Saturday, November 7, 2026
12:00pm, Red Cap Room

Join us as renowned picture book author and illustrator Philip C. Stead unleashes his first prose book for Middle Grade readers! In conversation with Lisa Von Drasek

For his first middle-grade novel, award-winning picture book author and illustrator Philip C. Stead took inspiration from Jules Feiffer’s book A Barrel of Laughs, A Vale of Tears and the movie The Princess Bride, creating a topsy turvy tale with out-of-order chapters, 24 morals, and a cameo by the author himself. A Potion, A Powder, A Little Bit of Magic: Or, Like Lightning in an Umbrella Storm invites the reader to experience the wacky adventure of a plucky young goatkeeper who will rest at nothing until she retrieves her lost goat. Already a best-seller, this book is perfect for fans of Kate DiCamillo, Lemony Snicket, and crafty, rule-breaking fun. At this special TCBF event, Philip will discuss how he wrote an out of order book while breaking all the storytelling rules with Lisa Von Drasek, who knows more about children’s literature than just about anyone. Whether you’re a kid or adult reader, expect both profound illumination and plenty of giggles at this event! 
(Ages 10 and up)

About the Author

Philip C. Stead is the author of the Caldecott Medal–winning book A Sick Day for Amos McGee. With his wife, illustrator Erin Stead, he also created Bear Has a Story to Tell, Lenny & Lucy, and The Purloining of Prince Oleomargarine, based on a previously-unpublished children’s story by Mark Twain. Philip has also written and illustrated his own books, including Hello, My Name Is Ruby; Jonathan and the Big Blue Boat; and A Home for Bird. Philip and Erin live in northern Michigan.

About Lisa Von Drasek

Lisa Von Drasek is the Miranker Family Curatorial Chair of the Kerlan Collection of Children’s Literature, an internationally recognized resource in the field of children’s literature. Formerly the Children’s Librarian of the Bank Street College of Education, Lisa was the teacher/librarian for pre-k through 8th grade as well as a teacher of Children’s Literature, Storytelling, and Children’s Book Publishing 101 to students in the graduate school of education.  She is the author of Writing Boxes: The Reading/Writing Connection in Libraries, University of Minnesota Libraries Publishing, 2019 and editor/co-author with Leonard S. Marcus of The ABC of It: Why Children’s Books Matter, University of Minnesota Press, 2019.