Illustrator & Author Profile
James Stevenson
21 Books
James Stevenson was a prolific American author, illustrator, and cartoonist whose work frequently appeared in The New Yorker. In the realm of children's literature, he wrote and illustrated over a hundred of his own picture books, including 'Emma' and the beloved 'Grandpa' series. He is also deeply remembered for his lively illustrations in Jack Prelutsky's iconic poetry collections and Judy Blume's 'The Pain and the Great One'.
At Easter, Grandpa remembers the year he set out to find a truly special egg for his friend Charlotte. Not just a pretty egg, or a big egg, but the great big especially beautiful Easter egg. In Grandpa’s telling, a simple holiday search becomes a much larger adventure.
James Stevenson brings his familiar mix of warmth, dry humor, and tall-tale energy to this Grandpa story. Young readers can enjoy the Easter setting, the sense of quest, and the way Grandpa turns a childhood memory into something grand and surprising. It is a cheerful seasonal picture book for children who like family stories with a playful adventure tucked inside.
6-8 Years
32 Pages
Emma is a young witch who wants to fly on her broom, but learning is not easy. There are false starts, teasing witches, and plenty of chances to feel discouraged. With help from her friends, Emma keeps trying to find her own way into the air.
This gentle, funny picture book gives beginning readers a magical heroine who is sweet, determined, and easy to root for. James Stevenson blends witchy mischief with a warm story about practice, friendship, and not letting others’ teasing decide what you can do. For children who like magic without too much scariness, Emma offers a cheerful flight into a small but satisfying adventure.
6-8 Years
32 Pages
After a scary story, Mary Ann and Louie cannot settle down. The dark feels too dark, bedtime feels too long, and the space under the bed seems full of possibilities they would rather not imagine. Grandpa understands, because he remembers being frightened at bedtime when he was young.
In this funny and reassuring Grandpa story, James Stevenson turns nighttime fear into something children can look at, laugh about, and talk through. The story keeps its spooky feeling gentle, making it well suited for readers who enjoy a little suspense without being overwhelmed. It is a warm picture book about family comfort, bedtime worries, and the strange power of imagination after lights-out.
6-8 Years
32 Pages
The Worst Person in the World is on vacation at Crab Beach, and he is just as disagreeable as ever. Sunshine, sand, and the seaside do not improve his mood. Then he meets Miriam and her son, Cranston, and his already miserable vacation becomes even more difficult.
James Stevenson’s beach story is funny because its characters are so stubbornly unpleasant, yet somehow impossible to resist. Young readers will enjoy the exaggerated grumpiness, the seaside setting, and the comic clash of personalities. This picture book is a good fit for children who like humor with a prickly edge, where nobody has to become sweet and perfect for the story to be enjoyable.
6-8 Years
32 Pages
Mary Ann and Louie are worried about moving to a new neighborhood. New streets can feel lonely, and the thought of having no friends is hard to shake. Grandpa knows that feeling, too, so he tells them about a time when he and his brother moved and had to meet new children themselves.
No Friends is a warm Grandpa story about one of childhood’s biggest worries: finding where you belong. James Stevenson treats the fear gently, using memory, humor, and family storytelling to make the problem feel less heavy. Young readers facing a move, a new class, or a new group will recognize Mary Ann and Louie’s concern and enjoy Grandpa’s old story of uncertain beginnings.
6-8 Years
32 Pages
Mary Ann and Louie are not impressed with their new baby brother. Willy is noisy, helpless, and not much fun to play with. When they complain to Grandpa, he has a story ready: his own baby brother was once even worse.
Worse Than Willy! is a funny family picture book about the mixed feelings that can come with a new baby. James Stevenson uses Grandpa’s storytelling to help young readers laugh at jealousy, disappointment, and the strange adjustment of sharing family attention. The result is warm without being preachy, making it a useful and entertaining choice for children who are learning how a younger sibling can change everyday life.
6-8 Years
32 Pages
Mary Ann and Louie have a serious problem: the day feels empty, slow, and completely boring. Luckily, Grandpa knows just what that feels like. He remembers a long-ago visit to a quiet farm with his brother Wainey, where there seemed to be nothing to do at all.
But in Grandpa’s stories, ordinary days rarely stay ordinary for long. A sleepy farm, a restless little brother, and one bold idea soon turn boredom into a comic adventure. James Stevenson’s gentle humor and lively storytelling make this picture book a warm read for children who know the feeling of having nothing to do, and for grown-ups who know that a good story can change everything.
