Where I'll be...

2020 Upcoming Events Open to the Public

All personal appearances on hold due to Covid-19.

Where I've been . . .

2019

Book Festival

Illinois Reads Book Festival
Waukegan, Illinois
Opening ceremony, author panels, and signing.
The Illinois Reading Council chose Out of the Wild Night as one of its top statewide reads for 2019.
http://illinoisreads.org/home.html

School Visit

Churchill School
Homewood, Illinois

Book Festival
Nantucket Book Festival
Nantucket, Massachusetts
The three-day Nantucket Book Festival featured over two dozen nationally acclaimed authors.
https://nantucketbookfestival.org/

Authors Cherie Burns and Steve Axelrod join Blue at the Atheneum Library
for the Nantucket Book Festival's "Mystery Panel: The Art of Great Storytelling

2018

Conference
2018 International Literacy Association
Austin, Texas
~Panel Discussion, Reading Detectives: Using Middle Grade Mysteries to Grow Curious Readers, moderated by John Schumacher
~Author Meet-up Sessions, Children's Literature Day

Moderated Discussion
Atheneum Library
Nantucket, Massachusetts
Writing for the Long Haul
Novelist Nancy Thayer and I chat with literary agent Meg Ruley

In-store Ghost Story Writing Workshop
as part of  Children's Book Week
The Book Stall
Winnetka, Illinois

A treat for me, working with these young writers

School Visit
Weymouth Middle School, Adams Campus
East Weymouth, Massachusetts

Thanks to teacher Kate McCue-Day and An Unlikely Story bookstore, had an amazing visit with 1,000 fifth and sixth graders and lunch with faculty

Bookstore Talk and Signing
An Unlikely Story
Plainville, Massachusetts

An evening talk and signing at An Unlikely Story-- a wonderful independent bookstore

Bookstore Signing
Mitchell's Book Corner
Nantucket, Massachusetts

Thanks to Mitchell's Book Corner for this fantastic window display

Nice to be on Nantucket for Daffodil Weekend!

School Visit
Isidor Newman School
New Orleans, Louisiana

New Orleans kids have lots of questions about writing and Out of the Wild Night

School Visit
St. George's Episcopal School
New Orleans, Louisiana

New Orleans has a huge number of stories about encounters with ghosts

Bookstore Talk and Signing
Octavia Books
New Orleans, Louisiana

Talking ghosts with Octavia Books co-owner Judith Lafitte

Bookstore Talk and Signing
Anderson's Bookshop
Naperville, IL

Sharing ghost stories on a snowy night

School Visit
Lincoln Elementary School
Wheaton, IL

Pin-drop listeners

School Visit
Benjamin Middle School
West Chicago, IL

About to be devoured by a Bengal tiger

Book Launch, Talk, and Signing
57th Street Books
Chicago, Illinois

In conversation with Lab School librarian Cynthia Oakes

Author Visit
Tutoring Chicago
Chicago, Illinois
Mission: "Tutoring Chicago develops a foundation for life-long learning by providing free one-to-one tutoring and mentoring to economically disadvantaged children." Scholastic donated a copy of Out of the Wild Night for each student.

Speaker at Fundraiser
Chicago Coalition for the Homeless
CCH St. Patrick's Day Fundraiser Event
Over 300 people attended, held at the River Roast in Chicago

Michael Nameche of CCH with student speakers
Chrishauna Thompson and Shacoorri Jackson

2017

Note from Blue

2017 was a writing year for me. I'm very excited to report that I have a new, very ghosty book, Out of the Wild Night, which will be out March 27, 2018.

School Visit
Hohocus Pubic Schools
Hohocus, New Jersey

Chatting about the writing process with some Hohocus kids

Amazing painting by Samantha, inspired by Vermeer's A Lady Writing

Carl Sandburg Literary Awards Dinner
Author Guest
Chicago Library Foundation
The Forum, University of Illinois--Chicago
Chicago, Illinois
Honorees: Margaret Atwood, Dave Eggers, and Natalie Moore

The Carl Sandburg Literary Awards Dinner raises funds for the Chicago Public Library Foundation and funds innovative programs at Chicago Public Library. The awards recognize literary and artistic achievements of established and emerging writers and artists.

