Hey, Kiddo at Blue Willow Books

At my November 19th reading at Blue Willow Books in Houston, I’ll be in conversation with 17-year-old artist Isaiah Wakeham. Isaiah has been reading my books since he was a baby. Here he is now and at his Punk Farm-themed 5th birthday. 

‬ 7pm!

Follow him on Insta at https://instagram.com/lucky_stripe_designs

Hey, Kiddo Press Roundup pt.3

For your weekend listening:

I sat down with librarian, kidlit advocate, and podcaster Matthew Winner.

If you were looking for a place to hear me read a passage from HEY, KIDDO, here you go.

Click here to listen.

-

I wrote an essay for the Washington Post.

What’s appropriate for kids to read? There’s value in exposing them to the tough stuff. Click here to read.

-

From the Chicago Tribune: 'Hey, Kiddo': Jarrett Krosoczka's arresting graphic memoir of addiction leads young-adult roundup

-

Ahead of the National Book Awards, Literary Hub is checking in with all of the finalists.

I'm up today. Click here to read. 

Hey, Kiddo Ink Washes

When I told my art director that I wouldn’t be hiring an assistant to help shade HEY, KIDDO, he was nervous. Rightfully so—how would I ever make the deadline? When I told him I’d be using traditional materials and not digital brushes, he thought I was crazy. Rightfully so. I love digital tools, but there is something very unpredictable when you mix ink with water. Depending on the ratios, you get very different effects. Plus, with some of the intense emotional scenes, I didn’t want to be in full control of what happened on the page, just as I wasn’t in full control in those real-life moments. So for every page of linework, there is a page of ink washes. And yes, they were merged together using digital tools. And my studio assistant, Sam, helped with scanning and file prep. It was still a monumental effort, and I am glad that I stuck with my vision.
Here are some of the ink-wash pages. Perhaps you’ll recognize the scenes.

Happy Halloween!

In this town, don't we love it now?
Everybody's waiting for the next surprise.

Thank you to all of the amazing folks who incorporated my books into their Halloween festivities! I loved these pics sent to me via Twitter!

Pumpkinheads:

Happy Halloween!

Stand By Me

The film STAND BY ME had a profound impact on me as a kid. That movie and the Stephen King short story that it’s based on captivated me and drew me into coming-of-age stories. I was the Gordie of my crew—always telling stories. Perhaps you caught the homage to STAND BY ME in HEY, KIDDO?

National Book Awards!

A thing that is for real happening. See you soon, National Book Foundation!

Hey, Kiddo at Baird Middle School!

 Thank you Jordan Funke for being the amazing librarian that you are and hosting me at Baird MS for HEY, KIDDO. What a great day, my first school visit specifically for my graphic memoir

Real Life Reference

HEY, KIDDO recounts my antics with this crew. Lucky to have these guys in my life and honored they were at the launch event for the book. ‬

You may have missed this, but page one of HEY, KIDDO is filled with symbolism and foreshadowing. I am a graduate of Rhode Island School of Design in Providence--which served as a bridge between my childhood ambitions and adulthood achievements.

Had lunch at Coney Island Hot Dogs, so I brought the crew there a book and a print. ‬

‪Love that I can take my kids to a spot where my grandparents went on dates as teenagers. ‬

Super Secret!

Grace Lin and I had a super top-secret meeting with Ellen from The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art. ‬

‪I’ve already told you too much. ‬

Hey, Kiddo at the Mark Twain House

When you ask a friend to lead a discussion on difficult topics with you, not only will they turn up, but they’ll bring you smashed-up doughnuts on stage. So many thanks to Lisa Yee for moderating a chat on HEY, KIDDO at The Mark Twain House!

Hey, Kiddo Artwork at Michelson Galleries

Last Sunday’s reading at R. Michelson Galleries in Northampton also served as an opening reception for a show featuring prints and sketches from HEY, KIDDO.

These are all for sale at R. Michelson Galleries!

Autographed Copies

Thank you to Ted from Broadside Bookshop for bringing books to The Montessori School of Northampton Fall Fair today. And Fun fact: this is the elementary school Ted attended.

And in related news, Broadside now has signed stock, should you be walking around downtown Northampton and need a signed copy.

My local indie The Odyssey is also taking autographed book orders on their website:

 https://www.odysseybks.com/search/site/Krosoczka%20hey%20kiddo

Scripting Hey, Kiddo

Before all of the heavy lifting that comes with sketching out sequences, I write a script for my graphic novels. This is what HEY, KIDDO looked like before I picked up a pencil and started sketching out that prologue scene…

Time Flies!

With my friend Dylan in 2012 and 2018. I absolutely love that kids have grown up as my books aged up. It is the very best!

(Also—shout it to Dylan’s yo-yo classes held at A to Z in Northampton every Tuesday. This kid is a pro—literally!)

Hey, Kiddo Press Roundup pt. 2

This book of mine has just received its sixth starred review. 6 fah 6!

Grateful to spot HEY, KIDDO in the The New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice section this morning. 🗞🙌

Also, a review from the Washington Post: 3 books to help kids of all ages cope with the challenges life throws their way