pop culture history
The Billie Eilish “96 Facts” Book Is Out NOW!
For some time now, I’ve been writing a series of middle-grade celebrity biographies called the “96 Facts” series for Penguin Random House. (This shouldn’t be news to you. I mean, come on, I just mentioned it in my previous blog post!)
Anyway, the eighth book in that series – 96 Facts About Billie Eilish – came out TODAY. And as with all of the other “96 Facts” books, 96 Facts About Billie Eilish is illustrated by the amazing Risa Rodil.
Here’s the official publisher description of 96 Facts About Billie Eilish:
The ultimate fact book and journal for fans of Billie Eilish! Packed with fun facts and quick quizzes about the superstar singer, as well as bonus pages for journaling, this is a must-have for any Billie Eilish fan.
You can buy a copy of the book HERE and HERE.
And to see all of the other books I’ve written for Penguin Random House, click HERE.
When you get a chance, you should also check out the “96 Facts About…” page on my website, because that page is relatively new and people seem to like new things. From what I understand, anyway.
The Billie Eilish “96 Facts” Book Comes Out Next Month!
As you might know, for roughly two years now, I’ve been writing a series of middle-grade celebrity biographies called the “96 Facts” series for Penguin Random House. The first seven “96 Facts” books are all already available. And the eighth “96 Facts” book will come out on Tuesday February 11th, 2025. That book is called 96 Facts About Billie Eilish. And like its predecessors, this book is illustrated by the mega-talented Risa Rodil.
Here’s the official publisher description of 96 Facts About Billie Eilish:
The ultimate fact book and journal for fans of Billie Eilish! Packed with fun facts and quick quizzes about the superstar singer, as well as bonus pages for journaling, this is a must-have for any Billie Eilish fan.
The book is available for preorder HERE and HERE.
And to see all of the other books I’ve written for Penguin Random House – including the first seven “96 Facts” books – click HERE.
Early Reviews Are In!
Two of my upcoming books – The Encyclopedia of Epic Myths and Legends and The Day I Became a Potato Pancake – were recently reviewed by prominent publications. Now, if they were negative reviews, I’d pretend they didn’t exist. But they are in fact positive reviews, so I acknowledge their existence wholeheartedly!
First, there’s a glowing write-up of The Encyclopedia of Epic Myths and Legends in Kirkus Reviews. The critic who reviewed my book said that it was “A revealing study of ways in which mythology is still very much with us,” and that it “offers a broad perspective and unusually rich and stimulating parallels.” Click HERE to read the whole review.
The Encyclopedia of Epic Myths and Legends comes out in October. So does The Day I Became a Potato Pancake, which is a children’s graphic novel that was written by yours truly and illustrated by the incredible Beilin Xu.
And if you’ve guessed that the second write-up concerns The Day I Became a Potato Pancake, you guessed right, because that book got a fantastic review in Publishers Weekly. And just in case you don’t have a subscription to Publishers Weekly and therefore cannot read the review, here it is:
Young inventor Naomi Hirsch and her best friend Ben Sherman love playing with her scientist mother’s inventions, like the hologram simulation program. But when they break into Professor Hirsch’s lab after being banned, they find something even more powerful: the Transfogram, “an experimental machine” that accidentally turns Ben into a human-sized latke. Naomi’s mother endeavors to develop an antidote before Ben’s transformation becomes permanent at sundown on the first night of Hanukkah, but Ben’s sudden boost in popularity among his classmates makes him reluctant to be human again. Kaplan (96 Facts About Bad Bunny) maintains gravitas amid silly circumstances by utilizing emotional dialogue centered on character relationships and growth. Singaporean illustrator Xu’s brightly colored art showcases facial expressions that emphasize the struggle between knowing what’s right and letting go of something that makes one feel special. This speculative, character-focused graphic novel highlights aspects of Jewish identity and culture through multiple lenses to craft a goofy
yet nuanced read. Naomi and (human) Ben have tan skin. Back matter includes an art activity. Ages 7–9. (Oct.) —Publisher’s Weekly
Pretty cool, eh?
And if you DO have a subscription, HERE is the link to the review on the PW site.
The Encyclopedia of Epic Myths and Legends will be published by Quarto on October 8th, 2024, and The Day I Became a Potato Pancake comes out from Behrman House on October 15th, 2024. You can pre-order both books now!