Want This?

If you are heading to the Meltdown tomorrow, you could go home with this original Lunch Lady artwork. Just buy yourself a few, if not a thousand, raffle tickets. 100% of the proceeds go to The Lilly Library, our local Florence library, to purchase books for their children's collection.

Look for this at the River table, just as you enter the main room.

See you there!

Local Paper Props

The Republican, our local paper here in Western Massachusetts, covers Lunch Lady, the Children's Choice Book Awards and this Saturday's Meltdown.

Read all about it here!

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Meltdown! Radio interview w/ Scott Fischer

Listen to Scott Fischer chat with Monte, of 93.9 The River, about his new book and the upcoming Meltdown!

The Meltdown goes down this Saturday from 10-4 at JFK Middle School in Florence, MA.

Meltdown! Radio interview w/ Diane deGroat & Shelley Rotner

Listen to Diane deGroat and Shelley Rortner chat with Monte, of 93.9 The River, about their new book and the upcoming Meltdown!




The Meltdown goes down this Saturday from 10-4 at JFK Middle School in Florence, MA.

Meltdown! a radio chat about the authors

I stopped by the the studios of 93.9 The River to chat with Monte about the upcoming Meltdown!




The Meltdown goes down this Saturday from 10-4 at JFK Middle School in Florence, MA.

Stay tuned for more author interviews ahead of this Saturday's Meltdown!

**In the interview, when I say 5th book, I meant 4th book. The 4th LL book comes out next month, but I'm currently working on the art for the 5th book. Deadline dementia...

Sketchbook Saturday

Betty character studies - 2006

It Doesn't Get Much Better Than This

It doesn't get much better than this! A few weeks back, I had a great visit with the students at Prospect Hill Academy in Somerville, MA. The school is just around the corner from the apartment that I moved to upon graduating RISD. It was cool to drive by and see the windows of the room that was once the studio where my career began. But this blog post isn't about my sentimental blabbering. It's about these amazing projects that the students made ahead of my visit! Librarian extrordinaire, Mrs. Kugel, gave a self-directed assignment. Make something, anything creative, based on my books for a chance to win your way into a pizza party.

I was amazed. Check out the awesomeness below! (Not pictured: a rap written and performed by one student and braces with yellow rubber bands on another student.)

LL in 3-D!

The whole gang!

A Mustard Grappling Hook!

This Apple Alarm was rigged up to actually work!

This book had a more thorough analysis on
the science behind LL's gadgets than I give in the books!
Betty would be jealous!

Meltdown!

It's just about time to Meltdown! Mark your calendars for Saturday, March 27th. This is the 2nd year of "Meltdown! The River's Family Music and Book Fest". Gina and I are very excited about the authors that we've lined up for this year.

At 11:40 AM, Scott Fischer will read from (and perform) his brand spankin' new book Jump! (Already in it's 3rd printing, get 'em while they're hot!)


At 12:40 PM, Diane deGroat will instruct us all on what dogs do and do not do in Dogs Don't Brush Their Teeth—the book that she co-created with Shelley Rotner and that Time declared as one of the best kids' books of 2010.


At 1:40 PM, Grace Lin will tell us all about her books and perhaps give us some of the scoop on Al Roker, the Newbery Honor and the wild ride she has been having with Where the Mountain Meets the Moon!





And finally at 2:40 PM, CaldecottGuiselEmmy award winner Mo Willems will take the stage. Pigeon, Knuffle Bunny and his whole gang will be joined by his most awesome new book series—Cat the Cat! Come out and see if the Pigeon gets to drive the bus.




And of course that is just the book side of the things. The incredible Bill Childs, of Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child, has programed a stellar line-up of rockin' kids' bands. (Bill has even put together a downloadable album featuring the performing bands. A code will be given out at the event to access the music online.) There will be River DJs reading books, vendors and many other surprising surprises throughout the day.

It all goes down from 10AM to 4PM on March 27th.

And the best part? It is all FREE!!!

Check out www.rivermeltdown.com for all of the details on the day!

(And of course, big ups to the River for all of their work in making the day happen!)

