Megan McDonald

Megan Jo McDonald is an American children's literature author. Her most popular works is the series of books which concern a third grade girl named Judy Moody (written for grades 2–4). McDonald has also written many picture books for younger children and continues to write. Her most recent work was the Julie Albright series of books for American Girl.

McDonald was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to John and Mary Louise McDonald. She is the youngest of five girls, which served as the inspiration for The Sister's Club. She was awarded a B.A. from Oberlin College in 1981, and an M.L.S. from University of Pittsburgh in 1985.

Megan McDonald began her career as a children's librarian, working at Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Minneapolis Public Library, and Adams Memorial Library in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. Her first book, Is This a House for Hermit Crab?, came as a result of patrons asking her where to find a story she had told to children at a library.

McDonald is married to Richard Haynes and lives in Sebastopol, California.

The Judy Moody series follows the humorous adventures of the title-character, an eight-year-old girl. A spin-off series follows her younger brother, nicknamed Stink. All of McDonald's books in the Judy Moody series and the Stink series are illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds.

Character list:

Judy Moody books:

Judy Moody and Stink books:

Stink books:

Film:

Megan McDonald's book, Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer, was adapted to a movie with the same name released in 2011, directed by John Schultz, with Jordana Beatty in the role of Judy Moody. McDonald co-wrote the screenplay with Kathy Waugh.