“Writing children’s books is my favorite way to connect with kids. I love creating characters that feel like friends, stories that spark imagination, and moments that help kids see themselves as capable, curious, and brave. If a child closes one of my books smiling, or believing a little more in themselves, then I’ve done my job.”

Mr. Jay

MEET MR. JAY

Mr. Jay is the author of the beloved Patrick Picklebottom series and the million-copy bestseller Ricky the Rock That Couldn’t Roll. Known for blending humor, heart, and gentle life lessons, Mr. Jay creates stories that encourage curiosity, kindness, resilience, and confidence in young readers. His books are enjoyed in homes, classrooms, and libraries around the world, and several of his titles have been brought to life through animated and multimedia storytelling.

 

When he’s not writing, Mr. Jay loves dreaming up new adventures for his characters and finding new ways to inspire a lifelong love of reading. He lives in Red Bank, NJ, with his wife Amanda, and children Bria, Oakland, Weston and Sienna, all of whom are inspirations for his stories. 

MEET RICKY, THE ROCK AND THE "YOU ROCK!" GROUP

With nearly 1,000,000 copies sold, Ricky has become a favorite among kids, parents and teachers alike

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HAVE YOU MET PATRICK PICKLEBOTTOM?

With three picture books and one chapter book, Patrick is quickly becoming a fan favorite

About His School Appearances

Mr. Jay runs two assemblies: for K-3, he does a spirited reading of his books, followed by an interactive talk about the themes of the story and finally a Q&A. 
 

For grades 4 and up, he does a slightly quicker reading, discuss about the writing process, and then conduct a short writing workshop primarily focused on how to write lyrically, and again ending with a Q&A session. 
 

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