SATA

Dadey, Debbie

April 14, 2023 by Ben Painter

ENTRY TYPE:

WORK TITLE: NEVER GIVE UP
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: http://www.debbiedadey.com/
CITY: Furlong
STATE:
COUNTRY: United States
NATIONALITY: American
LAST VOLUME: SATA 278

RESEARCHER NOTES:

Posted in SATA 401 | Comments Off on Dadey, Debbie

PERSONAL

Last name is pronounced “Day-dee”; born May 18, 1959, in Morganfield, KY; daughter of Voline and Rebecca Gibson; married Eric Dadey (a chemist), June 11, 1981; children: Nathan, Becky, Alex.

EDUCATION:

Western Kentucky University, B.S., M.S.L.S.

ADDRESS

Home - Sevierville, TN.
Agent - Marie Lamb, Jennifer DeChiara Literary Agency, 31 East 32nd St., Ste. 300, New York, NY 1001; marie.jdlit@gmail.com.

CAREER

Author and educator. St. Romuald Elementary School, Hardinsburg, KY, teacher, 1981-83; St. Leo Elementary School, Versailles, KY, teacher, 1983-84; Sayre School, Lexington, KY, began as teacher, became librarian, 1986-90; Tates Creek Elementary School, Lexington, librarian, 1990-92. Freelance writer, Argus Communications, 1989; instructor, University of Kentucky, 1990-92, and Southern Methodist University, 1995-97; writing consultant, Scott County Schools, 1991-92; presenter at schools and libraries.

AVOCATIONS:

Hiking, biking, making crafts, tennis, scrapbooking.

MEMBER:

International Reading Association (Bluegrass Chapter vice president), Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, National Education Association, Kentucky Education Association, Fayette County Education Association.

AWARDS:

(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Children’s Choice selection, International Reading Association, and Children’s Top 100 Books selection, National Education Association, both 1990, both for Vampires Don’t Wear Polka Dots; (with Jones) Elba Award, 1996, for Wizards Don’t Need Computers; Best Children’s Books of the Year citation, Bank Street College, 2000, and master list inclusion, Kentucky Bluegrass Award, 2001-02, both for Cherokee Sister; (with Jones) Milner Award, 2002, for body of work; ABC Best Books for Children selection, 2009, for This Side of Magic.

POLITICS: Democrat. RELIGION: Roman Catholic.

