Gennifer Choldenko

I think books make the best gifts. And my favorite place to buy books is at indie bookstores. 🎁

Which bookstores will you buy books from this holiday season?

Just realized I need to dump 50 pages of the novel I'm working on.

It's hard to kill your darlings. Even so, the book has become more agile without them.

Maybe it's like the diet my dog has been on. She hates it so much. But now she jumps on the bed effortlessly.

What a kind thing to say. Thank you!

This time last year, I was learning that THE TENTH MISTAKE OF HANK HOOPERMAN was being included on annual "Best Books" lists, from Kirkus Reviews to local school libraries. It meant the world to me.

Thank you to everyone who has shared this book, especially with kids who need it.

I'm so thankful for the support I've received from indie bookstores over the years.

On this #SmallBusinessSaturday, let's shower our bookstores with love. It's a great day to shop for the holidays or treat yourself. You always deserve a book, right?

Bee's Bookshelf Author Spotlight: Gennifer Choldenko The November 2025 selection of the Scripps National Spelling Bee's official book club is THE TENTH MISTAKE OF HANK HOOPERMAN by Gennifer Choldenko. The author describes the plot of the book, some of…

I was so excited when THE TENTH MISTAKE OF HANK HOOPERMAN was chosen as Bee's Bookshelf Book of the Month for November! 🐝

I loved recording this video about the book, my relationship to words, and one word that I wish for all of you! buff.ly/SJurTyE @rhcbschoollibrary.bsky.social

Educators, if you're using one of my books in school this year, I hope you'll check out this page full of discussion guides, resources, and activities for many of my books! 📚💫 buff.ly/U1pCJyr #mglit

Thank you to Naomi Chamblin, the lovely owner of Napa Bookmine, and Michelle Cardozo, the new librarian at Blue Oak for hosting me.

A day spent with kids is the best kind of day.

November 2025 Bee's Bookshelf Win a copy of The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest by Aubrey Hartman, the September selection of the Bee's Bookshelf!

I'm thrilled that THE TENTH MISTAKE OF HANK HOOPERMAN is Bee's Bookshelf Book of the Month for November! 🐝

You can enter this giveaway for a chance to win a copy of the book. Good luck, and happy reading! buff.ly/yxdmkJ8 @rhcbschoollibrary.bsky.social

I don't think there's any better way to recharge your writing batteries than collaboration. 💙

It's been such a joy to write three Dogtown books with my friend @choldenko.bsky.social. We can't wait to share more about book three soon.

@mackidsbooks.bsky.social #mglit

I want to thank Brein Lopez, manager of @childrensbookworld.bsky.social.

Brein was on the Judy Lopez committee, which awarded the 2025 Medal to Hank Hooperman. I even launched my first book at CBW in 1997! (Brein was not there then, but still.)

Thank you, Brein—an unsung hero of the book world!

Love to see the Dutch translation of DOGTOWN! 🐶 @kaaauthor.bsky.social @mackidsbooks.bsky.social

Thank you to read.y on Instagram for the photo.

I loved researching the #TalesFromAlcatraz books. Here's a fun fact:

After prohibition was repealed, Al Capone lobbied to get expiration dates placed on milk cartons. He had a whole fleet of trucks and needed a Unique Selling Proposition for his new product! 🥛🗝️

Here's a bit of hope. We have received an offer to publish DOGTOWN in the Ukraine.

Makes me cry every time I think about it. @mackidsbooks.bsky.social @kaaauthor.bsky.social

"I love my mom and she loves me. But everything she does gets me in trouble. What happens when you love someone like that?"

Thank you to everyone who has shared Hank and Boo's with a kid who needs it.

My dad worked at Walt Disney Studios his entire career. His whole life, he dreamed of having his book published.

After he died, my brother was determined to make Dad’s dream come true. 38 years after his death, Dad's book was published.

buff.ly/YU1v8lD

"Your heart is a muscle. It grows stronger the more you use it."

🐶💙

#Dogtown @kaaauthor @MacKidsBooks #mglit

#WritingTip: Say yes, and... If you encourage your muse, she will hand you more ideas. If you belittle and disparage your own ideas, your muse will go on strike.

So say yes, and...

Nothing compares to letters from kids who connected with Hank's story.

Thank you for reading, L, and thank you so much for writing to me.

“My goal in speaking is to get kids’ brains firing with new ideas. I want them raising their hands. I want them asking questions.”

I'd love to connect with your readers through a virtual school visit! I’m proud to be represented by @theauthorvillage.bsky.social. buff.ly/U8xKPrW

Thank you so much to Yeawon Kim, the translator of the Korean edition of THE TENTH MISTAKE OF HANK HOOPERMAN.

Here is a photo she sent me of the book in Kyobo Bookstore. I love it.

A big thank you to @penguinrandomhouse.bsky.social for featuring THE TENTH MISTAKE OF HANK HOOPERMAN in your "Recommended Reads"!

buff.ly/uTqokiA #mglit

Thank you John!

Haha. Right.

I had a wonderful time at @childrensbookworld.bsky.social last weekend!

Parker and Josiah, thank you so much for interviewing me. I loved talking with you!

And thank you to Gail Kim for presenting me with the Judy Lopez Memorial Award for THE TENTH MISTAKE OF HANK HOOPERMAN. I am verklempt.

When I was fourteen, I had a poster-size picture of a horse's muzzle on my wall.

I guess I haven't changed much.

How adorable is the Japanese translation of Dogtown? 🐶 I love it!

Illustrations by Setsusa Chiaki. Thank you to the publisher, kaiseisha_pr on Instagram, for the photos.

@kaaauthor.bsky.social @mackidsbooks.bsky.social #mglit

Indigenous-Owned Bookstores in the USA and Canada Check out this directory of Indigenous-owned, independent bookstores!

It's #IndigenousPeoplesDay! One way to celebrate and educate ourselves is with a new book by an Indigenous author, from an Indigenous-owned bookstore.

Here is a helpful directory of bookstores from @libro.fm:

Tomorrow, I can't wait to meet you at @childrensbookworld.bsky.social in Los Angeles!

I'll talk about THE TENTH MISTAKE OF HANK HOOPERMAN and the Dogtown series I write with @kaaauthor.bsky.social, answer your questions, and sign books.

See you there! buff.ly/tKkGrzz #mglit

A Dogtown Book Visit Amazon's A Dogtown Book Page and shop for all A Dogtown Book books. Check out pictures, author information, and reviews of A Dogtown Book

Teachers and parents, if you shop on Amazon, you can find the hardcover editions of my #Dogtown books with @choldenko.bsky.social on sale for a very limited time. ❤️🐶

Check out the deal here: www.amazon.com/dp/B0CTVHCM8... @mackidsbooks.bsky.social