I have a new book coming out on May 6 — and it’s my first picture book! Pre-order links below!
Elijah can’t wait to take his brand-new kite for its first flight! But with a new baby in the family, Daddy has to work this weekend. Elijah finds a clever way to help out and pitch in with his family while also reminding his dad how to still have a little fun.
LITTLE BIG MAN
Written by Varian Johnson
Illustrated by Reggie Brown
Orchard Books/Scholastic Press
May 6, 2026
It’s called TWINS! It’s about…well, twins! It’s also my first graphic novel, illustrated by Shannon Wright. You can read more about the book, including what inspired the book and what nice people are saying about the book (cough, cough, FOUR STARRED REVIEWS) on my TWINS page.
Thanks to Covid-19, I won’t be traveling in person for the book, but I will be doing A LOT of virtual events. They’re all listed on my calendar page.
As always, thanks for the support! I hope you all are staying safe! And if you’re of age, remember to vote on November 3!
I’m busy, busy, busy—trying to get as much writing done as I can in anticipation for a busy Fall 2020. But I did want to drop in to show off two new books—one already released, the other coming later this year (thus the busy Fall 2020).
After a busy spring, things kept rolling in the summer. Here are just a few photos of recent events! Check out my calendar to see where I’ll be this fall.
Chicago Public School Department of Literary: School Libraries Transform
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ExpandED Schools’ MS ExTRA Literacy Institute (New York)
Mississippi Book Festival
(Varian Johnson, Charlotte Jones Voiklis, Merrill Wyatt, Clara Martin, Veera Hiranandani, and Kate Beasely)
Nerdy Book Club was gracious enough to host my cover reveal for my new middle grade, The Parker Inheritance. Please click-though to read more about my inspiration for the book!
Book Description:
The Westing Game meets The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963 in a stirring mystery of past and present, as two kids search for a place in their families, their city, and their country with the help of each other.
The letter waits in a book, in a box, in an attic, in an old house in Lambert, South Carolina. It’s waiting for Candice Miller.
When Candice finds the letter, she isn’t sure she should read it. It’s addressed to her grandmother, after all, who left Lambert in a cloud of shame. But the letter describes a young woman named Siobhan Washington. An injustice that happened decades ago. A mystery enfolding the letter-writer. And the fortune that awaits the person who solves the puzzle.
Grandma tried and failed. But now Candice has another chance.
So with the help of Brandon Jones, the quiet boy across the street, she begins to decipher the clues in the letter. The challenge will lead them deep into Lambert’s history, full of ugly deeds, forgotten heroes, and one great love; and deeper into their own families, with their own unspoken secrets. Can they find the fortune and fulfill the letter’s promise before the answers slip into the past yet again?
This was a great spring! Here are some photos from my various visits earlier this year. I’m actively booking events for 2016-2017, so please contact me if you’re interested!
Jeff Anderson, Linda Urban, and me at the TCTELA Conference
TO CATCH A CHEAT Book Launch
TO CATCH A CHEAT Book Launch
On tour for TO CATCH A CHEAT
On tour for TO CATCH A CHEAT
School Visits with Katy ISD
School Visits with Katy ISD
School Visits with Katy ISD
Hong Kong International Young Readers Festival
Hong Kong International Young Readers Festival
Writing Workshop for the Hong Kong International Young Readers Festival
NTTBF Educator Day with Karin Perry, Christina Diaz Gonzalez, Marie Lu, and Jonathan Maberry