Here I am onstage with the Mayor and 85 other authors with Chicago ties at the
2017 Carl Sanburg Literary Awards dinner. Can you find me?

Author Visit
Tutoring Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

Chatting about writing with Tutoring Chicago kids 

School Visit
Brown Elementary School
Reagan Elementary School
Brownsville, Indiana

Panel
50 Years Later: A Celebration of "From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler"
with kids' authors Chris Grabenstein, Wendy Mass and Alexander London
Symphony Space
New York, New York

Chris Grabenstein, Alexander London, Wendy Mass, and me

2016

School Visit
Winchester Elementary School
Canal, Ohio

School Visit
Webster Transitional School
Cedarburg, Wisconsin

7th graders dig for the elements of good writing

Webster assembly 

School Visit
Milwaukee Jewish Day School
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Teacher Jim Ross with Blue

7th grade writers workshop at MJDS

2015

School Visit
Blair Elementary School
Waukesha, Wisconsin

School Visit
Wilson Elementary School
Mequon, Wisconsin

Talk and Signing
Hosted by the Boswell Book Company
Whitefish Bay Library
5420 N. Marlboro Drive
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

School Visit
Nature Hill Intermediate School
Oconomowoc, Wisconsin

School Visit
Silver Lake Intermediate School
Oconomowoc, Wisconsin

School Visit (a Scholastic Book Fairs event)
Forest Road School
LaGrange Park, Illinois

School Visit (a Scholastic Book Fairs event)
Brook Park Elementary School
LaGrange Park, Illinois

School Visit (a Scholastic Book Fairs event)
Old Quarry Middle School
Lemont, Illinois

School Visit (a Scholastic Book Fairs event)
Pierce Downers Elementary School
Downers Grove, Illinois

School Visit (a Scholastic Book Fairs event)
Hough Street School
Barrington, Illinois

School Visit (a Scholastic Book Fairs event)
North Barrington Elementary School
Barrington, Illinois

School Visit
Wakanda Elementary School
Menomonie, Wisconsin

Waconda Elementary School

Panel
Society of Midland Authors
Chicago, Illinois

Talk and Signing
Powell's Books
Chicago, Illinois

Workshop with 80 5th graders
Wings Park Elementary School
Oelwein, Iowa

Mr. Rubin's fifth graders roll-playing Calder, Petra, and Tommy

Talk and Questions w/550 3rd through 7th graders
Williams Center for the Performing Arts
Oelwein, Iowa

Williams Center for the Performing Arts

School Visit
Center for Inquiry at School 27
Indianapolis, Indiana

School Visit
Orchard School
Indianapolis, Indiana

School Visit
Happy Hollow School
West Lafayette, Indiana

Mrs. Stan's 5th grade class at Happy Hollow Elementary School 

Happy Hollow student illustration for Pieces and Players

School Visit
River Woods Elementary School
Naperville, Illinois

School Visit
Olive-Mary Stitt Elementary School
Arlington Heights, Illinois

Evening In-Store Event
Anderson's Two Door East Gift Shop
Naperville, Illinois

School Visit
Stone Academy
Chicago, Illinois

With Stone Academy Librarian and author Esme Codel. Esme wrote Educating Esme: Diary of a First Year Teacher.

Stone Academy 

School Visit
John B. Murphy Elementary School
Chicago, Illinois

Murphy School Auditorium

Chatting with Murphy School kids

School Visit

Lincolnwood School

Evanston, Illinois

School Visit

Bessie Rhodes School

Skokie, Illinois

School Visit
Joseph Sears School
Kenilworth, Illinois


School Visit
Edgebrook School
Chicago, Illinois

School Visits, Talks and Signings

Downers Grove Author Fest 2015

Whittier Elementary School

Kingley Elementary School
Indian Trail Elementary School
Fairmount Elementary School
El Sierra Elementary School
Downers Grove Public Library
Downers Grove, Illinois

