Dean Robbins
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deanrobbins.bsky.social
Dean Robbins
@deanrobbins.bsky.social
Author of nonfiction children's books for Scholastic, Penguin Random House, Candlewick and Macmillan. Margaret and the Moon, The Astronaut Who Painted the Moon, The Fastest Drummer, Two Friends, The Shape of Things, the You Are a Star series, and more.
Such fun last weekend presenting my essay collection WISCONSIN IDOLS at the Wisconsin Book Festival! I loved seeing old friends and meeting new ones at the Wisconsin Historical Society auditorium, with expert support from the @whspress.bsky.social.
October 27, 2025 at 5:26 PM
A lovely review of THE SHAPE OF THINGS: HOW MAPMAKERS PICTURE OUR WORLD in the News Tribune: "a great introduction to maps for young readers that would make an excellent supplementary text for teachers working on geography units."

@aaknopf.bsky.social
www.newstribune.com/news/2025/ju...
July 7, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Madison friends, join me for a talk about my book WISCONSIN IDOLS on Tues, June 24, at the Wisconsin Historical Society's History Maker Space: U.S. Bank Plaza, 1 S. Pinckney St, 12:30 pm. I’ll discuss heroic figures with often surprising connections to the state, including Oprah and Elvis.
June 16, 2025 at 5:16 PM
My book WISCONSIN IDOLS includes an essay on the Beatles' memorable 1964 appearance in Milwaukee. In a peak moment of my Beatle-loving life, the book rose to #5 on Amazon in the category of “The Beatles.” Didn’t last long, but I’ll gaze at this screenshot till the day I die.
May 12, 2025 at 4:30 PM
For my presentation on WISCONSIN IDOLS at last weekend's Ridges and Rivers Book Festival, I read my essay on Elvis Presley’s “Last Miracle.” At the end of his life, Elvis regained his mojo long enough to dramatically stop a fight at a Madison gas station.
April 28, 2025 at 5:45 PM
At Milwaukee’s Boswell Book Company, I shared little-known stories about Harrison Ford, Elvis Presley, Oprah Winfrey and Ann Landers in a presentation for my essay collection WISCONSIN IDOLS: 100 HEROES WHO CHANGED THE STATE, THE WORLD, AND ME. A lovely crowd of fellow hero-worshippers!
April 25, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Join me for a talk on WISCONSIN IDOLS: 100 HEROES WHO CHANGED THE STATE, THE WORLD, AND ME at Milwaukee’s @boswellbooks.bsky.social: Wed., April 23, 6:30 pm. Hear little-known stories about heroes you know and discover new heroes to fall in love with. Click here:
www.eventbrite.com/e/dean-robbi...
April 17, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Thanks to all the Madison friends who came to last night’s launch event for my essay collection WISCONSIN IDOLS: 100 HEROES WHO CHANGED THE STATE, THE WORLD, AND ME. Find the book here from @whspress.bsky.social: shop.wisconsinhistory.org/wisconsin-id...
April 16, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Madison friends, please join me for the book launch of WISCONSIN IDOLS: 100 HEROES WHO CHANGED THE STATE, THE WORLD, AND ME at Mystery to Me on Tues, April 15, 6 pm. Hear little-known stories about legendary figures with surprising connections to Wisconsin. www.mysterytomebooks.com/dean-robbins...
April 7, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Fun times presenting YOU ARE A STAR, MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR., in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota over the last month. Thanks to Scholastic for setting up these visits and to the students for being adorable.
February 27, 2025 at 6:28 PM
THE FASTEST DRUMMER has received a Notable Social Studies Trade Book Award from the Children’s Book Council. Glad to get a bit more attention for the underrated Viola Smith, a barrier-breaking drumming dynamo.

@galltzacker.bsky.social
www.cbcbooks.org/cbc-book-lis...
February 21, 2025 at 5:58 PM
I had fun at "Celebrate #BlackHistoryMonth" with NYC’s @booksofwonder.bsky.social, discussing my new Scholastic picture book YOU ARE A STAR, MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. And guess what--if you missed it, you can watch the video! See here: www.crowdcast.io/c/y7sy4flygq42

@galltzacker.bsky.social
February 10, 2025 at 6:29 PM
The Children’s Book Council chose my picture book THE SHAPE OF THINGS: HOW MAPMAKERS PICTURE OUR WORLD as one of the year’s best STEM titles. Along with STEM, there’s an arts angle here, as mapmaking uniquely combines science and visual art.

@galltzacker.bsky.social @tavaresbooks.bsky.social
December 19, 2024 at 6:37 PM
My children’s picture book THE FASTEST DRUMMER made a few best-of-the-year lists, including ones from Kirkus Reviews and The Children’s Book Review. It’s been gratifying to spread the word about underrecognized heroine Viola Smith, “the fastest girl drummer in the world.”
December 9, 2024 at 7:17 PM
A starred review from Booklist for my picture book YOU ARE A STAR, MARTIN LUTHER KING JR., which "stands out among the crowd of books written for children about this civil rights hero" with "a host of illuminating details.” Out on January 7!

@ala-booklist.bsky.social @galltzacker.bsky.social
December 2, 2024 at 7:08 PM