PDF of LL web-comic for printing

I have had a few requests for a printable version of the LL web-comic. You can now download a printable PDF here. Thank you and happy voting!

Heading into the time machine -- Frisco Reads

Last fall, I had the pleasure of visiting Frisco, TX to speak at elementary schools and Frisco Reads, a spectacular literacy program. (Authors, should you get invited, clear your calendar and go!) The high school students put together a great recap on the evening of Frisco Reads. Check it out!

Lunch Lady Web Comic

Click to enlarge.

Voting begins today at www.bookweekonline.com!

Sketchbook Saturday

Lunch Lady study - 2002

Mystery Van and Mystery Meat

Lunch Lady ads continue to run in the April issues of some DC titles. Perhaps Lunch Lady could team up with the Scooby Doo crew to solve some mysteries? I bet Scoob and Shaggy would happily eat LL's lunchroom concoctions.

drawings from kids

Check out this awesome drawing that was given to me a few weeks back at Coker Elementary in San Antonio. It's impressive, isn't it? Excellent use of yellow.



Do you have a note or a drawing that you'd like to share? I would love to see them!
They can be emailed to me via props@studiojjk.com or mailed to:
Jarrett J. Krosoczka
PO Box 60155
Florence, MA 01062

event in Wahington, DC THIS Tuesday at 10:30 AM

I'll be talking up Lunch Lady at Politics and Prose, located at 5015 Connecticut Ave in Washington, DC. Perhaps Betty will head to the Senate floor.

Sketchbook Saturday

Lunch Lady study - 2001

Call in and chat with me on the radio - Absolutely Mindy Show on Sirius XM Kids Place Live, channel 116. MONDAY!

MONDAY, from 4-6PM, I'll be paying my buddy, Mindy, a visit in her satellite radio studio. And YOU can call in. Here's the number - 1-866-328-2345.

Talk to you soon!

LL1 nominated for a Children's Choice Book Award: 3rd Grade to 4th Grade Book of the Year

Wow, wow and WOW!

I am honored to announce that Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute is up for a Children's Choice Book Award in the category of "Third Grade to Fourth Grade Book of the Year". This is a colossal honor, as finalists are chosen by nearly 15,000 kids. Voting will move on-line and in bookstores, libraries and schools on March 15th. Polls will be open through May 3rd. (Cue Survivor theme song.) The winners will be announced at a Gala in New York City on May 11th.

The cliché is true—it is an honor to just be nominated! Seriously, thank you to all of the kids out there who voted for Lunch Lady! And thank you to the Children's Book Council and Every Child a Reader for sponsoring this award.

Click here to cast your vote for Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitite!

Giddy Up, Cowgirl Birthday Cake

Remember the awesome Fujimoto family, who, a few years back, decorated their baby's room with a Punk Farm decor?


They even had a Punk Farm cake at the baby shower:



Well, their baby girl is growing up and just turned three! And look! They're at it again. Emiko had a birthday cake decorated with Giddy Up, Cowgirl!


It not only looks amazing, but delicious. And I am totally honored. A birthday cake is the highest honor you can bestow upon an author. Well, maybe second to a baby room!

Happy 3rd Birthday, Emiko!

Wenham, MA - THIS Friday @ 4:30 PM

Head to Gallery Della-Piana for a reading and signing in conjunction with their book art exhibit.

the week of dePaola, Yolen, Stemple and Yaccarino

I've always said, if there was an Us Weekly for the kids-lit world, they could be headquartered in the Northampton area and get zillions of paparazzi shots on a daily basis.

G and I recently had a great week of hanging out with some great author friends. While there are so many authors living in the area, living near the area and visiting the area -- we still don't always get to connect in this busy life of parenting and deadlines.

First, we celebrated G's birthday a few days early and had dinner with the always lovable Tomie dePaola and his wonderful assistant, Bob. We ran into a surprise guest at dinner. Read Tomie's blog for more details.


Then, just a few days later as we were running errands and stopped for a bite to eat at a local cafe. Who walks in but Jane Yolen and her daughter, Heidi Stemple. Jane was quick to point out that she saw more of me when I lived in Boston. And it's true! Sometimes it's your neighbors that you see the least! (We need to take more pictures, too.)