Downers Grove School Visit

School Visit, Writers Workshop
Field Middle School
Northbrook, Illinois

Field Middle School Writers Workshop

57th Street Books
Book Launch, Talk and Signing
Chicago, Illinois

At Book Launch for Pieces and Players, 57th Street Books 

University of Chicago Laboratory Schools

School Visit
Chicago, Illinois

Lab School 5th Graders

Signing, Scholastic Literary Event & Reception
American Library Association
Midwinter Conference
Chicago, Illinois

Asilomar Reading Conference
Fireside Chat, Signing
Asilomar Conference Center
Pacific Grove, California

Maercker Intermediate School
School Visit with 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders
Westmont, Illinois

Maercker 4th Graders

Working with Pentominoes

All-school read: Chasing Vermeer

2014

Carl Sandburg Literary Awards Dinner
Author Guest
Chicago Library Foundation
The Forum, University of Illinois--Chicago
Chicago, Illinois
Honorees:
Guest authors: http://bit.ly/1vSko24

Sheboygen Children's Book Festival

Talks, Signing, and School Visits

Sheboygan, Wisconsin
http://bit.ly/1iRILKW

James Madison Elementary School

Children's Literature Conference
Keynote Address, Roundtable Discussions, and Signing
Shenandoah University
Winchester, Virginia
http://bit.ly/1m17SuS



















Ohio Association of Elementary School Administrators (OAESA)
Closing Keynote Speaker and Signing
Kalahari Resort
Sandusky, Ohio

Gary Comer Middle School
School Visit
Chicago, Illinois

Gary Comer Middle School

Copeland Manor School

School Visit
Libertyville, Illinois

Downers Grove Author Fest
Talks and Signing
Downers Grove, Illinois
Plus School Visits at the following area schools . . .
Lester, Hillcrest, Belle Air, Hillcrest Family Night,
Pierce Downer, Highland, Herrick Middle School
http://bit.ly/1gqSisY

Oscar DePriest Elementary School

Oscar DePriest Elementary School Visit

School Visit
Chicago, Illinois

Independence Public Library
Talk and Signing
Independence, Iowa

Anderson's Literary Breakfast
Signing
Woodridge, Illinois

Teen Author Series
Free Library of Philadelphia
Talk and Signing
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Absecon Schools
School Visit
Absecon, New Jersey


2013

Fourth Annual Chicago Literary Hall of Fame 
Induction Ceremony
Featured Speaker on L. Frank Baum
Roosevelt University
Chicago, Illinois

Me giving a talk on inductee L. Frank Baum,
author of many children's books,
including "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz."

Bob Baum accepts the award on behalf
of his great-grandfather,  L. Frank Baum.

Bob Baum, looking very much like the Wizard!

Illinois Reads Family Reading Night
Mattoon, Illinois

Chicago Coalition for the Homeless
Leadership Circle Reception
Panel Discussion, moderated by Elizabeth Brackett of WTTW's Chicago Tonight
Hotel Allegro
Chicago, Illinois

Carl Sandberg Literary Awards Dinner
Chicago Public Library Foundation
Author Guest
The Forum, University of Illinois--Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

The Children's Book Fair
Signing
Nichols Park in Hyde Park
Chicago, Illinois

American Library Association Conference
Signing
McCormick Place
Chicago, Illinois

Harold Washington Library Center, Children's Room
Author Talk and Signing
Chicago, Illinois

Critical Thinking with Common Core Conference
Keynote Speaker
Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Speaking to teachers at Common Core conference at Middle Tennessee State University

University of Chicago Laboratory Schools
Author Talk and Signing
Chicago, Illinois

Books of Wonder
Author Talk and Signing
New York, New York

Taking a photo of Chasing Vermeer tattoos at Books of Wonder in NYC

Starved Rock Reading Council YA Celebration
School Visit and Dinner Keynote
North Utica, Illinois 

Texas Library Association Conference
Author Panel and Signing, Scholastic Literary Brunch, Texas YA Teatime
Fort Worth, Texas

