Come to Warwick Children’s Book Festival: Tomorrow, October 11th!

October 10, 2026 / / No comments

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Yikes, I posted this elsewhere but neglected ye olde blog. Sorry if this is the first time you are hearing about it.

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If you are able, please join me — and a raft of talented children’s authors and illustrators — as we float on the briny seas of creativity and economic disaster!

The event is INDOORS, so don’t let a little rain keep you from celebrating books and literacy with your friends and children. Or even if there’s a lot of rain. Just grab a hat and umbrella!

Of course, if there’s a typhoon, or a twister, get to a safe place. A basement, if you’ve got one. If not, go to an interior room away from exterior walls and windows! Seek shelter! Protect your head! Protect your pets! If you look outside and see an actual tornado coming down the road . . . PLEASE DON’T GO TO A CHILDREN’S BOOK FESTIVAL IN WARWICK!

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But barring extreme weather, this is one day in the year when you take an hour and say to your family, “Hey, let’s do this one cool thing. It’ll be fun. I might even buy a book for you.”

Meet authors, ask them questions, look at books, talk to illustrators (many of them are non-verbal primates, so be patient), share your enthusiasm for reading. Show your children that this is something you value in our world: The love of literacy and all the ways it can enrich our world.

And if you do come — hey, now! — stop by my table and say hello. I’d love to thank you in person. 

You don’t even have to bring your credit card!*

 

 

 

* Kidding! Of course, bring your credit card! 

 

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE ARTS!

Category: Current Events / Tags: , ,

SNEAK PEEK: “WHAT DOGS DON’T KNOW,” My Upcoming Picture Book!

October 7, 2026 / / 2 comments

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Here’s a first-peek at the cover of my upcoming picture book, What Dogs Don’t Know, wonderfully illustrated by Laura Sandoval. Not only does Laura bring bold colors and brilliant design to the book, but she’s also very, very funny. 

I love this book so much, can’t wait for it to reach readers and dog-lovers everywhere.

But I guess I’ll have to, since it won’t be out until June 1, 2027.

Rats and snails!

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Category: What Dogs Don't Know / Tags: , , , ,

SNEAK PEAK: Funny New Graphic Novel Series for Young Readers!

October 2, 2026 / / 2 comments

 

I received a nice surprise yesterday in the mail, the first printed copy of Bigfoot and Dodo: Together at Last!

I was fortunate enough to co-write this series with my talented & hilarious friend, Audrey Vernick. We’ve finished writing the first three books in the series. Now it’s up to illustrator Joelle Dreidemy to do the heavy lifting with the illustrations. Not easy work, since every joke pretty much lives and dies with the way Joelle’s visuals set up and support and enrich the text. We’re confident in Joelle’s bright sense of humor & big time skills.

This first book won’t be out until February of 2027. For both Audrey and me, this is our first graphic novel, so it’s exciting to try something new here in my 40th year as a published author. Thank you, Simon Spotlight, for the opportunity.

Here’s a few sample spreads . . . 

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And here’s a glimpse of the second book . . . only very slightly spooky!

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Category: Bigfoot & Dodo / Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

James Preller Reads SCARY TALES: GOOD NIGHT, ZOMBIE

September 24, 2026 / / No comments

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During the pandemic, if you can recall that strange period in our lives, many authors and illustrators wrestled with the appropriate response. We felt for those students at home. We felt for the teachers and parents, too. We wanted to do something. But what?

In my case, I read a couple of books and put them on Youtube. Did a few other book talks, also on Youtube. Sort of: “Here, for free.”

I don’t look at numbers, don’t chase clicks, and I don’t expect that many people found my videos, or cared. But, hey, I did a small thing and maybe it was good for somebody.

Here’s the first of four or five videos, where I read the entirety of SCARY TALES: Good Night, Zombie. 

It’s that time of year. Enjoy.

There’s also a complete reading of the first (and therefore best) Jigsaw Jones title, The Case of Hermie the Missing Hamster. It’s been out of print forever, despite being the most popular book. I always wished it would be made into a graphic novel, but . . . no dice. You can find it all on Youtube. 

 

 

Category: Scary Tales / Tags: , , ,

Where’s Echo: Level 4, Advanced

September 19, 2026 / / No comments

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I don’t believe I’ve ever done this here at Ye Olde Blog, but on Facebook from time to time I’ll pass along a photo of my dog Echo “hidden” in various landscapes. There are various levels of difficulty.

Yesterday we hiked Big Slide in the ADKs, a 9-mile loop trail via The Brothers. Early in the hike, I snapped this shot.

Where’s Echo?

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I’ll wait. 

Echo is a dog who is almost never on a leash, though he is always under control. I am the leash. He’s a very smart dog who wants to be good, which is an unbeatable combination. A rescue from down South, his mother was a border collie. 

Anyway, done looking?

I’ll give it another minute.

Okay.

Here you go . . .

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Or, okay, bigger . . . 

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For those of you who’ve never had a good look at him, here’s another random shot, from a different day, so you can get a gander . . .

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LOVE THAT DOG!

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By the way, I have a picture book coming out sometime in the Summer of 2027, titled What Dogs Don’t Know, illustrated by the remarkable Laura Sandoval Herrera. I’m super happy with this book and love — adore, worship — what Laura’s done with it. Feeling very lucky about this one. 

Category: What Dogs Don't Know / Tags: , , ,
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