Kate Messner
LightNews LightNews
banner
katemessner.com
Kate Messner
@katemessner.com
9.7K followers 1.3K following 1.2K posts
NYT bestselling author of 70+ books for kids. Educator. Speaker. Adirondack 46er. Passionately curious. Latest book: THE TROUBLE WITH HEROES

www.katemessner.com
Posts Replies Media Videos
katemessner.com
And now Kirkus AND Evanston Public Library! I have never had a book appear on so many Best Books of the Year lists, and it's honestly a little overwhelming.

Thank you so much to everyone who has shared THE TROUBLE WITH HEROES this year and continues to put it into the hands of just-right readers. ❤️
Muted graphic with a white BEST BOOKS OF 2025 heading and a bookshelf background. Graphics read: PW BEST BOOKS OF 2025, KIRKUS, CHILD MIND INSTITUTE, SLJ: SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL, CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY, EVANSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY, AND BEST OF 2025 KIDS' BOOKS FROM BOOKSHOP.ORG. Book cover THE TROUBLE WITH HEROES has yellow title font against a blue-sky background and a middle school boy with an orange backpack standing on a mountaintop with a Bernese mountain dog gazing up at him.
December 3, 2025 at 12:48 PM
katemessner.com
Shoutout to the bloggers & Lit-fluencers like Afoma at Reading Middle Grade who make their own Best Books lists and take the care and time to email authors to let them know. Every single time I get an email like this, it absolutely makes my day. ❤️
White and lilac graphic with black text: A cleverly told, multi-format story about the father-son bond and the healing power of the outdoors. this one combines adventure, heart, mystery, suspense, and flashbacks in a beautifully crafted narrative. Book cover THE TROUBLE WITH HEROES has yellow title font against a blue sky background and shows a middle school boy with an orange backpack standing on a mountain with a Bernese Mountain Dog gazing up at him.
December 2, 2025 at 9:39 PM
katemessner.com
And now Kirkus... I have never had a book appear on so many Best Books of the Year lists, and it's honestly a little overwhelming.

Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who has shared THE TROUBLE WITH HEROES this year and continues to put it into the hands of just-right readers. ❤️
Muted graphic with a white BEST BOOKS OF 2025 heading and a bookshelf background. Graphics read: PW BEST BOOKS OF 2025, KIRKUS, CHILD MIND INSTITUTE, SLJ: SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL, CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY, AND BEST OF 2025 KIDS' BOOKS FROM BOOKSHOP.ORG. Book cover THE TROUBLE WITH HEROES has yellow title font against a blue-sky background and a middle school boy with an orange backpack standing on a mountaintop with a Bernese mountain dog gazing up at him.
December 2, 2025 at 9:30 PM
katemessner.com
As if seeing so many amazing educators and colleagues at #NCTE25 wasn't enough, on Saturday, THE TROUBLE WITH HEROES was named a Charlotte Huck Honor Book for 2026! I'm absolutely thrilled and so, so grateful to the awards committee for recognizing Finn's story. ❤️
Ballroom with a big screen announcing the 2026 Charlotte Huck Awards - it shows the book cover THE TROUBLE WITH HEROES with a boy and a dog on a mountaintop, and below the cover is the text "2026 Charlotte Huck Award Honor Books"
November 25, 2025 at 6:34 PM
katemessner.com
Over 200 authors will be Zooming into classrooms & libraries for World Read Aloud Day on 2/4!

Teachers/librarians - Want to be first to see the list so you can book a free visit? It'll go out in my email newsletter in early December! Sign up here: katemessner.us20.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=...
Purple background with pastel colored cartoon owls and books, all gathered around a yellow sign that reads WORLD READ ALOUD DAY
November 25, 2025 at 11:45 AM
katemessner.com
If you haven't read Renee Watson's ALL THE BLUES IN THE SKY yet, do yourself a favor and pick one up to read & share with kids.

