Michelle Knudsen

Michelle Knudsen author photo, May 2015 (photo credit Alvaro Keding)

Michelle Knudsen is a New York Times best-selling American children's author.^[1] She has written more than 45 books for children, including the multiple award-winning Library Lion, the Trelian middle grade fantasy trilogy, and the young adult novel Evil Librarian.

Knudsen graduated from Cornell University and received an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from The Vermont College of Fine Arts.^[2][3] She currently teaches in Lesley University's MFA program in creative writing.

Biography

Michelle Knudsen is a New York Times best-selling author of 45 books for young readers, including board books, picture books, early readers, and middle grade and young adult novels. Her best-known book to date is the award-winning picture book Library Lion, which has been translated into fourteen languages, is currently being performed as a musical stage production in Israel and South Africa, and was selected by Time Magazine as one of the Best 100 Children's Books of All Time. She is also the author of the Trelian trilogy of fantasy novels (The Dragon of Trelian, The Princess of Trelian, and The Mage of Trelian) and the young adult novel Evil Librarian, which was awarded the 2015 Sid Fleischman Award for Humor. Her most recent picture book is Marilyn's Monster (Candlewick, March 2015), illustrated by Matt Phelan. Next up is the YA sequel REVENGE OF THE EVIL LIBRARIAN, coming on Valentine's Day 2017. Michelle also works as a freelance editor and writing teacher, and is a member of the Writing for Young People MFA faculty at Lesley University. She lives in Brooklyn, NY.^[4]

Bibliography

Young adult novels

• Evil Librarian (2014)
• Revenge of the Evil Librarian (2017)

Middle grade novels

• The Dragon of Trelian (2009)
• The Princess of Trelian (2012)
• The Mage of Trelian (2016)

Trade picture books

• Library Lion, illustrated by Kevin Hawkes (2006)
• Argus, illustrated by Andrea Wesson (2011)
• Big Mean Mike, illustrated by Scott Magoon (2012)
• Marilyn's Monster, illustrated by Matt Phelan (2015)

Short stories

• "The Bridge to Highlandsville" in the MG anthology I Fooled You (2010)

Beginning readers

• Raymond Briggs' The Snowman (1999)
• Dinosaur Days: Road to Writing (2001)
• Colorful Chameleons! (2001)
• Cat Hat (2001)
• Hit or Myth: Road to Writing (2001)
• The Case of Vampire Vivian (2003)
• A Slimy Story (2004)
• Fish and Frog (2005)
• Carl the Complainer (2005)
• A Moldy Mystery (2006)
• Bugged! (2008)

Board books & novelty

• Noah’s Ark (1999)
• Valentine’s Day (2001)
• Love (2001)
• Happy Halloween (2001)
• Merry Christmas (2001)
• Easter Basket (2002)
• Easter Egg (2002)
• Happy Easter! (2003)
• Princess Party (2003)
• Fairy Friends (2003)
• Mother’s Day Ribbons (2005)
• Hearts and Kisses (2006)
• Easter Fun (2006)

Mass market picture books

• Angel Babies
• Old MacDonald’s Farm
• Autumn Is for Apples (2001)
• Winter Is for Snowflakes (2003)

Coloring & activity books

• Godzilla: Monster Coloring Fun! (1998)
• Godzilla: Adventures to Color! (1998)
• Godzilla: Monster Coloring, Puzzles, and Codes! (1998)
• Godzilla: Monster Coloring, Mazes, and Games! (1998)
• Star Wars Episode I: Heroes and Villains Coloring Book (1999)
• Star Wars Episode I: Anakin’s Adventures to Color (1999)
• Star Wars Episode I: Jar Jar’s Coloring Fun (1999)
• Star Wars Episode I: Galactic Puzzles and Games (1999)
• Star Wars Episode I: Jedi Missions to Color (1999)
• Star Wars Episode I: Droids, Creatures, and Vehicles Coloring Book (1999)

Awards

Library Lion

• One of Time magazine’s 100 Best Children’s Books of All Time^[5]
• Junior Library Guild Selection.^[6]
• NAIBA (New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association): 2007 Picture Book of the Year
• School Library Journal Best Books of 2006
• Amazon.com Best Picture Book of 2006
• Time of Wonder Award from the Maine Discovery Museum
• Book Sense Book of the Year Children's Illustrated Honor Book
• Publishers Weekly Cuffie Award
• Oppenheim Toy Portfolio 2007 Platinum Award
• Nick Jr. Family Magazine Best Books of the Year
• Child Magazine's Best Children's Book Award
• Winter 2006–2007 Book Sense Children's Picks List Selection
• 2006 Wilde Picture Book Award
• Irma S. and James H. Black Honor Book^[7]
• Arkansas Diamond Primary Book Award Honor Book (2008-2009)
• Patricia Gallagher Children's Choice Picture Book Award Nominee (2011)^[8]
• The Sakura Medal (2008)^[9]
• Nebraska Golden Sower Award (2008-2009)^[10]
• Norfolk Libraries' Children's Choice Award (2008)^[11]
• Show Me Readers Award Nominee (2008-2009)^[12]
• Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award Nominee (2009)^[13]
• South Carolina Picture Book Award nominee (2008-2009)^[14][15]
• ABC Best Books for Children Catalog Selection^[16][17]
• Kentucky Bluegrass Award nominee (2008)^[18]
• Utah Beehive Picture Book Award nominee (2008)^[19]
• Tennessee Volunteer State Book Award Master List (2008-2009)^[20]
• Montana Treasure State Award winner (2009)^[21]

