ABOUT JARRETT

Jarrett Dapier is an author, librarian, and lifelong drummer. His debut picture book, JAZZ FOR LUNCH!, illustrated by Eugenia Mello, published by Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, received a starred review in Kirkus Reviews and was a finalist for the Ezra Jack Keats awards in both writing and illustration. His second picture book, MR. WATSON's CHICKENS, illustrated by Andrea Tsurumi, published by Chronicle Books, received a starred review in Publishers Weekly and was chosen by NPR and Bookpage as one of the best books of 2021. His third picture book, THE MOST HAUNTED HOUSE IN AMERICA, a goofy, ghostly, rhythmic romp based on his experience drumming at the White House in 2009, is illustrated by Lee Gatlin, published by Abrams Books, and is a 2023 Illinois Reads selection. His debut young adult graphic novel, WAKE NOW IN THE FIRE, about student resistance to book censorship in Chicago Public Schools, will be published by Chronicle Books in 2024. 

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Jarrett loves reading, visiting libraries and bookstores, listening to punk rock and jazz records with his wife, skateboarding with his son, sharing theater with his daughter, planting pollinator-friendly gardens, playing with his three-legged rescue dog Stormy, swimming in Lake Michigan, checking in with birds and nature as often as he can, and eating lots of ice cream.   

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He lives in Evanston, IL with his family. He can see the hospital where he was born from his backyard.

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*Drawing on home page by Summer Pierre

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