Kurtis Scaletta

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As a child, Kurtis Scaletta read a lot and moved frequently. Now he mostly stays put in his North Minneapolis home where he lives with his wife, son, and five bossy housecats. He writes middle grade novels and chapter books about things like baseball and snakes and robots. He also teaches creative writing and manages the online program for the Loft Literary Center.

Speaking/school visit information: Kurtis loves to do short virtual visits with classes and reading groups. He also has limited availability for in-person visits during regular school hours in the Twin Cities metro area. Mondays are best, and his visits are best suited for groups of 10-40 students, grades 4-6. Contact Kurtis by clicking on the link at left if you would like to schedule a visit or if you have any questions.



					Topps League #5: You're Out! illustrated by Eric Wight Amulet Books, 2013 ages 7 and up, ISBN 978-1419706592 Umpire Solomon Johnson is squeezing the strike zone and throws out both the Pine City Porcupines' starting pitcher and manager "Grumps" Humphrey for arguing the call. Chad tries to make peace by giving Solomon a rarely issued "umpire card"—but the ump blows his top. He thinks Chad is making fun of his weight. It's going to be a long nine innings!



					Topps League #4: The 823rd Hit illustrated by Eric Wight Amulet Books, 2012 ages 7 and up, ISBN 978-1419704451 Teddy "Bear" Larrabee, a slugger on the Pine City Porcupines, gets his 823rd base hit on his birthday, August 23—and it's a home run! The Bear is a big believer in the power of numbers, so he asks Pines batboy Chad to retrieve the ball from the stands. There's only one problem: the crabby fan in the ballpark who caught it. Chad really wants to keep the Bear happy and slugging, so he's just got to figure out what the fan would be willing to trade for that 823 ball.



					Topps League #3: Zip It! illustrated by Eric Wight Amulet Books, 2012 ages 7 and up, ISBN 978-1419704369 Pine City Porcupines batboy Chad breaks an important unofficial rule of baseball: Don't talk to the starting pitcher when he's got a perfect game going, where not a single opponent has reached base. Now, because Chad opened his mouth, the entire Pines dugout is upset, and the team may lose to the second-to-last-place West Valley Varmints. Chad has to consult his baseball card collection to figure out how to help his beloved Pines pull off the perfect game.



					Topps League #2: Steal That Base! illustrated by Eric Wight Amulet Books, 2012 ages 7 and up, ISBN 978-1419702877 Chad's got the summertime blues: his parents want him to be home by midnight (no extra innings) and eat healthier (no corn dogs). His friend, Abby, has bobblehead issues. And then there's pinch hitter Sammy Solaris. But Sammy has problems of his own. He has a big swing but is too slow. If he can't speed up his running and stealing, he'll be off the team. There's got to be something Chad can do to save the day . . . with a little help from Dylan, a baseball card, and that porcupine!



					Topps League #1: Jinxed! illustrated by Eric Wight Amulet Books, 2012 ages 7 and up, ISBN 978-1419702617 It's Chad's first spring as a batboy, and the Pine City Porcupines are hot—until they come up against the league-leading Heron Lake Humdingers. Now Chad's got a whole lineup of problems: his favorite player, shortstop Mike Stammer, thinks he's jinxed; Dylan, the other batboy, doesn't even like baseball; there's a goofy new porcupine mascot on the field; plus, Chad has to fill in as batboy for the Herons. It's a good thing there's something in the cards—his baseball cards, that is—that can help Chad sort it all out.



					The Tanglewood Terror Knopf, 2011 ages 8 to 12, ISBN 978-0375867583 When 13-year-old Eric Parrish comes across glowing mushrooms in the woods behind his house, he's sure there's a scientific explanation. But when they cover the football field and pop up through the floorboards, Eric knows something's seriously wrong. Then a runaway girl from a nearby boarding school warns Eric that the fungus could portend the town's doom and leave it in rubble—just like the village that inexplicably disappeared in the exact same spot over 200 years ago. Eric, his little brother, and the runaway girl set out to solve a very old mystery and save the town of Tanglewood. Awards and Recognition Minnesota Book Award - Readers' Choice



					Mamba Point Knopf, 2010 young adult, ISBN 978-0375861802 When his dad gets a job at the U.S. embassy in Liberia, twelve-year-old Linus Tuttle knows it's his chance for a fresh start. Instead of being his typical anxious self, from now on he'll be cooler and bolder: the new Linus. But as soon as his family gets off the plane, they see a black mamba—one of the deadliest snakes in Africa. Unless Linus wants to hide in his apartment forever, he has to get over his fears. Soon he's not only keeping a black mamba in his laundry hamper; he's also feeling braver than ever before. Is it his resolution to become the new Linus, or does his sudden confidence have something to do with his scaly new friend?



					Mudville Knopf, 2009 ages 9 to 12, ISBN 978-0375855795 Welcome to Moundville, where it’s been raining for longer Roy McGuire has been alive. Most people say the town is cursed—right in the middle of their biggest baseball game against rival town Sinister Bend, black clouds crept across the sky and it started to rain. That was 22 years ago...and it’s still pouring. Baseball camp is over, and Roy knows he’s in for a dreary, soggy summer. But when he returns home, he finds a foster kid named Sturgis sprawled out on his couch. As if this isn’t weird enough, just a few days after Sturgis’s arrival, the sun comes out. No one can explain why the rain has finally stopped, but as far as Roy’s concerned, it’s time to play some baseball. It’s time to get a Moundville team together and finish what was started 22 years ago. It’s time for a rematch. Awards Bank Street College of Education Best Books of the Year