Michelle Knudsen


Michelle Knudsen is a New York Times best-selling American children's author. She has written 50 books for children, including the multiple-award-winning Library Lion, the Trelian middle grade fantasy trilogy, and the Evil Librarian young adult horror/comedy/romance trilogy.
Knudsen graduated from Cornell University and received an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from the Vermont College of Fine Arts. She currently teaches in Lesley University's MFA program in creative writing.

Biography

Knudsen is a New York Times best-selling author of 50 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 100 Best Children's Books of All Time. She is also the author of the Trelian trilogy of fantasy novels and the Evil Librarian trilogy of young adult novels, the first of which was awarded the 2015 Sid Fleischman Award for Humor. 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, New York City.

Young adult novels

  • Evil Librarian
  • Revenge of the Evil Librarian
  • ''Curse of the Evil Librarian''

Middle grade novels

  • The Dragon of Trelian
  • The Princess of Trelian
  • ''The Mage of Trelian''

Chapter books

  • ''She Persisted: Nellie Bly''

Trade picture books

  • Library Lion, illustrated by Kevin Hawkes
  • Argus, illustrated by Andréa Wesson
  • Big Mean Mike, illustrated by Scott Magoon
  • Marilyn's Monster, illustrated by Matt Phelan

Short stories

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

Beginning readers

  • Raymond Briggs' The Snowman
  • Dinosaur Days: Road to Writing
  • Colorful Chameleons!
  • Cat Hat
  • Hit or Myth: Road to Writing
  • The Case of Vampire Vivian
  • A Slimy Story
  • Fish and Frog
  • Carl the Complainer
  • A Moldy Mystery
  • Bugged!
  • ''Smart Shark''

Board books and novelty

  • Noah's Ark
  • Valentine's Day
  • Love
  • Happy Halloween
  • Merry Christmas
  • Easter Basket
  • Easter Egg
  • Happy Easter!
  • Princess Party
  • Fairy Friends
  • Mother's Day Ribbons
  • Hearts and Kisses
  • ''Easter Fun''

Mass market picture books

  • Angel Babies
  • Old MacDonald's Farm
  • Autumn Is for Apples
  • ''Winter Is for Snowflakes''

Coloring and activity books

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

Awards

Library Lion

Big Mean Mike

  • Junior Library Guild Selection
  • Amazon.com Best Book of the Year
  • Eric Carle Museum Picture Book of Distinction
  • Irma S. and James H. Black Award winner
  • CBC Children's Book Council Children's Choice Book Award finalist
  • Mississippi Magnolia Award winner
  • Wisconsin Golden Archer Award winner

Marilyn's Monster

  • Junior Library Guild Selection
  • NPR's Best Books of 2015
  • Kansas State Reading Circle Selection
  • WSRA Children's Literature Committee Picture This! Selection

Evil Librarian

The Dragon of Trelian