In graphic novel adaptation of @chrisgrab.bsky.social's MR. LEMONCELLO'S LIBRARY OLYMPICS w/art by @douglasholgate.bsky.social, teams race to solve puzzles in the Library Olympics, but there's more than fun & games. Timely & kid-accessible tale w/messages about library joy & freedom to read. #MGLit

😂😂😂 this was a hoot! #SleuthsOnTheLoose by @gtkarber.bsky.social & @chrisgrab.bsky.social will perk up anyone's weekend! Fast Paced Adventure? ✔️ Kidnapped teacher? ✔️ Mystery to solve? ✔️ Bully to vanquish? ✔️ Sinister School Shenanigans? ✔️ Totally Fantastic 😄 Thanks @youthlibrarygroup.bsky.social

#kidlit #EduSky #Tlsky #T2T “The outdoors smelled like cotton candy mixed with the fresh scent of pillowcases dried on a clothesline. It was clearly fluffle-picking time” - a warm hearted and humorous tale by award winning author, @chrisgrab.bsky.social‬ Listen or read: tinyurl.com/Ffluffle

Happy Book Birthday to The Great Mouse Escape #booksky

Donald Trump does NOT want you to share this footage of his pathetically tiny birthday parade crowd.

Please share this everywhere. This is shameful.

We've uncovered the perfect summer reading combo: the new Murdle Jr. Puzzle book READY, SET, SOLVE + SLEUTHS ON THE LOOSE, which is a puzzle inside a story inside a fast and fun read. www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/g-t-k... @littlebrownyr.bsky.social @gtkarber.bsky.social #summerreading #kidlit

So happy for @katemessner.com! Her new middle grade novel, THE TROUBLE WITH HEROES, is an instant National Indie bestseller, a @usatoday.com bestseller, and a New York Times bestseller, debuting at number three on The New York Times list. Congratulations, Kate!!

15 years ago, ONE CRAZY SUMMER, the historical fiction novel by Rita Williams-Garcia won a Newbery Honor and the Coretta Scott King Award. This week, the graphic novel version of the middle grade classic arrives. The brilliant art is by @coilyandcute.bsky.social, creator of the CURLFRIENDS.

I love, love, love the UK cover for SLEUTHS ON THE LOOSE. @littlebrownyr.bsky.social @gtkarber.bsky.social #GTKarber #sleuthsontheloose #murdlejr #kidlit You can pre-order the American version here: www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/g-t-k...

J.J. and I had fun playing Guest Booksellers at BOOKS OF WONDER as they celebrate Independent Bookstore Day! @booksofwonder.bsky.social #IndependentBookstoreDay @indiebound.bsky.social

Happy Book Birthday to STINKY'S STORIES #3: THE THREE SMELLY GOATS GRUFF. On sale today! Reading has never been so much stinkin' fun! chrisgrabenstein.com/books/stinky... @harperkids.bsky.social #readingspecialist #readingfun

Yesterday, J.J. and I did one of our favorite annual virtual visits with the third graders at Lakewood Elementary in Overland Park, KS. After our SHINE! presentation, we announced the winners of the school's Excelsior Award, modeled after the one in the book! @randomhousekids.bsky.social #kidlit

Yesterday, Stinky recorded video clips for school visits promoting STINKY'S STORIES #3: THE THREE SMELLY GOATS GRUFF. He baked Troll House cookies with a recipe from Boogerhead, the troll in our stinkified version of the story. @harperkids.bsky.social #readingisfun #readingspecialist #kidlit

So...this is where I'll be presenting on Monday to 3,300 third graders. All at once. The Clarksville, TN Kiwanis Club is giving all the kiddos a copy of Escape From Mr. Lemoncello's Library! And I get to hang with my little brother Dr. Bill! @randomhousekids.bsky.social #authorvisit #kidlit

We had an extra audience member for yesterday's virtual visit with a school in Illinois that had done a OBOS with EFMLL. As you can tell, Zoey was fascinated with the peek inside Mr. Lemoncello's Library. @randomhousekids.bsky.social #authorvisit #kidlit #virtualauthorvisit

Wondering how to become a first reader of MURDLE JR: SLEUTHS ON THE LOOSE? Logical deduction: enter the Goodreads giveaway running from 2/21/25 – 3/23/25. Copy and paste the link: www.goodreads.com/.../406696-m.... @littlebrownyr.bsky.social #kidlit #bookgiveaway #goodreads

J.J. and I had a lot of fun recording STINKY'S STORIES #3: THE THREE SMELLY GOATS GRUFF. J.J. is Stinky (tho she is not stinky). I am the Troll. His name is Boogerhead. The audiobook is available March 18th! @harperkids.bsky.social #kidlit #earlyreaders #readingspecialist #funbooksforkids

Thrilled to learn that NO IS ALL I KNOW with art by the incredible Leo Espinosa @studioespinosa.bsky.social just won the 2024 Building Block Picture Book Award in Missouri! @randomhousekids.bsky.social

Presenting the spectaculomous cover for MR. LEMONCELLO'S LIBRARY OLYMPICS: THE GRAPHIC NOVEL. Someone's removing books from the library?!? Mr. Lemoncello is on quest for true champions! Available 10-14-25. @randomhousekids.bsky.social #kidlit #mrlemoncello #graphicnovels #librarylove

In honor of Super Bowl Sunday, here's the only commercial I was ever connected with to run on the Big Game (well, the pregame show). It was for 7-Up. I was the EVP/GCD. Chuck Bromley and Ritchie Goldstein were the creative team. Orlando Jones and Buster were the stars.

