book to be signed and her brother had a Jedi Academy book. It is always so nice to see the Sabi family, no matter what city they catch me in!

And for cultural reference, here is my blog post about seeing the Punk Farm nursery via MySpace: http://thejjkblog.blogspot.com/2007/02/punk-farm-themed-kids-room.html?m=1

LA Times Festival of Books

I was only in Los Angeles for a few hours for the LA Times Festival Of Books, but I managed to cram in some time with several author pals. How many of their books have you read?

James Burks, A.S. King and I defaced our author photos at the Once Upon A Time bookstore booth. 

With Cecil Castellucci, Ben Acker and Ben Blacker at the Star Wars panel! 

Salina Yoon signed a book for my kiddos!

Mr. Matt Phelan!

 

Jacqueline Woodson!

Fancy (Nancy) Robin Preiss Glasser! 

Wonderful School Visits

It's not every day that I get to speak to students in grades Kindergarten all the way through twelve. But man, I love these kinds of days! Thank you North Manchester, Indiana, for a great visit.

My visit to Pierceton Elementary was like walking into a real-life Pinterest board! So many creative little details. Thank you to the library and media team in the Learning Commons for making this happen!

Sharing these photos with a disclaimer:
Now remember, if you are hosting an author visit, all that is ever hoped for is ENTHUSIASM—so don't start sweating it if you're thinking you need to come up with such a display.

School Lunch Hero Day!

Check out this creative thank you card!

School Lunch Hero Day is on May 5th this year. Consider making some fun art projects for your school's lunch team!

Article in Boston Globe

Honored and tickled to be included in one of the illustrations accompanying the Boston Globe article on authors and illustrators living in Western Massachusetts.

Art by David Leonard

http://www.bostonglobe.com/magazine/2017/04/05/how-western-mass-became-kids-lit-central/8Mb4D8IGqEEkk6Lpc0bWxN/story.html?event=event25

Fun Fact: When I was living in Boston and starting my book career, I would take part in focus groups to make extra cash. Sometime in the early 2000s, I participated in a focus group for the rebranding of the Globe Magazine. I was excited to get the print edition this week to check out this great article.

Library of Congress Panel

What an incredibly INSPIRING afternoon at The Library of Congress chatting with Laurie Halse Anderson, Barry Lyga, Kekla Magoon & Meg Medina about the role children's literature can have in helping kids through some tough times. This panel was recorded and will be online at some point in the coming months.

It'll be a conversation you won't want to miss.

That Laurie Halse Anderson. What a gift to children's literature and the world in general.

A Visit to NPR

Ran into this Guy at NPR today. (See what I did there? I bet he's never heard that one before.)
In case you didn't guess, this is Guy Raz from the TED Radio Hour!

As I was leaving the NPR offices today, I passed by this gentle soul. I said, "Scott Simon?! I'm Jarrett Krosoczka. Thanks for mentioning the Lunch Lady books on air last year." He asked if we could take a photo for his kids. I asked if we could take a photo for ME!

School Visit

I got to meet the coolest kids down in South Carolina!

Photo by Valerie Byrd Fort.