It's beautifully written - and stories about grief are so important at a time when over 10 million children who lost a caregiver in the pandemic are still processing.
Book cover has a blue and purple tissue paper collage background with a brown-skinned girl in a green shirt against the backdrop of a city skyline. Light blue title font: ALL THE BLUES IN THE SKY and light yellow author font: RENEE WATSON.
November 20, 2025 at 11:52 PM
katemessner.com
Teachers & librarians! Our list of authors volunteers to Zoom into schools for World Read Aloud Day will be ready in early December so you can start planning.

Want the link a day early? Sign up for my email newsletter & you'll get it in your inbox! katemessner.us20.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=...
Red text reads: World Read Aloud Day: Celebrate Learning while below, against a green background, cartoon animals including a panda, rabbit, tortoise, and owl, read books.
November 18, 2025 at 1:32 AM
katemessner.com
Thank you, Chicago librarians! I couldn't be more honored to have THE TROUBLE WITH HEROES on your Best of the Best Books list for 2025!

And alongside so many amazing colleagues' books, too.

(My library holds list just got a LOT longer - congrats to all!)

www.chipublib.org/news/cpl-bes...
Dark blue background with fireworks graphic and book cover THE TROUBLE WITH HEROES, which has cover art showing a middle school boy with an orange backpack standing on a mountaintop with a Bernese mountain dog looking up at him. Text reads: Best of the Best 2025 - Thank you, Chicago Public Library!
November 17, 2025 at 4:59 PM
katemessner.com
Who's headed to Denver this week for the @ncte.org conference?

Looking forward to spending time with educators, being in conversation with my amazing colleagues, and signing lots of books! Here's where you'll be able to find me...
#NCTE25
Mountain graphic background with book covers THE TROUBLE WITH HEROES and OVER AND UNDER THE CORAL REEF and text with Kate Messner's NCTE Schedule: Kate Messner at NCTE2025 Friday, November 21 Saturday, November 22 9:30-10:45 - Room 706 Bold Craft Moves: Using Verse Novels to Inspire Writing 11-11:30 - Bloomsbury Booth #612 Signing THE TROUBLE WITH HEROES 8:15-9:30 - Room 709-711 Stepping Boldly into Revision: Strategies for Student Writers 2:45-4:00 - Room 203 Dreaming in the Wild Outdoors: Stories of Adventure in the Natural World as Inspiration for Readers & Writers 12:15-1:15 - Chronicle Booth 1022 Signing Over & Under the Coral Reef
November 16, 2025 at 6:06 PM
katemessner.com
Working on revisions for CAMP UNICORN (sequel to CAMP MONSTER, which comes out in February!) so today, my job involves pondering serious questions about the character motivations for a corgi-corn named Lil Lord Wigglebottom.
Book cover CAMP MONSTER shows a white and ice blue yeti with arms raised in front of a group of monster summer campers including two green goblins, a purple vampire girl, an ogre in a pink t-shirt, a small werewolf, three other yetis, a chicken/lion hybrid, and a flying manticore with a backdrop of pine trees and mountains.
November 12, 2025 at 8:26 PM
katemessner.com
Holy smokes - thank you, Texas librarians!!! I couldn't be more thrilled that THE TROUBLE WITH HEROES has been named to the 2026-2027 Texas Bluebonnet Award List! And in such incredible company, too - congrats to all of the authors & illustrators!

