Megan McDonald

"Sometimes I think I am Judy Moody," says Megan McDonald, author of the wildly popular, award-winning JUDY MOODY books. "I'm certainly moody, like Judy. But she’s also an independent thinker, has a strong voice, and speaks up for herself."

Being able to speak up for herself wasn't always easy. The author grew up as the youngest of five sisters in Pittsburgh, PA. “With four older sisters, I couldn’t get a word in edgewise. I'm told I started to stutter. That’s when my mother gave me a notebook, and I first began writing everything down.”

Megan has since written over thirty picture books and novels for children, including Beetle McGrady Eats Bugs, Saving the Liberty Bell, and Stink: The Incredible Shrinking Kid. Many of her books are inspired by growing up with all those sisters. “I remember everything, whether it happened or not,” McDonald says, quoting Mark Twain.

The author now lives in northern California, but still thinks of herself as a Minnesotan. She spent a few wonderful years living in Minneapolis, working as a children’s librarian at the Minneapolis Public Library. “It’s where I wrote my first novel.” Megan still has family and friends in the Twin Cities, and jumps at any chance to visit, preferably “not in January.” “I’m a Californian now!”

The Sisters Club: Rule of Three
Candlewick, 2009
ages 9 to 12, ISBN 978-0763641535

Alex has always been the Actor-with-a-capital-A in the Reel family, and middle-sister Stevie has always been content behind the scenes. But when the school play turns out to be a musical, Stevie (the natural-born singer of the family), decides that she may just be tired of being the Sensible One. Maybe, for once, she’d like to be the one in the spotlight! Alex isn’t so keen on vying for the same role as her younger sister, however, and soon the dueling divas—with little sister Joey egging them on—are engaged in a fierce competition to find out who’s got what it takes to play the Princess. Has Stevie broken the rules by going for what she wants—or will it be Alex who hands down the biggest betrayal of all?

Judy Moody & Stink:
The Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Treasure Hunt
illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds
Candlewick, 2009
ages 4 to 8, ISBN 978-0763639624

Avast, ye scum buckets and scallywags! Judy and Stink co-star in their second adventure—crawling with pirates and puzzles, carbuncles and chuckles.

As soon as the Moody family drops anchor on "Artichoke" Island, they are greeted by Cap'n Weevil, a one-eyed buccaneer with a scraggly beard and a secret treasure map. Before you can say "Davy Jone's Locker," Stink and Judy are racing across the island in search of gold. But— shiver me timbers!—they're not the only salty dogs lookin' for loot. Can Mad Molly O'Maggot and Scurvy Stink beat out their rivals, Tall Boy and Smart Girl? Can they find the hidden clues, crack the secret codes, and solve the tricky puzzles before time runs out? Aaarr!

It's Picture Day Today!
illustrated by Katherine Tillotson
Atheneum, 2009
ages 4 to 8, ISBN 978-1416924340

Button is late—
late, late, late.
Missed the bus to school,
on this day of all days.
Everyone else who makes up the class -
Feathers, Strings,
Springs, Rings,
Pom-Poms, Yarns,
and Wheely Things -
they're all inside,
getting themselves together.
Getting ready for the teacher,
the camera,
the wide-angle moment.
But wait...
wait, wait, wait...
Button's not the only one late!

Awards
Bank Street College of Education Best Books of the Year

Stink-O-Pedia
illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds
Candlewick, 2009
ages 4 to 8, ISBN 978-0763639631

Where can you view the world’s oldest ham? Who holds the record for the world’s loudest burp? The answers to these and many, many more essential questions can be found in Stink-O-Pedia—just the sort of reference book that Stink Moody, who reads encyclopedias in his spare time, might make up himself. From J-for-Jawbreaker (and how long it would take an average frog to digest one), to P-for-Professional Smeller (and other strange but true careers), to Y-for-Yeti (why not?), this volume contains enough amazing stuff to keep readers saying "No way!" for a googolplex of years.

The Hinky-Pink: an Old Tale
illustrated by Brian Floca
Atheneum, 2008
ages 4 to 8, ISBN 978-0689875885

A happy Hinky-Pink is a fine thing. An unhappy Hinky-Pink pinches! That is what happens to Anabel, a young seamstress in Old Italy who has only days to finish her dream: sewing a gown for the princess to wear at the Butterfly Ball.

Thanks—or no thanks—to the Hinky-Pink Anabel is woozy for want of sleep. Her lace looks like cheesecloth; her hems, like saddle cinches. Night after night, the Hinky-Pink keeps wrestling her bedclothes to the floor--and pinching. What is its problem? And how is Anabel to help?

Judy Moody Goes to College
illustrated by Peter Reynolds
Candlewick, 2008
ages 4 to 8, ISBN 978-0763628338

Judy Moody is in a mood. Not a good mood. And definitely NOT a math mood. The substitute teacher in Class 3T thinks Judy's math skills need improving. So Judy has to start meeting with a math tutor. Does this mean flash cards? Does this mean baby games? Does this mean school on weekends? But when Judy meets her tutor — a sick-awesome college student with an uber-funky sense of style — and gets a glimpse of college life, Judy's bad math-i-tude turns into a radical glad-i-tude. Pretty soon, Judy's not only acing her math class; she's owning it. Time to say good-bye to Judy Moody, old skool third-grader, and say hello to Miss College! Small-tall upside-down backward non-fat capp with extra whip, anyone?

more books >>