Hi, I’m Patrick.

Since 2003, I’ve been writing books for young readers for Scholastic, Little Brown, Penguin Random House, and Harper Collins. Five million books in 23 countries and more than 3000 school visits later, I can report from the field that kids still love books, even as a tidal wave of distraction try to keep them from turning pages. Books still shape young minds, and they still provide unparalleled advantages every kid needs. After two decades and thousands of school visits, my work remains the same: get every kid excited about reading, because reading helps every kid thrive.

Meeting kids halfway.

When I visit schools I always ask lots of kids the same question: what’s keeping you from reading? Let me count the ways! Netflix, YouTube, Fortnite, Minecraft, TikTok, and Instagram top the list. None of these things are bad in and of themselves, but taken together they build a wall around books that can be difficult for a kid to climb. That’s why a lot of my books go looking for kids where they are. Through the use of video games, extensive video content, and graphic novels, books can draw kids in and hook them on reading. Sometimes we just have to be willing to meet them halfway.

"A lot of young readers need a bridge back to books."

— Patrick Carman

Writing for readers.

I also write a lot of ‘normal’ books. You know, the kind that have nothing but words. But I take what kids say seriously when they tell me what they want to read. I’ve seen over a million kids live at schools, and they know what they want when they read a book - turns out all you have to do is ask.