ABOUT JARRETT
Jarrett Dapier is an author, librarian, and lifelong drummer. His debut YA graphic novel, WAKE NOW IN THE FIRE, illustrated by AJ Dungo, edited by Ginee Seo, about teens fighting censorship in Chicago and based on true events, will be published by Ten Speed Press/Penguin Random House on September 2, 2025.
Jarrett's debut picture book, JAZZ FOR LUNCH!, illustrated by Eugenia Mello and 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 for both writing and illustration. His second picture book, MR. WATSON's CHICKENS, illustrated by Andrea Tsurumi and published by Chronicle Books, received a starred review in Publishers Weekly and was chosen by NPR and Bookpage for their best books of 2021 lists. His third picture book, THE MOST HAUNTED HOUSE IN AMERICA, a goofy, ghostly, rhythmic romp based on Jarrett's experience drumming while dressed as a skeleton at the White House in 2009, is illustrated by Lee Gatlin, published by Abrams Books, and was a 2023 Illinois Reads selection.
Jarrett loves reading, playing the drums, visiting libraries and bookstores with friends, going to punk rock and heavy metal shows with his son, visiting historic Chicago sites with his wife, seeing theater with his daughter (or performed by his daughter), tending his pollinator-friendly garden, laying on the floor with his rescue dog Loki, swimming in Lake Michigan, watching and caring for birds and their habitats around Chicago, and eating lots of candy.
Jarrett drums in a band called Fascinator (you can find their 4-song EP called "Trust Falls" on all the streaming platforms). He was born with half a tiny sixth finger dangling off his left hand and can see the hospital where he was born from his backyard.
Jarrett lives within spitting distance of Chicago in Evanston, IL.
*Drawing of Jarrett on home page by Summer Pierre,
whose journal comics are among his favorite books.