Michelle Knudsen
Award-winning and New York Times best-selling author of Library Lion and 50+ other books for readers of all ages
About Michelle
Michelle Knudsen is a Nebula Award–winning and New York Times best-selling author of more than 50 books for children and young adults, including LIBRARY LION (Time magazine’s 100 Best Children’s Books of All Time), INTO THE WILD MAGIC (Andre Norton Nebula Award), and EVIL LIBRARIAN (Sid Fleischman Humor Award; YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults). A lifelong musical theater lover, Michelle is thrilled that two of her books have been adapted into musical stage productions for young audiences! In addition to her work for kids and teens, she writes occasional short speculative fiction pieces for adults and is on the faculty of the University of San Francisco’s low-residency MFA in Writing for Young Readers program. When she’s not writing, Michelle enjoys playing D&D, watching Rangers hockey, and walking in places with trees. She lives with her people and pets in Brooklyn, New York. Find her on Instagram @michelle.knudsen or at michelleknudsen.com.
Books
What educators say
“Michelle Knudsen's virtual author visit was a great success! She tailored her presentations to each grade level and shared so many interesting facts about research and writing. The students were fully engaged and enthusiastic. Teachers have been stopping me in the hallways, telling me that this was one of the best presentations we've ever had!”
“Michelle Knudsen's visit to our school was nothing short of incredible! She delivered three distinct presentations tailored specifically to our K–2, 3–5, and 6–8 grade groups, and each one was engaging, informative, and perfectly suited to the students' developmental levels. Her warm and approachable personality drew students in immediately, and she made the writing process feel exciting and accessible to all.”
“Michelle Knudsen was a joy to have at our school! The students loved her approachable and friendly personality, the props and information in the presentation, and her wonderful books. The presentation was well-crafted and included some great information about the writing process, some interesting science facts, and a deftly handled question and answer session. The teachers were very impressed, and some have told me that they've referred to Michelle's writing process discussion while teaching writing in their classrooms. Michelle was easy to work with and kept smiling for the entire visit — I hope we can have her back!”
Visit formats
What a visit includes
I adapt my presentations to different age groups, but in all cases I love discussing the creation process with students and talking about the “how” of writing (ideas, first drafts, research, revising and revising and revising). I also share visuals of the different stages of book production (writing journals, editorial notes, artist sketches, etc.). Visits for younger students include a reading, and all presentations include time for Q&A. I'm happy to adjust details per school needs; if you have something specific in mind, please ask! Regarding travel: No travel fee within the 5 boroughs of NYC, and only gas/tolls for anything within about a one-hour drive.
Fees vary by format, travel, and your school's needs. Reach out directly for a quote and open dates.
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