6-8 Years
32 Pages
Howard the duck has missed the big migration south, and now winter is coming to New York City without him. While the other ducks are far away in warmer places, Howard must figure out how to manage cold streets, city noises, and a season he was never supposed to face alone.
This quiet, funny picture book follows one small duck in a very big city. James Stevenson gives Howard’s problem a gentle comic touch, making his chilly adventure feel both unusual and easy to understand. For young readers, it is a satisfying animal story about being left behind, making do, and discovering that an unexpected place can still become part of the journey.
6-8 Years
32 Pages
Monty the alligator has an important job: he helps Rabbit, Duck, and Frog get across the river to school. Then Monty goes on vacation, and suddenly the morning trip is not so simple. Without their alligator friend, the three animals must find another way across.
Told in a comic book style, this playful story turns a small problem into a cheerful challenge. Young readers can follow the animal friends as they try to solve a practical problem with humor and persistence. James Stevenson’s simple setup, expressive characters, and visual storytelling make Monty a friendly choice for children moving from picture books toward more independent illustrated reading.
6-8 Years
32 Pages
When sleep will not come, Grandpa has a very unusual solution. It is not a glass of water, a lullaby, or counting sheep. It is something much stranger, and somehow his cure for sleeplessness begins to work on more than just Grandpa.
We Can’t Sleep is a gently funny bedtime story from James Stevenson’s Grandpa series. The story has the cozy feeling of a family visit, with just enough silliness to make nighttime feel less serious. Young readers who know the frustration of lying awake will enjoy watching Grandpa turn a common bedtime problem into a comic family moment, told with Stevenson’s dry humor and warm illustrations.
6-8 Years
32 Pages
Mary Ann and Louie are ready for Halloween frights, but Grandpa is impossible to scare. Masks, tricks, and spooky surprises do not seem to work on him at all. Then Grandpa explains that he has not been easily frightened since one terrible Halloween night long ago.
As the children listen, Grandpa begins one of his wild old stories, this time wrapped in Halloween shadows and comic suspense. James Stevenson keeps the mood just scary enough for young readers, with plenty of humor to soften the shivers. This Grandpa picture book is a lively pick for children who enjoy spooky seasonal stories that are more funny than frightening.
6-8 Years
32 Pages
Grandpa once had a garden that was almost too good. At least, that is how the story begins when he tells Mary Ann and Louie about the year his brother Wainey helped him plant. With Wainey involved, a simple garden is not likely to stay simple for long.
This gentle comic picture book brings together family storytelling, childhood mischief, and the small surprises of growing things. James Stevenson’s dry humor makes Grandpa’s memory feel both old-fashioned and fresh, while the garden setting gives young readers something familiar to picture. It is a warm choice for children who like funny family stories, outdoor settings, and the way one helpful person can accidentally make everything more interesting.
6-8 Years
32 Pages
At Mud Flat, the Olympics are not quite like any games you have seen before. The animals compete in events such as the Deepest Hole Contest, the All-Snail High Hurdles, and River-Cross Freestyle, where winning is only part of the fun.
James Stevenson’s Mud Flat world is full of oddball animal competitors, small surprises, and cheerful nonsense. The short, lively episodes make this a friendly choice for young readers who enjoy illustrated chapter books with humor and a clear sense of community. Whether the animals win their events or simply make it to the picnic afterward, the story keeps the mood light, playful, and welcoming.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
56 Pages
Grandpa never seems excited. A flat tire, a ruined sofa, a bad day at the house—he always answers with the same calm words: Could be worse. To Mary Ann and Louie, that makes him seem dull, until one morning he tells a story that is anything but ordinary.
Could Be Worse! is a classic Grandpa tale full of dry humor and wild exaggeration. James Stevenson begins with everyday family moments, then lets Grandpa’s storytelling stretch into a grand adventure. Young readers will enjoy the contrast between Grandpa’s quiet manner and the outrageous tale he shares, while adults will recognize the book’s clever rhythm and understated comic style.
6-8 Years
36 Pages
Emma wants to make magic, but two mean witches refuse to let her join in their potion-making. Instead of giving up, Emma finds her own way forward, with a little help from animal friends and a lot of imagination.
