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.

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...

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.

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.

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.

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!

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...

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...

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...

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.

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...

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

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

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.”

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