Michelle Knudsen Explained

Michelle Knudsen
Occupation:	Author
Nationality:	American
Education:	Cornell University Vermont College of Fine Arts (MFA)
Genre:	Children's literature

Michelle Knudsen is a New York Times best-selling American children's author.^[1] 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.^{[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 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 (The Dragon of Trelian, The Princess of Trelian, and The Mage of Trelian) 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, NY.^[4]

Bibliography

Young adult novels

• Evil Librarian (2014)
• Revenge of the Evil Librarian (2017)
• Curse of the Evil Librarian (2019)

Middle grade novels

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

Chapter books

• She Persisted: Nellie Bly (2021)

Trade picture books

• Library Lion, illustrated by Kevin Hawkes (2006)
• Argus, illustrated by Andréa 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)
• Smart Shark (2017)

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.com 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]

External links

• Author website

Notes and References

1. Web site: New York Times Children's Best Seller List . . June 2007 .
2. Web site: Author Biography, Gotham Writers . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140408224505/http://www.writingclasses.com/FacultyBios/facultyBioByInstructor.php/TeacherID/169880 . 2014-04-08 .
3. Web site: Interview with Author Bethany Hegedus . March 2011 .
4. Web site: Biography - Michelle Knudsen. www.michelleknudsen.com. 2016-11-27.
5. Web site: The 100 Best Children's Books of All Time. TIME.com. 2016-11-27.
6. Web site: Candlewick Press .
7. Web site: Bankstreet College of Education . 4 March 2024 .
8. Web site: Patricia Gallagher Nominees and Winners 1998-2014. November 27, 2016.
9. Web site: Winners!. Sakuramedal. 2016-11-27.
10. Web site: Research Guides: Handy Topics in the Curriculum Department: Golden Sower Award. Kofoed. Sharon. guides.library.unk.edu. en. 2016-11-27.
11. Web site: Norfolk Libraries' Children's Choice Award. November 27, 2016.
12. Web site: Archived Show Me Information - Missouri Association of School Librarians. November 27, 2016.
13. Web site: Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award Nominee - Book Awards - LibraryThing. November 27, 2016.
14. Web site: South Carolina Picture Book Award Nominee Book awards LibraryThing. www.librarything.com. 2016-11-27.
15. Web site: SCASL. Michelle. 2008-03-15. Michelle Knudsen. 2016-11-27.
16. Web site: Candlewick Press - awards/reviews/quotes. www.candlewick.com. 2016-11-27.
17. Web site: LIBRARY LION - Michelle Knudsen. www.michelleknudsen.com. 2016-11-27.
18. Web site: 2008 Kentucky Bluegrass Award Master Lists. Smith. Jennifer. kba.nku.edu. 2016-11-27.
19. Web site: Beehive Book Awards list of winners and nominees. November 27, 2016.
20. Web site: Junior Library Guild. www.juniorlibraryguild.com. 2016-11-27.
21. Web site: TSA History. www.montanareads.org. 2016-11-27.
22. Web site: Eric Carle Museum Picture Books of Distinction 2012. November 27, 2016.
23. Web site: Bank Street - List of Past Winners. www.bankstreet.edu. 2016-11-27.
24. Web site: 2013 Winners and Finalists Book Lists Children's Book Council. www.cbcbooks.org. 2016-11-27.
25. Web site: Magnolia Award Past Recipients The University of Southern Mississippi. www.usm.edu. 2016-11-27.
26. Web site: Golden Archer Winners - WEMTA. www.wemta.org. 2016-11-27.
27. News: NPR's Book Concierge. NPR.org. 2016-11-27.
28. Web site: KNEA - RCC Item. www.knea.org. 2016-11-27.
29. Web site: WSRA Children's Literature Committee Picture This! List 2016. November 27, 2016.
30. Web site: SCBWI Sid Fleischman Award Winners. www.scbwi.org. 2016-11-27.
31. News: 2015 Best Fiction for Young Adults. NGILBERT. 2015-02-03. Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). 2016-11-27. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150512184356/http://www.ala.org/yalsa/2015-best-fiction-young-adults. 2015-05-12.
32. Web site: Winners Circle Archive. the new england book show. 2016-11-27.
33. Web site: GMBA Master List 2015-2016. November 27, 2016.
34. Web site: Dorothy Canfield Fisher Book Award Department of Libraries. libraries.vermont.gov. 2016-11-27.
35. Web site: SCBWI Summer Reading List 2016. November 27, 2016.