Our Dav Pilkey Yarn

In honor of one of my favorite writers, Maggie Stiefvater, I borrow her brilliant line from The Raven King: "Depending on where you began the story, it was about ____."

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Depending on where you began the story, it was about The Yarn's 25th episode with Dav Pilkey.

An eight-year-old boy and his stepmom listen to the podcast in the car, grinning at each other in the rear view mirror.

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Depending on where you began the story, it was about a school visit. 

An eight-year-old boy and his stepmom meet Daddy and Little Brother at a middle school in Naperville, Illinois, to see Dav Pilkey. The eight-year-old brings some of his artwork to share. He gets an advanced reader copy of Dog Man signed by his hero.

*****

Depending on where you began the story, it was about being picked up from school. 

An advanced reader copy of Dog Man awaits an eight-year-old at the curb, produced from his stepmom's bag. They are on their way to an author visit at a middle school.

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Depending on where you began the story, it was about a chance run-in. 

A #nerdybookclub follower bumps into Colby Sharp and Travis Jonker at Book Expo America, a copy of Dog Man in her bag, an eight-year-old about to be dismissed from school.

*****

Depending on where you began the story, it was about Book Expo America. 

A stepmom is determined to find a copy of Dog Man for Dav Pilkey's #1 eight-year-old fan. She stops by the Scholastic booth first, to no avail. 

A second visit to the booth sees a man walking away from the table, the last copy of Dog Man in his hands. 

The angel behind the Scholastic booth table sees it all happen, and without a word, walks behind the magic curtain and produces a single copy of Dog Man to present to a stepmom. 

*****

Depending on where you began the story, it was about a budding storyteller. 

An eight-year-old is drawing scenes on a napkin, copies of Captain Underpants lined up on his bookshelf at home.

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Depending on where you began the story, it was about a speech. 

The stepmom of an eight-year-old listens, cries, and laughs as an author tells teachers and librarians the story of a boy who grew into a man who wrote stories that matter. She tells him this at the book signing after the speech and brings home autographed copies of Captain Underpants books.

*****

Depending on where you began the story, it was about a boy.

Thank you, Dav. Thank you, Colby and Travis. 

From,
This stepmom and an eight-year-old boy