Andrew Clements: Benjamin Pratt and the Keepers of the School

The Kansas City Public Library hosts popular, award winning children's author Andrew Clements on Wednesday, April 7, 2010 at 6:30 p.m. at the Plaza Branch, 4801 Main St. for the kick off of his new series of books titled, Benjamin Pratt and the Keepers of the School.

The first in the series, We The Children, is being released in April. Clements' books are geared for children in grades 3rd through 6th. The event is co-sponsored by Reading Reptile. Clements’ books will be available for sale. (Clements will be available to sign one book brought from home and all books that are purchased at the event.)

Clements' first novel, Frindle was published in 1996. He then went on to write many other award winning books such as The Laundry News, The Janitor's Boy, The School Story, The Jacket, and Things Not Seen. Clements was born in Camden, New Jersey in 1949, and moved to Springfield, Illinois with his family after his sixth grade year. It wasn't until high school that a young Clements was inspired by one of his English teachers when she said that one of his poems should be published. After high school, Clements continued his writing at Northwestern University as a literature major.

Clements spent time as an elementary school teacher and a singer-songwriter before eventually getting a job at a publishing company. Soon after, he helped a friend launch a company that imported high quality children's books from Europe. It was during his time working for this company that he began writing his own picture books for children.

To learn more about Clements' new series, Benjamin Pratt and the Keepers of the School click here. To read more about Andrew Clements and his other works click here.