Send your students on an online author scavenger hunt. Use the author sites on this page to answer these questions.

1. Find a photograph of Judy Blume's cabin.

2. What author is a pilot?

3. Who is Henry in the book Henry Hikes to Fitchburg?

4. What author trains dogs and has written essays about them?

5. Who wrote The Hat?

6. When did R.L. Stine begin writing stories?

7. Who wrote for Seventeen magazine during her high school years?

8. How did Jean Craighead George get the idea for Julie of the Wolves?

9. Where did Avi get his name?

10. Who tells frog jokes?

AVI

While growing up Avi listened to radio adventures that greatly influenced his writing. In the All About My Books section, he tells interesting tidbits about the stories he has written. Ask questions and discuss topics related to Avi and his books through the online bulletin board. It can be quite fun, especially when you want to know Avi's real name.

Judy Blume

Did you know that Judy was scared of dogs, the dark and thunderstorms just like Sheila Tubman in Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great? Or that Judy's daughter took the family cat to college? These and other fascinating facts are part of the Kids area called Did you Know. Have your students sign the guestbook and read the comments others have written. All of Judy's books are listed with a brief quote. Judy also supplies funny yet candid remarks about writing.

Jan Brett

Enter the world of Jan Brett and you won't want to leave. Not only does she share her beautiful artwork for printing, but complete background information about her books like Armadillo Rodeo and Comet's Nine Lives. Listen to her monthly hedgigram designed as a response to the email letters she receives from students. Watch a delightful streaming video of Jan as she demonstrates how to draw a hedgehog. Still haven't found enough to engage your students? Then, print out the colorful masks from her books like The Mitten or The Hat and have your students act out the stories or browse through the lessons in Piggybacks for Teachers. Jan Brett is truly a teacher's dream come true.

Lois Duncan

Although tragedy struck Lois Duncan's family in 1989 when her daughter Kaitlyn was brutally murdered, she has continued to write. Anyone who has heard her speak at conferences has learned about the parallels between the book she had just completed and her daughter's murder. Duncan kept a journal that became the book, Who Killed My Daughter, as the family attempted to solve the murder. Because it had no ending, her agent didn't think it could be published. When it was printed, many students thought it was fiction even without an ending. Now, there is a Website, Who Killed Kait Arquette, devoted to solving this real life mystery.

Jean Craighead George

Your welcome message on this page is from the author and her Alaskan Malamute, Qimmiq, via a QuickTime movie clip. In another movie segment George describes how she approaches her writing in the morning. You can listen to a couple of audio clips taken from One Day in the Woods, a release by Harper Children's Audio and based on George's book of the same title. For students she gives hints on how to work through the writing process. Her entire book list is linked to Amazon.com for easy ordering.

Virginia Hamilton

Did you know Virginia Hamilton collects frogs? Visit her Web site and contribute a frog joke or listen to hers. Hamilton's personality certainly shines through as she tells her own story and describes a picture taken of her at age five. You can also find the latest about her books and upcoming publications. Be sure to e-mail her at bodeep@aol.com.

D.B. Johnson

Learn about Henry and his journey to Fitchburg. Play a matching game and discover the wildlife illustrated in the book. This is the first children's book D.B Johnson has written, but you would not know it. His illustrations are fabulous with so much depth. In fact, you will want to studey each one carefully so as not to miss any details. Hike over to this Website and enjoy the walk.

Daniel Pinkwater

At The (sort of) Official Daniel Pinkwater Web, tongue-in-cheek humor rules. Outrageously funny, Daniel Pinkwater responds to forum mail, a good place to follow all kinds of dialogue. There are RealAudio excerpts from Dog essays, sound clips for your Macintosh or Windows computer, and a list of Pinkwater's books.

R. L. Stine

Graves come to life as you roll your mouse across the foreboding tombstones. It is a clever navigation trick for Stine's Website. His immensely popular scary stories serve as the backdrop for some great activities at the Goosebumps fun house. You'll never look at your hand in the same way after you engage in palm reading. Kids will love whipping up a batch of slimy stretchy stuff to squeeze and bounce. A brief biography about the author and a comprehensive list of his books round out the page.