Big Mean Mike

• Junior Library Guild Selection
• Amazon.con Best Book of the Year
• Eric Carle Museum Picture Book of Distinction (2012)^[22]
• Irma S. and James H. Black Award winner (2013)^[23]
• CBC Children's Book Council Children’s Choice Book Award finalist (2013)^[24]
• Mississippi Magnolia Award winner (2014)^[25]
• Wisconsin Golden Archer Award winner (2014)^[26]

Marilyn's Monster

• Junior Library Guild Selection
• NPR's Best Books of 2015^[27]
• Kansas State Reading Circle Selection (2016)^[28]
• WSRA Children's Literature Committee Picture This! Selection (2016)^[29]

Evil Librarian

• Sid Fleischman Award for Humor (2015) ^[30]
• YALSA 2015 Best Fiction for Young Adults^[31]
• New England Book Show Winner (2015)^[32]
• Green Mountain Book Award Master List (2015-2016)^[33]

The Dragon of Trelian

• VOYA Top Shelf Fiction, Middle School Readers
• Summer 2009 Kids’ Indie Next List selection
• Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children’s Book Award Master List (2010-2011)^[34]
• SCBWI 2016 Summer Reading List^[35]

References

1. "New York Times Children's Best Seller List". June 2007.
2. "Author Biography, Gotham Writers".
3. "Interview with Author Bethany Hegedus". March 2011.
4. "Biography - Michelle Knudsen". www.michelleknudsen.com. Retrieved 2016-11-27.
5. "The 100 Best Children's Books of All Time". TIME.com. Retrieved 2016-11-27.
6. "Candlewick Press".
7. "Bankstreet College of Education".
8. "Patricia Gallagher Nominees and Winners 1998-2014" (PDF). Retrieved November 27, 2016.
9. "Winners!". Sakuramedal. Retrieved 2016-11-27.
10. Kofoed, Sharon. "Research Guides: Handy Topics in the Curriculum Department: Golden Sower Award". guides.library.unk.edu. Retrieved 2016-11-27.
11. "Norfolk Libraries' Children's Choice Award". Retrieved November 27, 2016.
12. "Archived Show Me Information - Missouri Association of School Librarians". Retrieved November 27, 2016.
13. "Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award Nominee - Book Awards - LibraryThing". Retrieved November 27, 2016.
14. "South Carolina Picture Book Award Nominee | Book awards | LibraryThing". www.librarything.com. Retrieved 2016-11-27.
15. Michelle (2008-03-15). "SCASL". Michelle Knudsen. Retrieved 2016-11-27.
16. "Candlewick Press - awards/reviews/quotes". www.candlewick.com. Retrieved 2016-11-27.
17. "LIBRARY LION - Michelle Knudsen". www.michelleknudsen.com. Retrieved 2016-11-27.
18. Smith, Jennifer. "2008 Kentucky Bluegrass Award Master Lists". kba.nku.edu. Retrieved 2016-11-27.
19. "Beehive Book Awards list of winners and nominees". Retrieved November 27, 2016.
20. "Junior Library Guild". www.juniorlibraryguild.com. Retrieved 2016-11-27.
21. User, Super. "TSA History". www.montanareads.org. Retrieved 2016-11-27.
22. "Eric Carle Museum Picture Books of Distinction 2012" (PDF). Retrieved November 27, 2016.
23. "Bank Street - List of Past Winners". www.bankstreet.edu. Retrieved 2016-11-27.
24. "2013 Winners and Finalists | Book Lists | Children's Book Council". www.cbcbooks.org. Retrieved 2016-11-27.
25. "Magnolia Award Past Recipients | The University of Southern Mississippi". www.usm.edu. Retrieved 2016-11-27.
26. "Golden Archer Winners - WEMTA". www.wemta.org. Retrieved 2016-11-27.
27. "NPR's Book Concierge". NPR.org. Retrieved 2016-11-27.
28. "KNEA - RCC Item". www.knea.org. Retrieved 2016-11-27.
29. "WSRA Children's Literature Committee Picture This! List 2016" (PDF). Retrieved November 27, 2016.
30. "SCBWI | Sid Fleischman Award Winners". www.scbwi.org. Retrieved 2016-11-27.
31. NGILBERT (2015-02-03). "2015 Best Fiction for Young Adults". Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). Retrieved 2016-11-27.
32. "Winners Circle Archive". the new england book show. Retrieved 2016-11-27.
33. "GMBA Master List 2015-2016" (PDF). Retrieved November 27, 2016.
34. "Dorothy Canfield Fisher Book Award | Department of Libraries". libraries.vermont.gov. Retrieved 2016-11-27.
35. "SCBWI Summer Reading List 2016" (PDF). Retrieved November 27, 2016.

External links

• Author website