Yuck! is a playful witch story with a kind heart. James Stevenson gives young readers a heroine who is left out but not defeated, and the magical setting keeps the story light, funny, and a little messy in the best way. Children who enjoy witches, animals, and stories about using cleverness instead of meanness will find plenty to like in Emma’s unusual brand of magic.
6-8 Years
32 Pages
Step right up and meet the strange, silly, and undeniably hilarious cast of characters waiting inside these pages. From the mysterious Baloney Belly Billy to the delightfully odd Gloopy Gloopers, every turn of the page introduces a new, unforgettable face. This wildly popular collection of poetry is packed with bouncy rhythms, catchy rhymes, and situations that are wonderfully absurd. Whether you love reading about mischievous kids, peculiar monsters, or everyday events gone completely wrong, there is a poem here to make you smile. Jack Prelutsky has a special talent for turning the English language upside down and backwards, creating verses that are as fun to read aloud as they are to read silently. Grab a comfortable seat and get ready to laugh your way through one of the most entertaining poetry books you will ever read.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
159 Pages
How hungry do you have to be to eat a pizza as massive as a star? Get ready to stretch your imagination and your laugh muscles in this enormous collection of wildly funny poetry. From food that defies the laws of physics to strange creatures doing impossible things, these rhymes celebrate the absolute joy of pure nonsense. You will find yourself reading about ridiculous situations, peculiar people, and ideas that are so silly they actually make perfect sense. The bouncy rhythms and incredibly clever wordplay make these verses impossible to read without smiling. Whether you are reading silently in your room or chanting the lines out loud with your friends, the energy inside these pages is completely contagious. Open the cover, grab a huge slice of fun, and let the laughter begin.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
164 Pages
Meet Abigail. She is in the third grade, and she thinks she is absolutely brilliant. That is why she calls herself The Great One. Meet Jacob. He is in the first grade, and according to his sister, he is a massive nuisance. That is why she calls him The Pain. Whether they are getting bad haircuts, learning how to ride a bicycle, or helping out with Saturday morning chores, these two siblings rarely agree on anything. Jacob thinks his older sister is too bossy, while Abigail thinks her little brother gets away with everything. But even though they argue constantly and drive each other completely crazy, they secretly know that life would be incredibly boring without one another. Dive into seven funny, warmhearted adventures that perfectly capture the ups and downs of living with a sibling.
6-8 Years
128 Pages
Something big has definitely arrived, and it is bringing a massive dose of laughter right along with it. In this spectacular collection of funny verses, you will meet a bizarre and lovable cast of characters that will stay with you long after you close the cover. Prepare to cross paths with four extremely vain tortoises, a highly cultured rat, the incredibly strong Super Samson Simpson, and a piece of meatloaf that is so tough it can completely ruin an ax. From flying hotdogs to peculiar pets, the imagination in these pages knows absolutely no bounds. The bouncy rhymes and catchy rhythms make these poems incredibly easy to read aloud, memorize, and chant with your friends. If you enjoy pure silliness, strange situations, and words that make you giggle, this book is an absolute must read.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
160 Pages
First grader Jacob and third grader Abigail are back, and they still do not see eye to eye. To Jacob, his older sister will always be The Great One. To Abigail, her little brother will forever be The Pain. But when they are at school, they realize that having a sibling in the same building can actually be surprisingly helpful. Whether it is dealing with a loose tooth that falls out on the school bus, trying to catch a runaway visitor on Bring Your Pet to School Day, or standing up to a mean bully who calls you names, some days are just easier when you have family nearby. Even their cat, Fluzzy, seems to understand that siblings need to stick together. Join this hilarious duo for a brand new set of everyday adventures that prove nobody has your back quite like a brother or sister.
6-8 Years
109 Pages
Sally knows a lady in her neighborhood who makes the world feel warmer. The lady grows flowers, waves when children pass her house, and bakes cookies at Christmastime. She is not famous or grand, but Sally notices the kindness in the small things she does.
I Know a Lady is a gentle picture book about community, friendship across generations, and the quiet importance of being seen. Its story helps young readers appreciate the people who make a neighborhood feel like home: the ones who remember you, greet you, and share simple gifts. Warm and observant, it is a lovely choice for children ages six to eight who enjoy realistic stories about kindness, neighbors, and everyday connection.
6-8 Years
28 Pages