Here's the full list: txla.org/news/2026-20...
Light blue background with white and blue graphic that reads 2026-2027 TEXAS BLUEBONNET NOMINEE with book cover THE TROUBLE WITH HEROES, showing a middle school boy with an orange backpack standing on a mountain summit with a Bernese mountain dog looking up at him. Below is a graphic showing small thumbnails of 20 books with a red outline of Texas and text in blue "2026-2027 List"
November 9, 2025 at 3:45 PM
katemessner.com
Authors & illustrators! Want to Zoom into classrooms on 2/4/26 to help celebrate LitWorld's World Read Aloud Day? Here's all the info & a link to sign up! katemessner.com/getting-read...
Green background with red font that reads: World Read Aloud Day: Celebrate Learning. An illustrated panda, sloth, and rabbit are reading books together in a cozy setting below the text.
November 4, 2025 at 9:06 PM
katemessner.com
This makes TEN books for THE KIDS IN MRS. Z'S CLASS - with two more on the way in March! How many have you read so far?
Blue graphic with yellow font reads: "Buy the book and the series. Kids need access to this diverse classroom of students who face everyday crises with their supportive friends, and this gentle read shows the goodness in the world without being overly sappy."--SLJ -- and shows twelve tiny colorful book covers for THE KIDS IN MRS. Z'S CLASS
November 4, 2025 at 11:45 AM
katemessner.com
MRS. Z'S CLASS is growing!!

