Here's a bit of hope. We have received an offer to publish DOGTOWN in the Ukraine. Makes me cry every time I think about it. @mackidsbooks.bsky.social @kaaauthor.bsky.social

"I love my mom and she loves me. But everything she does gets me in trouble. What happens when you love someone like that?" Thank you to everyone who has shared Hank and Boo's with a kid who needs it.

My dad worked at Walt Disney Studios his entire career. His whole life, he dreamed of having his book published. After he died, my brother was determined to make Dad’s dream come true. 38 years after his death, Dad's book was published. buff.ly/YU1v8lD

"Your heart is a muscle. It grows stronger the more you use it." 🐶💙 #Dogtown @kaaauthor @MacKidsBooks #mglit

#WritingTip: Say yes, and... If you encourage your muse, she will hand you more ideas. If you belittle and disparage your own ideas, your muse will go on strike. So say yes, and...

Nothing compares to letters from kids who connected with Hank's story. Thank you for reading, L, and thank you so much for writing to me.

“My goal in speaking is to get kids’ brains firing with new ideas. I want them raising their hands. I want them asking questions.” I'd love to connect with your readers through a virtual school visit! I’m proud to be represented by @theauthorvillage.bsky.social. buff.ly/U8xKPrW

Thank you so much to Yeawon Kim, the translator of the Korean edition of THE TENTH MISTAKE OF HANK HOOPERMAN. Here is a photo she sent me of the book in Kyobo Bookstore. I love it.

A big thank you to @penguinrandomhouse.bsky.social for featuring THE TENTH MISTAKE OF HANK HOOPERMAN in your "Recommended Reads"! buff.ly/uTqokiA #mglit

I had a wonderful time at @childrensbookworld.bsky.social last weekend! Parker and Josiah, thank you so much for interviewing me. I loved talking with you! And thank you to Gail Kim for presenting me with the Judy Lopez Memorial Award for THE TENTH MISTAKE OF HANK HOOPERMAN. I am verklempt.

When I was fourteen, I had a poster-size picture of a horse's muzzle on my wall. I guess I haven't changed much.

How adorable is the Japanese translation of Dogtown? 🐶 I love it! Illustrations by Setsusa Chiaki. Thank you to the publisher, kaiseisha_pr on Instagram, for the photos. @kaaauthor.bsky.social @mackidsbooks.bsky.social #mglit

It's #IndigenousPeoplesDay! One way to celebrate and educate ourselves is with a new book by an Indigenous author, from an Indigenous-owned bookstore. Here is a helpful directory of bookstores from @libro.fm:

Tomorrow, I can't wait to meet you at @childrensbookworld.bsky.social in Los Angeles! I'll talk about THE TENTH MISTAKE OF HANK HOOPERMAN and the Dogtown series I write with @kaaauthor.bsky.social, answer your questions, and sign books. See you there! buff.ly/tKkGrzz #mglit

Teachers and parents, if you shop on Amazon, you can find the hardcover editions of my #Dogtown books with @choldenko.bsky.social on sale for a very limited time. ❤️🐶 Check out the deal here: www.amazon.com/dp/B0CTVHCM8... @mackidsbooks.bsky.social

In 2024, @amlibraryassoc.bsky.social documented 821 attempts to censor materials and services at libraries, schools, and universities. 2,452 unique titles were challenged or banned. Here are the Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2024: buff.ly/6IwQV2V #BannedBooksWeek

I had a wonderful time with @kaaauthor.bsky.social at Kepler's Books last month, celebrating her fabulous #mglit book, POCKET BEAR! It was also the anniversary of book 2 in our Dogtown series, MOUSE AND HIS DOG, which is now out in paperback. Thanks to everyone who joined us. I loved meeting you.