Then to round out the week, Mr. Dan Yaccarino was yakking it up at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art. Look at the amount of books on that table! Dan is the man.

Sketchbook Saturday

Lunch Lady studies - 2003
(1st instance of the phrase "sweet peas and carrots")

Penderwicks BATTLE!!!!

The Penderwicks ROOOOOAR!!!!!!

On a recent school visit, I couldn't help but smile at this juxtaposition. While the Battle of the Books isn't a collection of books that are battling each other, it is a superb list of books that students in a district read and then compete in a spelling-bee-type trivia contest.

Perhaps this can give my buddy and neighbor, Jeanne, some inspiration for a sequel?

PENDERWICKS: a summer tale of four sisters, two rabbits and a cage match of DOOM!

honored by the CCBC

The Cooperative Children's Book Center has gone and bestowed quite the honor on me and I am blushing. They've listed not one, but all three current Lunch Lady titles on their best-of-the-year list.

From the CCBC:

CCBC Choices is the annual best-of-the-year list of the Cooperative Children’s Book Center. The Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC) is a unique examination, study and research library of the School of Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. For more information and the complete list of choices, please visit: http://www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/default.asp

Thank you, CCBC! And thank you for all that you do for literacy!

Check out the full list here.

Team Lunch Lady at Stone Oak Elementary in San Antonio

Almost everyone was decked out in yellow on a recent school visit, but this crew was the cream of the crop!

Bulletin Board Props

Check out the love given via bulletin boards at recent school visits in San Antonio's North East district!

Hardy Oak Elementary

Stone Oak Elementary

Give these librarians their own design show on HGTV! Seriously. America's Top Design Librarian.

Color me flattered.

San Antonio event THIS Thursday

Come on out to Barnes & Noble at The Shops at La Cantera at 7PM for some LL fun.

Archie chose Betty. Just not the Betty you're thinking of.

Perhaps Lunch Lady could work a brief stint in the Riverdale cafeteria? Lunch Lady ads are currently running on the new Archiecomics.com. What would Veronica think?

Sketchbook Saturday

initial Lunch Lady studies - 2006

exhibits & events on the North Shore

To all my friends on the nohth shoa' -- I'll be heading your way soon!

My work will be on display in two great exhibits. In Wenham, I'll be exhibiting alongside old friend and über talented illustrator Kelly Murphy at the Gallery Della-Piana. That show will go up on February 27th and be up through April 24th. I will be on hand to read from and sign my books on March 5th from 4:30-6. (152 Main St Wenham, MA 01984)

My work will also be on display at Wavepaint Gallery in Ipswich, MA. This is a group exhibit and will feature many talented published illustrators. Unfortunately, my schedule prohibits me from attending the events surrounding this exhibit. This show goes up on March 1st and comes down on April 17th. (4 Market Street, Ipswich MA 01938)

I will also be the speaker at the winter meeting of the PSA North Shore Council on Wednesday March 10th. Click here for information on registering and attending.

Sketchbook Saturday

initial notes for Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute
2007

Happy Valentine's Day

I am honored to be providing the artwork for the Target House carnivals held at St. Jude hospital. Target House is a breathtaking facility where patients of St. Jude hospital can stay free of charge. In addition to the wonderful (and very creative) housing Target provides, they also host five carnival parties per year for the patients. The centerpiece of each event is a giant 14 ft tall banner.

This piece that I created for the event was blown up to be that 14 foot tall banner and was also used as other signage and memorabilia for the event.

The Target House mascot is an elephant, so every piece that I create will have an elephant. This has been such a creatively fun and open project to work on. And I can't even begin to describe the immense feeling of purpose I have when creating this artwork.

I hope that you enjoy this painting and have a very Happy Valentine's Day!

To learn more about Target House and St. Jude hospital, click here.

Guess who was in town

Here's a hint: Her name rhymes with Yisa Lee... and she hangs out with one of the bunnies pictured here:



Find the answer here...

LL4 - 3 months to go

Lunch Lady and the Summer Camp Shakedown will hit book shelves on May 11th!