Happy book birthday to @mikejungwroteabook.bsky.social & @marthabee.bsky.social whose new books THEO CHANG IS NOT A CAT and THUNDER NELSON DOES THE IMPOSSUMBLE are out today from @littlebrownyr.bsky.social, both illustrated by the inimitable @katfcomix.bsky.social!
Book cover THE KIDS IN MRS. Z'S CLASS: THEO CHANG IS NOT A CAT by Mike Jung has a yellow background with orange and white title graphics and shows an Asian American third grade boy in a green sweatshirt holding a surly wiggly brown and black cat as two other boys look on. Book cover THE KIDS IN MRS. Z'S CLASS: THUNDER NELSON DOES THE IMPOSSUMBLE by Martha Brockenbrought has an orange background with wine-red and white title graphics and shows a third grade girl with wild reddish brown hair and a green tee shirt holding a cardboard box with a baby possum inside as two of her classmates look on.
November 4, 2025 at 11:38 AM
katemessner.com
My mom call this her "October tree" but I think it's doing a really nice job with November so far, too.
Bright orange-red foliage on a tree with a thick dark trunk, silhouetted against blue sky and sun reflecting on the water with a dock in the foreground.
November 3, 2025 at 10:47 AM
katemessner.com
When your agent's dog Poppy dresses in the spirit of your new HISTORY SMASHERS book... (Thanks for the "Sphinxapoo" photo, @literaticat.bsky.social!)
Small fluffy brown dog wearing a necklace and gold and blue headdress, dressed up for Halloween as the Sphinx from Ancient Egypt. Book cover for HISTORY SMASHERS ANCIENT EGYPT by Kate Messner has white title font against an orange and gold background, with illustrations of the Sphinx, pyramids, and a mummy coming out of a gold sarcophagus.
November 1, 2025 at 1:19 AM
katemessner.com
A terrific @mainepublic.org piece to pair with THE TROUBLE WITH HEROES. There are a lot of Finns out there...and we could all use a good trail nanny. ❤️ www.mainepublic.org/education-ne...
Screenshot of a Maine Public piece with headline: In Bath, Students Choose a Hike Over Detention. Photo shows a diverse group of eight students ready to hike in a wooded setting. Book cover THE TROUBLE WITH HEROES by New York Times Bestselling author Kate Messner has yellow title font against a blue sky with puffy white clouds and shows a middle school boy with an orange backpack standing on a mountaintop with a Bernese mountain dog gazing up at him.
October 29, 2025 at 12:27 PM
katemessner.com
Just landed after this week's school visits & turned on my phone to learn that THE TROUBLE WITH HEROES has been named one of @publisherswkly.bsky.social's Best Books of 2025! I'm absolutely thrilled and honored to be in such great company - congrats to all of the creators on this year's list!
Fireworks background with BEST BOOKS OF 2025 and PW LOGO with book cover THE TROUBLE WITH HEROES showing a boy on a mountaintop with a Bernese mountain dog looking up at him.
October 24, 2025 at 4:39 PM
katemessner.com
My brand new chapter book series WILDLIFE RESCUE is out today, and I can't imagine a better way to celebrate this book birthday than spending it with these great South Carolina readers! (Amazing cover art is by Jen Bricking!)
Kate Messner sitting on the edge of a school stage with half a dozen elementary school students, two of whom are holding copies of the WILDLIFE RESCUE chapter book series Book covers - WILDLIFE RESCUE HOW TO SAVE AN OTTER has cover art showing two kids walking through brush toward a baby river otter. WILDLIFE RESCUE HOW TO SAVE AN OTTER shows two kids walking toward a very fluffy baby owl in the grass.
October 21, 2025 at 6:12 PM
katemessner.com
Am I too late to call dibs on the Louvre Heist fedora guy for the star of my next mystery?
Police officers outside the Louvre along with a smartly dressed detective with an umbrella and fedora.
October 21, 2025 at 2:41 AM
katemessner.com
Remember when America's political leaders didn't like kings either?
black and white engraving of colonial men using ropes to pull down a statue of King George on a horse from a pedestal
October 18, 2025 at 1:51 PM
katemessner.com
An amazing roundup of 2025 verse novels from @popgoesthereader.bsky.social - including THE TROUBLE WITH HEROES! popgoesthereader.com/42-2025-midd...
Blue sky background with white text reads: "Sometimes people don't know why they're climbing. They only know it's better than hurting standing still." with book cover THE TROUBLE WITH HEROES showing a middle school boy with an orange backpack standing on a mountain summit with a Bernese mountain dog looking up at him.
October 17, 2025 at 5:07 PM
katemessner.com
Eight Nonfiction Books to Check Out for Halloween(Or any time you like your facts with a side order of scariness!) katemessner.com/eight-nonfic...
Book cover HISTORY SMASHERS SALEM WITCH TRIALS by Kate Messner shows Puritan women with brooms surrounded by orange & yellow flames Book cover THE HAUNTED STATES OF AMERICA shows a demon/ghost swirling with smoke Book cover POISON: DEADLY DEEDS, PERILOUS PROFESSIONS, AND MURDEROUS MEDICINES by Sarah Albee has a red background & green title font, with a cartoon skeleton sneaking up on a Middles Ages person at a table Book cover SPOOKY LAKES by GEO RUTHERFORD shows a scuba diver exploring a lake full of skulls and ghostly hands and jellyfish
October 13, 2025 at 2:22 PM
katemessner.com
It's book release day for HISTORY SMASHERS: ANCIENT EGYPT!! With cover art by @dylanmeconis.bsky.social & interior art by @falynnk.bsky.social, it's book 11 in our acclaimed myth-busting series from @randomhousekids.bsky.social! Ask for it at your favorite bookstore or library!
Graphic showing Kate Messner standing in front of the Pyramids of Giza with text that says "How it started..." on the left. On the right side of the graphic is a sarcophagus and the book cover for HISTORY SMASHERS: ANCIENT EGYPT, which is orange and cold, with illustrations of the pyramids, sphinx, and a mummy. Text against a light blue background reads: How it's going... and Available now!
October 7, 2025 at 3:02 PM
katemessner.com
If your readers love HISTORY SMASHERS, I hope you'll join me for a special virtual author visit October 7th - release day for HS ANCIENT EGYPT!

Cover art by @dylanmeconis.bsky.social, int. art by @falynnk.bsky.social & published by @randomhousekids.bsky.social.

us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Cream colored graphic with orange and blue text announcing Kate Messner's virtual author visit for the HISTORY SMASHERS SERIES. HISTORY SMASHERS October 7, 1:00-1:40pm EST Registration: $15 Best for grades 4-8 bit.ly/historysmashers Book cover graphic has white HISTORY SMASHERS ANCIENT EGYPT TEXT with orange background and pyramids and sphinx, along with a mummy in the foreground.
September 17, 2025 at 6:22 PM