I believe that stories lift us, heal us, and connect us.
See all my books below. Buy on Amazon, on Barnes and Noble, or your local independent bookseller.
See also List of Book Awards, Resources Index, Amato Bibliography.
 News from Me, Lucy McGee (Holiday House, coming in Oct 2018)When funny and sweet Lucy is invited to help popular Scarlett fix up her new clubhouse, Lucy is thrilled. But saying yes means skipping the after-school Songwriting Club that Phillip has started. In this humorous and heartfelt story, Lucy discovers how complicated friendships can be—especially when one “friend” has a very mean streak. Lucy’s big heart, her endearing family, and her talent for songwriting help her—but only after she makes some hilarious mistakes along the way. Best for ages 7-10. Hear the songs from the book and more! |
 Open Mic Night at Westminster Cemetery (Carolrhoda Lab, coming in Sept 2018) Sixteen-year-old slam-poet Lacy Brink wakes up dead—and confused—in Westminster Cemetery. It’s the job of Sam, a young soldier who died in 1865, to help her adjust to the strict rules of the afterlife. Lacy proposes hosting an open mic; and when Sam and the other ghosts finally express themselves, surprising emotions emerge in this darkly hilarious tale about truth, forgiveness, and love. Warning: this work contains explicit language and mature themes. Best for ages 15 and up. More info. |
 Snarf Attack, Underfoodle, and the Secret of Life: The Riot Brothers Tell All (Holiday House, special re-release 2017) Meet the Riot Brothers—Orville and Wilbur Riot. Sometimes they are undercover detectives. Other times they challenge each other to see who can get the most underwear on his head in exactly thirty seconds. Best for ages 5-10. Pick of the Decade for 4th grade, NJ State Library; Sequoyah award nominee 2008 masterlist; Sasquatch award nominee 2008 masterlist; Danish edition (Gyldendal, 2010); Turkish and Lithuanian editions coming soon! Riot Brothers Fun Page. |
 Stinky and Successful: The Riot Brothers Never Stop (Holiday House, 2017) The Riot Brothers are back. Whether defeating a bully with Operation Armpit or winning an April Fool’s joke war with their mother, Orville and Wilbur Riot love a good adventure–especially if it involves stinky socks! Best for ages 5-10. Winner of the KC-3 Children’s Book Award 2009-2010. Danish edition (Gyldendal, 2010); Korean edition (JDM Joongang, 2009). Riot Brothers Fun Page. |
 Drooling and Dangerous: The Riot Brothers Return (Holiday House, 2017) The Riot Brothers are never bored. They won’t allow it! Whether it’s a school day, a snow day, or a switch day, Orville and Wilbur won’t let anything get in the way of having fun. Watch out for bug sandwiches—and be careful picking up that toothbrush! Best for ages 5-10. Winner of the KC3 Children’s Book Award 2008-2009. Bank Street Children’s Book Committee Best Children’s Book of 2007 in humor category for ages 5-9; Children’s Choices (IRA and CBC) for 2007; Korean editions (JDM Joongang, 2008); Danish edition, Gyldendal, 2010. Riot Brothers Fun Page. |
 Take the Mummy and Run: The Riot Brothers are on a Roll (Holiday House, 2017) Orville and Wilbur Riot aren’t sure what to expect when their cousin comes to visit. But adventure-loving Amelia E. Hart is just the kind of cousin these two crazy boys have always wanted! Whether hunting for lost mummies or creating their own water park, there’s never a dull moment. Best for ages 5-10. Danish edition (Gyldendal, 2010) Riot Brothers Fun Page. |
 Our Teacher is a Vampire and Other (Not) True Stories (Holiday House, 2016) The fifth graders in Mrs. Penrose’s class desperately want to write a story together in their secret journal. But getting a great idea for a story is hard and collaborating is even harder—especially when you throw a perfectionist, a new kid, a class clown, a schemer, and a ghoul-lover into the mix. When their beloved teacher has to take a leave of absence, they have to rely on each other and what they learn from a special author to write their masterpiece. Best for ages 7-11. Activity Guide,Teaching Packet to Show the Publishing Process. |
 Good Crooks Book One: Missing Monkey! (Egmont USA, 2014; Darby Creek, 2015) A hilarious new series for K-4. Billy and Jillian Crook have a big problem. Their parents are crooks, but they want to do good deeds! Publishers Weekly says: “the book’s many gags and sweetly absurd resolutions to the outlandish problems that arise will have beginning readers eager for more chaotic misadventures from these well-meaning Crooks.”. Best for ages 7-10A Book of the Month Club selection. See Common Core Teaching Guides, Readers Theater Script, and Downloadable Stick Puppets. |
 Good Crooks Book Two: Dog Gone! (Egmont USA, 2014; Darby Creek, 2015) When their thieving parents kidnap a rich and famous TV dog, twins Billy and Jillian, tired of being crooks, try to return the dog to its rightful owner. Best for ages 7-10. A Book of the Month Club selection. See Common Core Teaching Guides, Readers Theater Script, and Downloadable Stick Puppets. |
 Good Crooks Book Three: Sniff a Skunk! (Egmont USA, 2015; Darby Creek, 2015) Billy and Jillian’s infamous parents, the Crooks, expect the kids to find a new place to rob. Instead, the twins discover a lonely little orphan skunk in need of help. Will they be able to rescue the skunk and keep their parents from pulling off the next heist? Will their new furry friend help by raising a stink? How can a good deed smell so bad? Best for ages 7-10. See Common Core Teaching Guides and Games and listen to the Stinky Style Song! |
 Good Crooks Book Four: the grand finale audio book for this series is running late! Hoping to announce the release in February 2019.
