From The Mixed Up Files

Edward who? If this thought came to mind, you are not alone. He was a bit of a mystery man, as he didn’t seek the spotlight. But, what he accomplished in his lifetime still is important today. To solve this mystery, let’s play like Nancy Drew, pull out our magnifying glass, and follow the clues. Clue #1 Edward Stratemeyer was an author of many books for boys. 168 to be exact. Most of the books he wrote under his own name. Some of them he wrote under another name, a pen name, or a pseudonym....

Concerned about books bans? Unsure how best to support schools and libraries in providing books to readers? The organizers behind the annual Banned Books Week (September 22-28, 2024) provides helpful ways to get involved, whether you’re an author, illustrator, publishing professional, teacher, librarian, parent, caregiver, or other concerned citizen.  Here are five ways to help. 1. Celebrate Let Freedom Read Day  The team behind Banned Books Week asks that we all do one thing to keep books in the hands of readers on September 28, 2024. To celebrate Let Freedom Read Day, you could: Register to vote (or update your...

By Faran Fagen Acclaimed author Matt De La Pena’s newest picture book, Home, is coming out in March. However, his little-kept secret is that he’s working on his first middle grade novel in many years that comes out in 2026. Matt zoomed in with the Mixed-Up-Files to tell us about...

Ever wonder about fireflies or glowing ocean waves? Scientists are discovering just how many plants and animals use biofluorescence, bioluminescence, and ultra-violet light and how we might use these phenomena in the future.   Mysterious Glowing Mammals: An Unexpected Discovery Sparks a  Scientific Investigation by Maria Parrott-Ryan When a forest...

By Faran Fagen Acclaimed author Matt De La Pena’s newest picture book, Home, is coming out in March. However, his little-kept secret is that he’s working on his first middle grade novel in many years that comes out in 2026. Matt zoomed in with the Mixed-Up-Files to tell us about...

Do you enjoy maps and diagrams more than directions told to you aloud? Do you love listening to an audiobook while driving, cooking, or gardening? Do your hobbies include crafting, sculpting, building models, woodworking, or jigsaw puzzles? It’s been theorized that our interests, preferences, and hobbies may point to a...

For some of us, the air is starting to feel crisp. The days are getting shorter. And it feels like a good time to cozy up and read. Luckily, we have lots of new middle-grade options to choose from. Here are a few to pick.   The Winterton Deception 2:...

I’m thrilled to welcome Andrews McMeel Kids editor Hannah Kimber to the Mixed-Up Files. She is the proud cat mom of Gordo, Kiko, and Pickle. She is also my editor for HART & SOULS. I am so grateful she could tear herself away from work and her fur babies long...