COVER REVEAL! Can two brothers get along long enough to win Ms. Pennypickle's one million dollar prize??? It's a mad, puzzle-packed dash from Chicagoland to L.A. along Old Route 66. On sale 10-14-25! Random House Children's Books @randomhousekids.bsky.social #CoverReveal #kidlit

The kids at St. Michael's Academy in Fernandina Beach, FL serenaded me with "God Bless My Underwear" from Stinky's Stories #1 THE BOY WHO CRIED UNDERPANTS. I love it when kids are having fun reading! @harperkids.bsky.social #kidlit #EarlyReading #earlyreaders

Tis the season for 25% off pre-orders at Barnes & Noble. Use the code and save 25%. TODAY IS THE LAST DAY FOR THIS DEAL. @harperkids.bsky.social @barnesandnoble.com #stinkysstories #kidlit #earlyreaders #EarlyReading #funnybooksforkids www.barnesandnoble.com/w/stinkys-st...

I stopped by the Story and Song bookstore on Amelia Island here in Florida (okay, it's really close to Georgia). Getting ready for tomorrow's school visit! @randomhousekids.bsky.social @harperkids.bsky.social #kidlit #authorvisit #indiebookstore

BEHOLD ✨Pre-order sale for members at Barnes and Nobles!! Save 25% www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-great-...

J.J. and I signed about thirty copies of our first co-authored book SHINE! for a school group at Books Of Wonder today. If you want signed copies of any Grabenstein title, just let our friendly neighborhood Indie bookstore know! @randomhousekids.bsky.social @booksofwonder.bsky.social #kidlit

At Stratfield Elementary, I spent an hour with the entire school, K-5, talking about everything from picture books to early reader chapter books to MR. LEMONCELLO books. And then we made up a new story right on the spot! @randomhousekids.bsky.social @harperkids.bsky.social #authorvisit

After last night's unfortunate scissor incident, I am now on the author two day disabled list.

7 Books for Kids Who Love Puzzles

REVIEW OF THE WEEK! I FUNNY, co-authored with James Patterson IN 2012 was my first #1 NYT Bestseller. This review from last week meant a lot because, yes, I used humor to battle bullies when I was in middle school. So glad Jamie was able to help this reader all those years ago. #kidlit

3rd-5th had an amazing author visit with @chrisgrab.bsky.social back in November! #TLSky

J.J. and I went to John Marshall Media today to record all the voices for STINKY'S STORIES #3: THE THREE SMELLY GOATS GRUFF. It will be available for downloading on pub day – March 18, 2025. J.J. is brilliant. I do the goofier voices. @harperkids.bsky.social #audiobook #kidlit

Mad magazine used to have cartoon series called The Shadow Knows where the shadow told a different story than the illuminated scene. Thanks to the winter light in Central Park, may I present "Darth Vader Walks His Dog."

Something else happening in the new year: the 20th anniversary of my first published book, TILT A WHIRL – a murder mystery for adults that takes place down the Jersey Shore. It won the Anthony Award for Best First Mystery in 2006.

Doing my bit to make 2025 a good year for fun books!

Art from this year Lucky Duck by Chris Kurtz Fight Bunny by Nate Cosby The Great Mouse Escape by James Patterson and Chris Grabenstein Heavily illustrated interior for the Great Mouse Escape, Graphic novel for Fight bunny, and quarter page/spot interiors of animals for Lucky Duck.

We're pleased to report that, just before Christmas, Zoey graduated from her Adolescent Dog Training class. She can now "sit" and "stay" with the best of 'em. (We're still working on "don't bark at dogs in TV shows and movies.")

It's a snow globe Christmas Eve morning here in NYC! Looks like just enough rooftop powder for successful sleigh landings this evening.

Zoey is sharing deep thoughts with her indestructible (we shall see) Chrismakuh Ducky from Aunt Ronna!

My friends at Penguin Random House just sent me the best holiday gift – a leather bound copy of MR. LEMONCELLO'S FANTABULOUS FINALE. What a wonderful way to celebrate the final chapter in the Lemoncello saga! Thank you!!! @randomhousekids.bsky.social @penguinrandomhouse.bsky.social

Clarence Thomas Torn Over Case Where Both Sides Offer Compelling Scuba Trips theonion.com/clarence-tho...

Because every sock needs something stinky inside it... @harperkids.bsky.social

And now, a last minute holiday gift idea. The Lemoncello Greatest Box Set on Earth and the Fantabulous Finale. Add a pair of bows and you're done! @randomhousekids.bsky.social

J.J. (Detroit) and I (Buffalo) were watching our home towns play football when Zoey alerted us to danger lurking in the shadows. A bulldog. On a purse. Thank goodness she is here to protect us!

There's an evergreen tree hidden in Central Park's Ramble where beloved pets are remembered every holiday season. It's a little hard to find but worth the trek!

Zoey would like to thank the Pixelmator Pro graphics software app. Thanks to it, she doesn't actually have to wear goofy hats every holiday season.