Today kicks off #BannedBooksWeek 2025! This year's theme is: “Censorship Is So 1984. Read for Your Rights.” Check out @uabookbans.bsky.social for resources and guides to defending books from censorship! Here's to supporting the freedom to read this week and every day. buff.ly/px8tVpv

Next weekend, I'll be at @childrensbookworld.bsky.social in Los Angeles! I'll talk about THE TENTH MISTAKE OF HANK HOOPERMAN and the Dogtown series I write with @kaaauthor.bsky.social, answer your questions, and sign books. Would love to see you there! buff.ly/tKkGrzz #mglit

This Saturday, October 4, I'm honored to appear in a virtual event celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Judy Lopez Memorial Award alongside all of the 2025 winning authors, Ali Terese, Ann Clare LeZotte, and Aida Salazar! 🌟 Register free now to join us: buff.ly/Kh2gz6f

I can't wait to visit @childrensbookworld.bsky.social in Los Angeles to talk about THE TENTH MISTAKE OF HANK HOOPERMAN! I would love to see you there, readers. buff.ly/tKkGrzz #mglit

What a joy to sit down with two fellow 2025 Judy Lopez Award winners, Ali Terese (Free Period) and Aida Salazar (Ultraviolet) for a wonderful discussion moderated by Brein Lopez of Children’s Book World! It's an honor to be on this list with so many of my all-time favorites. #JudyLopezAward2025

I am honored that THE TENTH MISTAKE OF HANK HOOPERMAN has been awarded the Northern California Book Award for Middle Grade, alongside THE WRONG WAY HOME by @kloshaughnessy.bsky.social. Thank you to the Northern California Book Reviewers Association, and congratulations to each finalist and awardee!

I LOVE this quote. "If we didn't have libraries, many people thirsty for knowledge would dehydrate." - Megan Jo, age 12

Today at 5:00pm PT, join me and the one and only @kaaauthor.bsky.social at Kepler's Books to celebrate her beautiful new #mglit novel, POCKET BEAR! ⭐ Today is also the anniversary of Book 2 in our Dogtown series. 🥳 Can't wait to see you! buff.ly/n9EQCbP @mackidsbooks.bsky.social

If you plan to read THE TENTH MISTAKE OF HANK HOOPERMAN with your class, this Educators’ Guide may be helpful! It's free on my website. Teachers and librarians, thank you so much for sharing my books with your readers. buff.ly/54oxcpc @randomhousekids.bsky.social

Next week, I can't wait to join my friend @kaaauthor.bsky.social on her book tour to celebrate her new #mglit novel, POCKET BEAR! ⭐ Join us 9/17 at Kepler's Books in Menlo Park. It's also the anniversary of Book 2 in our Dogtown series! Would love to see you there. buff.ly/n9EQCbP

Every dog deserves a forever home. Even the 'unadoptables.' ❤️🐶💕 Art by Wallace West from DOGTOWN and MOUSE & HIS DOG ✏️ @kaaauthor.bsky.social @choldenko.bsky.social #MouseandhisDog #MouseandhisDogBook #KatherineApplegate #GenniferCholdenko

Happy pub day to POCKET BEAR by my dear friend, @kaaauthor.bsky.social! ⭐ I'm delighted to join her 9/17 at Kepler's Books in Menlo Park. Not only will we celebrate POCKET BEAR, but it's also the anniversary of Book 2 in our Dogtown series. I'd love to see you! buff.ly/n9EQCbP

Wow. MOUSE AND HIS DOG is out in paperback today! If you haven't read Book 2 in the Dogtown series yet, I hope you get to soon! @kaaauthor.bsky.social and I are working on Book 3 right now... buff.ly/ec8oUry @mackidsbooks.bsky.social

There is nothing better than receiving a beautiful letter from a librarian about your book. Thank you, Patricia. ❤️ "We have a few students in our school who are going through tough times just like Hank. Thank you for helping me to have more empathy, patience, and compassion."

My #mglit book ORPHAN ELEVEN was partially inspired by a terrible study on stuttering that was conducted on orphans in 1939. #OnThisDay, September 4, the real kids in the "Monster Study" won their court case. @randomhousekids.bsky.social

Love to see the Turkish editions of DOGTOWN and MOUSE AND HIS DOG! 🐶❤️ @kaaauthor.bsky.social Thanks to the publisher, dogancocukyayinlari on Instagram, for the photo

I'm honored to share that THE TENTH MISTAKE OF HANK HOOPERMAN has been nominated and shortlisted for the Northern California Book Award (NCBA) for Middle Grade, as one of the best works by a northern California author or translator published in 2024! Thank you to the NCBA. I am verklempt.