The Westwood School (in conjunction with Children's Bookworld)
Author Talk and Signing
Los Angeles, California

The Pegasus School (in conjunction with A Whale of a Tale)
Author Talk and Signing
Irvine, California

Los Angeles Times Festival of Books
Middle Grade Fiction Panel: 
Ordinary Kids, Extraordinary Adventures
Moderator: Cecil Castellucci,
with Pseudonymous Bosch and Stuart Gibbs
Los Angeles, CA

LA Times Festival of Books

Sedge Thomson's West Coast Live
Radio Interview
San Francisco, CA

Juana Briones School
School Visit
Palo Alto, CA

Juana Briones School, Palo Alto

Union Middle School
School Visit
San Jose, CA

Hicklebee's Books

Author Talk and Signing
San Jose, CA

American Planning Association 
National Planning Conference
Closing Keynote Speaker
Chicago, Illinois

Photo by Joe Szurszewski, courtesy of APA

APA Closing Keynote

Kankakee Area Schools
School Visits
Kennedy Upper Grade, Lincoln Cultural Center
Kankakee, IL

Kankakee Public Library
Author Talk and Signing
Kankakee, IL

Hubbleville Middle School
School Visit
Warrenville, Illinois

Arlene Lyne, owner of Read Between the Lynes, 

Woodstock, Illinois.  (photo by Jack Bechaud)

Read Between the Lynes
Author Talk and Signing
Woodstock, IL

Woodstock Area Schools
School Visits
Northwood Middle School,
Prairiewood Elementary School
Woodstock, IL

Woodstock Public Library
Author Talk and Signing
Woodstock, IL

The Burley School
School Visit
Chicago, IL

Sidwell Friends School
School Visit
Bethesda, MD 

St. Louis Area
School Visits
Boone Trails Elementary, Villa Duchesne/Oak Hill School, Point Elementary, Ste. Genevieve Du Bois School, Visitation Academy, Maplewood Richmond Heights Elementary School.

St. Louis Public Library/Schlafly Branch (in conjunction with Left Bank Books)
Author Talk and Signing
St. Louis, Missouri

St. Charles City County Library/Spencer Road Branch (in conjunction with Main Street Books)
Author Talk and Signing
St. Peters, Missouri

Milwaukee Public Library Centennial Hall  (in conjunction with Boswell Books)
Author Talk and Signing
Milwaukee,Wisconsin

Milwaukee Area Schools
School Visits
Lincoln School of the Arts, St. Anthony's School, University Lake School, Johnson Creek Elementary School, Swanson Elementary School, Jefferson Elementary School.

How did that happen? The arrow in the Books & Co. window is me.

Books & Company
Author Talk and Signing
Oconomowoc, Wisconsin

Chicagoland
School Visits
Baker Demo School (Wilmette), Brookdale School (Naperville), Saint Francis Xavier School (Wilmette), Immaculate Conception School (Chicago), North Shore Country Day School (Winnetka), Central School (Wilmette).

Surprising Q&A in Lab Schools display

University of Chicago Laboratory Schools
School Visit
Chicago, Illinois

Skokie Public Library (in conjunction with The Book Stall)

Author Talk and Signing
Skokie, Illinois
(The Books Stall gave a portion of the proceeds from the event's book sales to Chicago HOPES for Kids, which runs an after-school tutoring program for students living in Chicago's homeless shelters.)

Anderson's Bookshop
Author Talk and Signing
Naperville, IL 60540

Visit with award-winning readers
at Hill Intermediate, Houston

Houston/Scholastic Book Fair
Houston, Texas

Anderson's Bookshop 
Annual Children's Literature Breakfast
Keynote Speaker and Signing
Glen Ellyn, Illinois

Baldwin Public Library
Battle of the Books
Birmingham, Michigan



90-Second Newbery Film Festival
Co-host with James Kennedy
Harold Washington Library Center
Chicago, Illinois

