year-end honors

It’s that time of year again! Libraries and review outlets are publishing their lists of the “best” books of 2018. Of course, there are lots of great books that aren’t on these lists. DRAGONS IN A BAG has made three so far and I’m honored to have my book recognized in this way. But most years, the stories I wrote didn’t get any recognition and I was proud of those books, too. So let these lists be a starting point—give these authors a try and then look for their earlier books and comparable titles by other writers. Here are DRAGONS’ honors so far:

• Best Children’s Books of 2018, Ages 6-8; Amazon
• Best Fiction for Younger Readers, Chicago Public Library
• Best Middle-Grade Books of 2018, Kirkus
• Best Books of 2018, NPR

• 25 Of The Best Family Audiobooks To Listen To In 2018, Book Riot

• Best Books of 2018 for Young Readers; University of Pennsylvania GSE
• A 2019 ALSC Notable Book for Children
• CCBC Choice 2019

I didn’t write about my weekend in Houston, TX for NCTE but this photograph from my conversation with Maya Christina Gonzalez sums it up perfectly:

And this shot captures the fun we had at Uncle Bobbie’s last weekend—my first time reading from DRAGONS! (look, Ma, no slides)

I’m hoping to get one more book written before the end of the year, but I have a bunch of NYC gigs coming up next month…I’ve started LOST IN THE SHADOWLANDS so will keep plugging away and see how far I get.