Author James Solheim

          James Solheim’s books circle the globe and travel through centuries.  They explore the wackiest foods on earth, explain Santa’s sleigh technology, and tell the stories of history through our grandmas.

          First published by Simon & Schuster, It’s Disgusting—and We Ate It has been a hit for Scholastic Book Clubs, Scholastic Book Fairs, Junior Library Guild, and beyond—right up to the current Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Reading Program used in schools to inspire love of learning.

          The Wall Street Journal and PBS included It’s Disgusting—and We Ate It in their lists of best books for getting boys to read.  The Washington Post included it on its list of best books for summer reading.  It was an American Bookseller Pick of the Lists and a Blue Ribbon Book of The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books.

          James Solheim’s picture book Born Yesterday from Philomel at Penguin Random House was a multi-year choice of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, with 446,000 copies donated to children across the U.S. and beyond.  A Junior Library Guild selection, it received starred reviews from Publisher’s Weekly and The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, where it was Big Picture Book of the Month and chosen as one of the ten best picture books of the year.  Born Yesterday was a Children’s Choice book for the Children's Book Council and International Literacy Association—with children themselves choosing it as a favorite.

          His new book—illustrated by New York Times bestselling artist Derek Desierto—explores history through twelve generations of grandmotherly love.   It’s published by Greenwillow Books at HarperCollins, the imprint of Ezra Jack Keats and Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes.  James is currently illustrating two of his own books for Greenwillow with the approach and appeal of It’s Disgusting—and We Ate It!

          Invite him to your school or organization to give one of his “Think Big!” presentations.  These programs help kids set big goals and see the importance of books in reaching them.

          He’ll even do an online visit with your school or book group!

          Contact him at solheimbooks@gmail.com.