Singing at the 90-Second
Newbery Film Festival

2012

Deerpath Middle School
Lake Forest, Illinois

Savannah Children's Book Festival
Savannah, Georgia

National Council of Teachers of English Conference
ALAN sessions
Las Vegas, Nevada

"The Great Debate: Blue Balliett & Rebecca Stead Talk About Lying, Spying, and Making Books"
57th Street Books
Chicago, Illinois

University of Illinois Youth Literature Festival
Champaign, Illinois

Chicago Public Library Foundation and Chicago Public Library
Donor and Partner Luncheon
Featured speaker
Chicago, Illinois

Nantucket Book Festival

Nantucket, Massachusetts

Printers Row Lit Fest
Interview with WBEZ's Steve Edwards
Chicago, Illinois

International Reading Association Conference

Chicago, Illinois

Alexander Middle School

Nekoosa, Wisconsin

Book Worm Angels Awards Ceremony

Kermit W. Myers Achievement Award

Lakeview Center in Gilson Park

Wilmette, Illinois

Braeside School

Highland Park, Illinois

Illinois Reading Council Conference

Featured speaker

Springfield, Illinois

Happy Hollow School

West Lafayette, Indiana

Schaumberg Township District Library
Collins Elementary School
Blackwell Elementary School
Schaumberg, Illinois

2011

North Kenwood-Oakland Charter School
Chicago, Illinois

National Council of Teachers of English

2011 NCTE Annual Convention

Book signing

Chicago, Illinois

La Jolla Country Day School

La Jolla, California

Discovery School 67

Buffalo, New York

METROsquash Academic Program
Chicago, Illinois

Printers Row Book Fair
Interview with Chicago Tribune cultural critic Julia Keller
Chicago, Illinois

Photo by Charles Osgood

Cyrus Peirce School
Nantucket, Massachusetts

Chicago HOPES Enrichment Volunteer
Chicago, Illinois

Battle of the Books
Gail Borden Public Library
Elgin, Illinois

Immaculate Heart of Mary School
Indianapolis, Indiana

St. Pius X Catholic School
Indianapolis, Indiana

Shorewood Public Library
Shorewood, Wisconsin

Richards School and Cumberland School
Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin

Literary Night
Culmination of 2011 citywide read of Chasing Vermeer -
Plymouth, Minnesota

Downers Grove Bookfest
Downers Grove, Illinois

2010

Three Oaks, Michigan

I began The Danger Box tour in Three Oaks on September 9th, 2010 and went back in late November to have another chat with kids.

The Danger Box book tour kickoff: Three Oaks, Michigan, September 9, 2010

Chicago Public Library, Harold Washington Branch
Chicago, Illinois

Nantucket Lighthouse School
Nantucket, Massachusetts





















Rhode Island Festival of Children's Books and Authors
Providence, Rhode Island

Lincoln School
Providence, Rhode Island

Barnes & Noble
Oak Brook, Illinois

University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, Elementary and Middle
Chicago, Illinois



Great Lakes Independent Booksellers Association Convention
Dearborn, Michigan

Borders
Ann Arbor, Michigan

Brookside Cranbrook School
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

Cranbrook Kingswood Girls Middle School
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

Pine Street Elementary School
Wayland, Michigan

Anderson's Young Adult Literature Conference
Naperville, Illinois

New Buffalo Elementary School
New Buffalo, Michigan

Book Stall Appearance
Winnetka, Illinois

Lake Bluff Central Elementary School
Lake Bluff, Illinois

Anderson's Bookshop
Naperville, Illinois



Walker Elementary School
Clarendon Hills, Illinois

Henry Puffer Elementary School
Downers Grove, Illinois

57th Street Book Fair
Featured author for 24th Year Celebration
Chicago, Illinois



River Valley Elementary School
Three Oaks, Michigan

Shenandoah University 25th Anniversary Children's Literature Conference
Winchester, Virginia

American Library Association Conference
Washington, DC

International Reading Association Conference
Chicago, Illinois

Walla Walla Kids Read
Walla Walla, Washington

Niles Public Library Battle of the Books Celebration
Niles, Illinois