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 Get Happy (Egmont USA, 2014; Carolrhoda Lab, 2015) Sixteen-year-old Minerva wants a ukulele for her birthday. What she gets instead is a letter from her long-lost father asking to reconnect. A novel about music, love, friends, and the search for identity. The novel includes six original songs, which readers can listen to on the website. Best for ages 12 and up. More info on the book and music. No violence, profanity, or explicit content. |
 Guitar Notes (Egmont USA, 2012; Carolrhoda Lab, 2015) Two teens discover a powerful connection through music and songwriting. The unique graphics in this novel show the songwriting process from draft to completion and readers can hear the original songs that accompany the book. Best for ages 12 and up. No violence, profanity, or explicit content. Find out more at thrumsociety.com. Winner of the Utah Beehive Book Award; Kentucky Bluegrass Award, South Carolina Junior Book Award, and Connecticut’s Nutmeg Award nominations. |
 The Naked Mole-Rat Letters (Holiday House, 2005) When her father begins a long-distance romance with a zookeeper from Washington, D.C., twelve-year-old Frankie attempts to sabotage the relationship. Best for ages 10-14. Mark Twain Award 2008 masterlist;William Allen White Award 2008 masterlist; Sequoyah Award 2008 masterlist; Charlotte Award 2008 masterlist; Land of Enchantment Award 2008 masterlist; Rebecca Caudill 2010 masterlist; German edition (DTV, 2007);Japanese edition (Tokuma Shoten, 2011)Reading guide; More on The Naked Mole-Rat Letters |
 Edgar Allan’s Official Crime Investigation Notebook (Holiday House, 2010) In this humorous and touching mystery, fifth grader Edgar Allan tries to catch a thief who leaves poetry instead of fingerprints at the crime scenes. Best for ages 8-12. Bluestem Award (IL) nominee 2014; Tennessee Volunteer State Award nominee 2013; Sunshine State Award nominee 2013 Interdisciplinary Exploration with Discussion Questions,Readers Theater Script Vocabulary List, Poetry Activities, More on Edgar Allan |
 Invisible Lines (Egmont USA, 2009; Carolrhoda Books, 2015) A funny and poignant book about a talented and struggling 7th grade boy with grit named Trevor whofinds inspiration in the unlikely study of mushrooms. Best for ages 10-14. California Young Readers Medal nominee for grades 6-9 2012-2013; Truman (Missouri) Master list 2011-2012; German edition (Carlsen, 2012) Interdisciplinary Exploration Unit Discussion Guide More on Invisible Lines |
 Please Write in This Book (Holiday House, 2006) When a teacher leaves a blank book in the Writer’s Corner for her students to find, with the instructions to “Please Write in This Book,” a great clash ensues. Best for ages 6-10. Winner of the Maud Hart Lovelace Award 2011-2012; Book of the Month Club edition, 2007; November pick for Read On! Wisconsin. Reading guide; An interview with Eric Brace More on Please Write in This Book |
 The Word Eater (Holiday House, 2000) A sixth-grade loner finds a magic worm that has the power to make things disappear. Will she use this power wisely or get revenge at her new school? Best for ages 8-12. Winner of the AZLA Young Readers Award (2004); Maud Hart Lovelace 2007 masterlist;Sasquatch 2003 masterlist;Sunshine 2004 masterlist;Land of Enchantment 2003 masterlist;GCBA 2004 masterlist; Korean editions, (Design House, 2001) (JDM Joongang,2008) Reading guide;More on The Word Eater |
 The Chicken of the Family (Penguin Putnam, 2008) Henrietta’s sisters love to tease her. When they convince her that she’s a chicken instead of a little girl, she heads off to the farm to find her real family. What she discovers there will have readers squawking with delight. Best for ages 4-6. Winner of the 2009 Buckeye Children’s Book Award. Korean Edition (JDM Joongang, 2009);Publishers Weekly Starred Review; Junior Library Guild Choice; Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books Starred Review;Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books Blue Ribbon Choice (2008); Charlotte Zolotow Award Committee’s Highly Commended title (2009);Cooperative Children’s Book Center Choice (2009);Red Clover Book Award (Vermont) Master List (2009-2010);Great Lakes Great ks Master List (Michigan) (2009-2010);Beehive (Utah) Book Award Master List (2009-2010);Selected for Dollywood’s Imagination Library program;Read on Wisconsin! Book Club Choice Summer 2009; Selected for Society of Illustrator’s Original Art Show 2008;Starred review Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books.The Chicken of the Family Reader’s Theater ScriptThe Chicken of the Family Musical More on The Chicken of the Family |
Sequoyah 2008 masterlistSasquatch 2008 masterlistDanish edition, Gyldendal, 2010