Sunday, August 28, 2016

Batman's biggest secret is not this, either

The back cover of Bill the Boy Wonder: The Secret Co-Creator of Batman:


I say this at every talk I give as well.

But what I have not said, till now, is what else isn't his biggest secret.

Let me just show you:


That's right: Batman doesn't wear Superman boxers.

Image courtesy of the ever-kind Derek Wolfford.

Saturday, August 27, 2016

Guess the kidlit desks: answers and winners!

Thank you to all who participated in this contest to match 36 children's authors/illustrators with their desks; those mystery desks and your guesses are here.

The desk owners revealed!

Here are the desks again, each now with a second photo identifying whose desk is whose...by books, of course. (First I show the names with the photos, then repeat the names as a list only for easier checking against the lists of guesses.)

Subcontest 1 of 2

The 18 authors/illustrators/desks:



 1 Jonathan Auxier


 2 Eliza Wheeler


 3 Samantha Berger


 4 Don Tate


 5 Lauren Castillo


 6 Nora Raleigh Baskin


 7 Chris Grabenstein


 8 Deborah Underwood


 9 Dan Yaccarino


 10 Deborah Heiligman


 11 Andrew Smith


 12 Lisa Brown


 13 Daniel Kirk


 14 Barbara Kerley


 15 Kirby Larson


 16 Matthew Cordell


 17 Lemony Snicket


18 Elizabeth Rose Stanton

Quick list:

 1 Jonathan Auxier
 2 Eliza Wheeler
 3 Samantha Berger
 4 Don Tate
 5 Lauren Castillo
 6 Nora Raleigh Baskin
 7 Chris Grabenstein
 8 Deborah Underwood
 9 Dan Yaccarino
10 Deborah Heiligman
11 Andrew Smith
12 Lisa Brown
13 Daniel Kirk
14 Barbara Kerley
15 Kirby Larson
16 Matthew Cordell
17 Lemony Snicket
18 Elizabeth Rose Stanton


Subcontest 2 of 2

The 18 authors/illustrators:



 19 David Lubar


 20 Matt Phelan


 21 Tara Lazar


 22 Tony Abbott


 23 Sue Fliess


 24 Jeff Mack


 25 Maryann Macdonald


 26 Scott Magoon


 27 Sarah Darer Littman


 28 Barney Saltzberg


 29 Neal Shusterman


 30 Debbie Ridpath Ohi


 31 Tom Angleberger


 32 Jerry Pallotta


 33 Richard Michelson


 34 Steve Sheinkin


 35 Terry Trueman


36 Liz Garton Scanlon

Quick list:

19 David Lubar

20 Matt Phelan
21 Tara Lazar
22 Tony Abbott
23 Sue Fliess 
24 Jeff Mack
25 Maryann Macdonald
26 Scott Magoon
27 Sarah Darer Littman 
28 Barney Saltzberg
29 Neal Shusterman
30 Debbie Ridpath Ohi
31 Tom Angleberger
32 Jerry Pallotta
33 Richard Michelson
34 Steve Sheinkin
35 Terry Trueman
36 Liz Garton Scanlon

The winners revealed!

These eagle eyes win a signed copy of my (desk-free) latest book, Brave Like My Brother:

subcontest 1


  • Kate Haskell – 11/18 (i.e. she identified 11 out of 18)
  • Chelsea Couillard-Smith – 5/18
  • Finnelie Hallifax – 5/18

subcontest 2


  • Finnelie Hallifax – 13/18
  • Kate Haskell – 10/18
  • Jess Stork – 7/18


Congratulations to all!  

If you liked this challenge, you will love this book:


Now…back to my desk.