National Author’s Day for Kids

There are some books you grow to love so much that you can't help but wonder more about the people who wrote them. I think it's natural to want to know where the author’s ideas came from or to be curious about their lives--like what they were like as kids, or even when and how they celebrate their birthdays. There are lot of wonderful biographies about authors which reveal that some of the beloved characters they write about are very like them. National Author's Day on November 1 is a perfect time to explore a few of my new favorites:

Facing Feelings: Inside The World Of Raina Telgemeier As a longtime fan of Raina Telgemeier’s graphic novels, I was thrilled to learn more about Raina's life through this book inspired by a special exhibition. Raina kept a daily illustrated diary in middle school that became a rich source of content for her books about braces, family conflict, crushes, anxiety and so much more. No wonder they seem so real-life! Other inspirations for her art were comics she read in the newspaper (which I read and liked too), such as Calvin and Hobbes and For Better or For Worse.

Jim! Six short, illustrated stories with highly appealing art by comic Jerrold Connors comprise this innovative biography that shares the life of author James Marshall. You'll discover that James put a lot about himself and his life in his art. For instance, his friends became characters in his books, and even an unsupportive teacher who told him he’d never be an artist makes an appearance. There are a lot of nods to his 69 books to make you want to read or reread them all. Plus explanatory notes at the end share real-life inspirations. 

Outside in and the Inside Out: This charming biography describes author Arnold Lobel as a boy who liked to daydream, draw and tell stories. Not surprisingly, he also liked clever words and silly games, which helped fuel his profession as both an illustrator and an author. I was delighted to learn that his infamous frog and toad stories were inspired by his noticing how frogs seemed to smile but also oddly seemed "dyspeptic," a clever word you might need to look up in a dictionary. Arnold also put his life in his work, including Pigericks; a pet turtle and cat; his favorite chair; and more.