Megan Jo McDonald is an American children's literature author. Her most popular works is the series of books which concern a third grade girl named Judy Moody (written for grades 2–4). McDonald has also written many picture books for younger children and continues to write. Her most recent work was the Julie Albright series of books for American Girl.
Life and career
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.[1]
The Judy Moody series follows the humorous adventures of the title-character, an eight-year-old girl. A spin-off series follows her younger brother, nicknamed Stink. All of McDonald's books in the Judy Moody series and the Stink series are illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds.
Shadows in the Glasshouse (Pleasant Company, 2000)
The Sisters Club (American Girl, 2003)
All the Stars in the Sky: The Santa Fe Trail Diary of Florrie Mack Ryder (Dear America series, Scholastic, 2003)
The Sisters Club Series
The Sisters Club (2008)
The Rule of Three (2010)
Cloudy with a Chance of Boys (2011)
American Girl titles
Meet Julie
Julie Tells Her Story
Happy New Year, Julie!
Julie and the Eagles
Julie's Journey
Changes for Julie
A Brighter Tomorrow: My Journey with Julie
Pen Pals (American Girl Magazine)
The Gnome Diaries
Films
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.[2] McDonald co-wrote the screenplay with Kathy Waugh.[3]
Awards
1991: Children's Choice Book, International Reading Association/Children's Book Council (CBC), for Is This a House for Hermit Crab?
1991: Reading Rainbow book selection, Is This a House for Hermit Crab?
1993: Judy Blume Contemporary Fiction Award, Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, for The Bridge to Nowhere
1993: Carolyn W. Field Award, Pennsylvania Library Association, for The Great Pumpkin Switch
2003: Garden State Children's Book Award for Younger Fiction, for Judy Moody