I want to extend a big thank you to the Perrot Library Young Critics' Club for naming THE TENTH MISTAKE OF HANK HOOPERMAN as your #1 Favorite Book of the Year! Hearing that young readers love Hank and Boo's story? That's about as good as it gets. buff.ly/zgDlUQ8

On this #InternationalDogDay, I want to thank my writing buddy, Shea. She may kick me off the couch when I'm trying to write, but she always knows when it's time for a scenic walk to clear my head. Will you share a picture of your dog with me?

Today I'm sharing my seventh and last #WritingTip for collaborations: Enjoy the process! Collaborating with @kaaauthor.bsky.social on our Dogtown #mglit series has blown the top of my head right off. ❤️ Now I want to know... What are YOUR writing tips, #WritingCommunity? @mackidsbooks.bsky.social

Educators, I hope you have had relaxing, restful summer vacations! As we head into the school year, I wanted to share the resources page on my website. There are teaching guides, discussion questions, and more for many of my books! 📚 buff.ly/pTS2pJW

My sixth #WritingTip for collaborations is: Be wrong. It can be hard to think that we could ever be wrong about our creative babies. But trust me, we can be. 💙 #mglit @kaaauthor.bsky.social @mackidsbooks.bsky.social

Happy #WorldElephantDay! 🐘 Elephants are my favorite animals. When I got to visit elephant sanctuaries in Thailand as part of the research for my last #mglit book, ORPHAN ELEVEN, I was overjoyed. It was the best trip of my life.

#OnThisDay in 1934, the federal penitentiary on @alcatrazisland.bsky.social opened. Today, I am thinking about the Flanagans from my #TalesFromAlcatraz series and all of their real-life counterparts. You can read some of my interviews here: buff.ly/5wV2xWT @penguinkids.bsky.social

Happy #BookLoversDay! ❤️ My mouth waters when I’m picking out my next read. Anybody else feel that way? Here's to bookmakers and booktalkers everywhere.

Today is my Dad's birthday. He was a Disney Legend honored for his work running Disney Music. Most days he read at least one book from start to finish. He died when I was 18, so he never knew that I would make my living as an author. I can't tell you how many times I've imagined telling him.

It's time for another #WritingTip for collaborations! My fifth tip is: Take advantage of weaknesses. They are an opportunity to learn from your writing partner. I know @kaaauthor.bsky.social and I have both learned a lot while writing the Dogtown books together. 💙 #mglit @mackidsbooks.bsky.social

✨Book giveaway!✨ Today is the 10-year anniversary of CHASING SECRETS, my #mglit novel about a deadly pandemic in San Francisco in 1900. 🐎🌉 To celebrate, I'm giving away 4 signed copies over on my Instagram page. See details here! buff.ly/jRbcFcI @randomhousekids.bsky.social

My fourth #WritingTip for collaborations is: Take advantage of your team's strengths. I look forward to sharing another writing tip with you next week! #mglit @kaaauthor.bsky.social @mackidsbooks.bsky.social

I loved receiving this letter from a reader. "I wanted to reach out to let you know how much your book Notes From a Liar and Her Dog meant to me as a young person. I probably read it over 15 years ago. It definitely shaped me as a person and I really identified with the main character Ant."

This year, THE TENTH MISTAKE OF HANK HOOPERMAN won the Judy Lopez Memorial Award. It's an honor to be in the company of some of my all-time favorite books, including: El Deafo, Wonder, Pax, The Night Diary, Esperanza Rising . . . Complete list here: buff.ly/Ls1K6VM

My third #WritingTip for collaborations is: Be patient. Working on the Dogtown series with my friend @kaaauthor.bsky.social has been one of my favorite writing experiences. I'll share another collaboration tip next week. #mglit @mackidsbooks.bsky.social

What are you reading now? What do you recommend? Just finished GATHER by Kenneth M. Cadow. Love, love, loved it. I'm in the middle of an arc for A WORLD WITHOUT SUMMER by Nicholas Day. Like his previous book, MONA LISA VANISHES, this one is terrific. . . but in a terrifying kind of way.