First Ascent by Kate Messner

Cover of First Ascent by Kate Messner. Illustration shows two climbers standing in front of some steep mountains. Additional text reads: The Epic Yosemite Rock Climbing Rivalry of Royal Robbins and Warren Harding. Illustrated by Stevie Lewis.

A Whale, An Otter, and a Brand New Picture Book (that can be read from front to back or back to front!)

Happy April, friends! And happy (almost) book birthday to Whale and Otter! I've been waiting and waiting for this book's release because it's likely the most unusual picture book I've written. You see, you can read this one from front to back OR from back to front. And yes...you can ...

January News, Virtual Author Visits, and CAMP MONSTER baseball hats (when you preorder!)

Happy New Year, friends! I hope you're finding moments of peace and joy even amid all that our first weeks of 2026 have brought. My go-to strategy for taking care of my mental health in times like this is walking in nature, always. In case you haven't been able to ...

Zoom with an Author or Illustrator for World Read Aloud Day 2026!

It's almost time for another amazing World Read Aloud Day! It’s an annual celebration of sharing stories from the amazing folks at LitWorld. This year’s World Read Aloud Day will be Wednesday, February 4, 2025!If you’re new to this page, I’m Kate Messner, author of more than seventy books for kids. I’m ...

Getting Ready for World Read Aloud Day 2026!

The stories we share aloud bring us together and inspire readers, so why not plan a whole day to celebrate? LitWorld's fantastic World Read Aloud Day is scheduled for February 4, 2026! Traditionally, authors and illustrators around the world have Zoomed into classrooms & libraries for short read-alouds. Since the ...

Eight Nonfiction Books to Check Out for Halloween(Or any time you like your facts with a side order of scariness!)

When October rolls around, I see a steep sales spike for History Smashers: Salem Witch Trials, the ninth book in our popular myth-busting series. The cover gives off some serious Halloween energy, which probably has a lot to do with that, and this book definitely offers some delightfully gross and creepy ...