Jarrett J. Krosoczka

Jarrett J. Krosoczka used to be a goofy kid that liked to draw. Now, he is a published author/illustrator with many books to his credit. Growing up in Worcester, MA Jarrett drew relentlessly and always had a cast of characters that he wrote stories for. In 9th grade, Jarrett won a contest with The Worcester Telegram & Gazette and for the first time—saw his work in print. This sparked a fire within. He went on to graduate from the Rhode Island School of Design, after being initially rejected. It was in his senior year that he received his first illustration job for a national educational publisher. Then, six months after graduating RISD, Jarrett carried his portfolio into New York City and landed a contract for his first book. He immediately ran to a pay phone to share the good news with his grandparents. Good Night, Monkey Boy was published on June 12, 2001 and Jarrett has since been busy producing more picture books—including Baghead; Bubble Bath Pirates; Annie Was Warned; Max for President; Punk Farm; Giddy Up, Cowgirl; My Buddy, Slug and Punk Farm on Tour. With the publication of Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute and Lunch Lady and the League of Librarians in July of 2009, Jarrett has embarked on a new journey in his career—that as a graphic novelist. Jarrett has been chosen by Print as one of their 20 top new visual artists under 30 and has had his work short listed by Newsweek, USA Today, The Boston Globe and The New York Times, among others. His books have landed on numerous recommendation lists, including the Texas 2X2 list and the IRA/CBC Children's Choice Awards. Jarrett's Punk Farm and Lunch Lady series are both currently in development as feature films. With new picture book projects, as well as new Lunch Lady books on the horizon, Jarrett is happily living out his childhood dream in Northampton, MA where he resides with his wife and daughter and their pug, Ralph Macchio.

A National Book Award Finalist! In kindergarten, Jarrett Krosoczka's teacher asks him to draw his family, with a mommy and a daddy. But Jarrett's family is much more complicated than that. His mom is an addict, in and out of rehab, and in and out of Jarrett's life. His father is a mystery -- Jarrett doesn't know where to find him, or even what his name is. Jarrett lives with his grandparents -- two very loud, very loving, very opinionated people who had thought they were through with raising children until Jarrett came along. Jarrett goes through his childhood trying to make his non-normal life as normal as possible, finding a way to express himself through drawing even as so little is being said to him about what's going on. Only as a teenager can Jarrett begin to piece together the truth of his family, reckoning with his mother and tracking down his father. Hey, Kiddo is a profoundly important memoir about growing up in a family grappling with addiction, and finding the art that helps you survive.