Illinois Authors

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers 2021

Mo Willems meets Bob Shea in this uproariously funny picture book about Gilbert the Goblin from the creator of Unicorns Are the Worst!.Gilbert the Goblin is absolutely, definitely, one-hundred-percent certain that dragons are the worst.

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers 2023

Gilbert the Goblin infiltrates Santa’s workshop to prove that goblins are better workers than elves in the side-splitting latest installment in The Worst! picture book series, where even the strangest of creatures can become the best of friends. Everyone knows that elves have a reputation of being the hardest workers around—especially when it comes to the holiday season—but as far as Gilbert the Goblin is concerned that’s nothing but ho-ho-hogwash. A goblin’s to-do list is just as long as any elf’s; they just don’t feel the need to sing songs about it. To prove he can outperform any reindeer-watching, wrapper-paper-wielding, toy-tinkering elf, Gilbert puts on his merriest disguise to infiltrate Santa’s workshop. But can one lone goblin do the work of a whole team of elves?

HarperCollins 2023

This hilarious new picture book by New York Times bestselling author Alan Katz and Unicorns Are the Worst creator Alex Willan imagines what happens when a good-natured game of "got your nose" goes too far—and one little girl’s nose runs free. Becky loves Grandpa Max. When he visits, they have a lot of fun together. But when Grandpa Max pulls his favorite prank on Becky, he accidentally takes her nose—for real! OH NO! Now Becky and Grandpa Max have to chase Becky’s runny nose all over town—or else, who nose what will happen? With vibrant art and hilarious wordplay, children, parents, and grandparents alike will love the funny, fast-paced picture book tale that Today Show cohost Dylan Dreyer said “will leave you smiling.”

Doubleday 2019

Jasper, an impatient fox, and Ollie, a slow-moving sloth, head to the pool on a summer day, each taking their own unique path.--

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers 2025

Gilbert the Goblin’s beachside vacation gets ruined by mermaids and their games in the side-splitting latest installment in The Worst! picture book series, where even the strangest of creatures can become the best of friends. Who doesn’t love a good vacation? Soaking up some sun, floating on the waves and…arm wrestling an octopus? When mermaids show up in the middle of Gilbert’s goblin getaway, their fin-flapping festivities quickly turn rest and relaxation into stress and aggravation. This is clearly proof that mermaids are the worst! Can Gilbert find his beachside bliss or will he be caught in the undertow of these seaside shenanigans?

Astra Young Readers 2025

Toy Story meets Traction Man Is Here! in this picture book that offers a fresh spin on a universal premise: the secret action-adventure story of a toy. When Red, a game piece, is accidentally left out of the game box, nothing—not a hungry robot nor ferocious Lady Flufferton—will stop Red from reaching home. The unthinkable has happened! Red is alone on the living room floor, far from the safety of the game closet and best pal, Yellow. After almost being devoured by a ravenous robot (a.k.a. the vacuum cleaner), Red embarks on the dangerous journey home. There will be perils—a transparent cliffside to climb, hanging forests to conquer, and the beastly Lady Flufferton (a.k.a. the family dog) to escape. And there will be setbacks—as when Red is found and carelessly tossed into the junk drawer. But in this action-packed, humorous story, Red learns from mistakes and discovers that with perseverance and resourcefulness nothing is impossible.

Revver the squirrel dreams of being a race car driver--or at least a member of the pit crew--but his squirrel survival lessons have taught him nothing about engines.

Revver the squirrel is now an accepted part of the race team (more or less), but he still has a lot to learn, and when the team travels to the airport for a distant race, Revver wanders into the terminal looking for his friends, and gets lost.

A grumpy goblin hates having unicorns as neighbors, but when dragons threaten his home and the unicorns come to the rescue, he has to admit that maybe unicorns are not so bad after all.

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers 2022

In this hilarious follow-up to Unicorns Are the Worst! and Dragons Are the Worst!, Gilbert the Goblin’s next adventure takes him to the frozen tundra where he’s determined to find the legendary yeti.Gilbert the Goblin is the first to admit that he was, ahem, mistaken—unicorns actually throw the best tea parties, and dragons make delicious ice cream soup. This time, though, he can absolutely confirm that YETIS ARE THE WORST!Sure, they may seem cool and mysterious, but once you meet one, he’s CERTAIN they’re not all they’re cracked up to be! And that’s what Gilbert plans to do: meet a yeti. That is, if he can find one…but how hard can that be?