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Megan McDonald | |
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Born | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. | February 28, 1959
Occupation | Author, librarian |
Education | Oberlin College; University of Pittsburgh |
Period | 1991–present |
Genre | Children's literature |
Notable works | Judy Moody series Stink series |
Spouse | Richard Haynes |
Website | |
meganmcdonald |
Megan Jo McDonald (born February 28, 1959) [1] is an American children's literature author and former librarian best known for the Judy Moody series, which has sold more than 30 million copies. McDonald has written wrote the Julie Albright series for American Girl various picture books.
McDonald was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to John and Mary Louise McDonald. She is the youngest of five girls, which served as the inspiration for The Sister's Club. She was awarded a B.A. from Oberlin College in 1981, and an M.L.S. from University of Pittsburgh in 1985.
Megan McDonald began her career as a children's librarian, working at Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Minneapolis Public Library, and Adams Memorial Library in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. Her first book, Is This a House for Hermit Crab?, came as a result of patrons asking her where to find a story she had told to children at a library. [2] McDonald identified Tuck Everlasting and Bridge to Terebithia as books she wished she had written herself. [3]
McDonald is married to Richard Haynes and has lived in Sebastopol, California since the mid 1990s. [1] She receives letters from fans and said in 2005, "I try to write a personal response to every one. I am so impressed when children write to me." [4]
The Judy Moody series follows the humorous adventures of eight-year-old Judy Moody. A spin-off series follows her younger brother, nicknamed Stink. All of the Judy Moody series and Stink series books are illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds.
Among the characters are Judy Moody, Stink Moody, Rocky Zang, Frank Pearl, Jessica Finch, Amy Namey, Alisson Monday, Mr. Todd, Jalisco, Tody, Chloe, and Tori.
Judy Moody books:
Judy Moody and Stink books:
Stink books:
Film:
McDonald was hired to write a series about Julie Albright, the historical character from the 1970s introduced by American Girl in 2007. [5] Julie has divorced parents and lives in California. She organizes a petition for girls to be allowed to play on the school's basketball team, celebrates Earth Day and the United States Bicentennial, and asks her mother what Watergate is. [5]
Megan McDonald's book, Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer, was adapted to a movie with the same name released in 2011, directed by John Schultz, with Jordana Beatty in the role of Judy Moody. [6] McDonald co-wrote the screenplay with Kathy Waugh. [7]