WRITINGS

FOR CHILDREN
Buffalo Bill and the Pony Express, illustrated by Mike Gordon, Disney Press (New York, NY), 1994
My Mom the Frog, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1996
Shooting Star: Annie Oakley, the Legend, illustrated by Scott Goto, Walker (New York, NY), 1997
Bobby and the Great, Green Booger (“Bobby” series), illustrated by Mike Gordon, Willowisp Press (St. Petersburg, FL), 1997
Bobby and the Big Blue Bulldog (“Bobby” series), illustrated by Mike Gordon, Willowisp Press (St. Petersburg, FL), 1998
Will Rogers: Larger than Life, illustrated by Scott Goto, Walker (New York, NY), 1999
Cherokee Sister, Delacorte (New York, NY), 2000
King of the Kooties, illustrated by Kevin O’Malley, Walker (New York, NY), 2001
Whistler’s Hollow, Bloomsbury (New York, NY), 2002
(With son, Nathan Dadey) Slime Wars, illustrated by Bill Basso, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2002
Swamp Monster in Third Grade, illustrated by Margeaux Lucas, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2002
(With Nathan Dadey) Slime Time, illustrated by Bill Basso, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2004
Lizards in the Lunch Line, illustrated by Margeaux Lucas, Scholastic, Inc. (New York, NY), 2004
The Worst Name in Third Grade, illustrated by Tamara Petrosino, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2005
Great Green Gator Graduation, illustrated by Margeaux Lucas, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2006
The Polar Bear Express, Aladdin (New York, NY), 2015
Never Give Up: Dr. Kati Karikó and the Race for the Future of Vaccines, illustrated by Juliana Oakley, Millbrook Press (Minneapolis, MN), 2023
“ADVENTURES OF THE BAILEY SCHOOL KIDS” SERIES
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Vampires Don’t Wear Polka Dots, illustrated by John Steven Gurney, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1990
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Werewolves Don’t Go to Summer Camp, illustrated by John Steven Gurney, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1991
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Santa Claus Doesn’t Mop Floors, illustrated by John Steven Gurney, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1991
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Leprechauns Don’t Play Basketball, illustrated by John Steven Gurney, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1992
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Ghosts Don’t Eat Potato Chips, illustrated by John Steven Gurney, Scholastic (New York, NY), second edition illustrated by Angeli Rafer, Graphix/Scholastic, (New York, NY), 2024, 1992
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Aliens Don’t Wear Braces, illustrated by John Steven Gurney, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1993
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Frankenstein Doesn’t Plant Petunias, illustrated by John Steven Gurney, Scholastic (New York, NY), second edition illutrated by Pearl Low, Graphix/Scholastic (New York, NY), 2022, 1993
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Genies Don’t Ride Bicycles, illustrated by John Steven Gurney, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1993
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Pirates Don’t Wear Pink Sunglasses, illustrated by John Steven Gurney, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1993
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Witches Don’t Do Back Flips, illustrated by John Steven Gurney, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1994
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Skeletons Don’t Play Tubas, illustrated by John Steven Gurney, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1994
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Cupids Don’t Flip Hamburgers, illustrated by John Steven Gurney, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1995
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Gremlins Don’t Chew Bubble Gum, illustrated by John Steven Gurney, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1995
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Monsters Don’t SCUBA Dive, illustrated by John Steven Gurney, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1995
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Zombies Don’t Play Soccer, illustrated by John Steven Gurney, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1995
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Dracula Doesn’t Drink Lemonade, illustrated by John Steven Gurney, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1995
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Elves Don’t Wear Hard Hats, illustrated by John Steven Gurney, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1995
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Martians Don’t Take Temperatures, illustrated by John Steven Gurney, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1995
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Gargoyles Don’t Drive Buses, illustrated by John Steven Gurney, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1996
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Wizards Don’t Need Computers, illustrated by John Steven Gurney, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1996
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Mummies Don’t Coach Softball, illustrated by John Steven Gurney, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1996
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Cyclops Doesn’t Roller Skate, illustrated by John Steven Gurney, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1996
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Angels Don’t Know Karate, illustrated by John Steven Gurney, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1996
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Dragons Don’t Cook Pizza, illustrated by John Steven Gurney, Scholastic (New York, NY), second edition illustrated by Angeli Rafer, Graphix / Scholastic (New York, NY), 2024, 1997
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Bigfoot Doesn’t Square Dance, illustrated by John Steven Gurney, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1997
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Mermaids Don’t Run Track, illustrated by John Steven Gurney, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1997
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Bogeymen Don’t Play Football, illustrated by John Steven Gurney, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1997
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Unicorns Don’t Give Sleigh Rides, illustrated by John Steven Gurney, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1997
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Knights Don’t Teach Piano, illustrated by John Steven Gurney, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1998
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Hercules Doesn’t Pull Teeth, illustrated by John Steven Gurney, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1998
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Ghouls Don’t Scoop Ice Cream, illustrated by John Steven Gurney, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1998
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Phantoms Don’t Drive Sports Cars, illustrated by John Steven Gurney, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1998
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Giants Don’t Go Snowboarding, illustrated by John Steven Gurney, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1998
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Frankenstein Doesn’t Slam Hockey Pucks, illustrated by John Steven Gurney, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1998
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Trolls Don’t Ride Roller Coasters, illustrated by John Steven Gurney, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1999
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Wolfmen Don’t Hula Dance, illustrated by John Steven Gurney, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1999
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Goblins Don’t Play Video Games, illustrated by John Steven Gurney, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1999
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Dracula Doesn’t Rock and Roll, illustrated by John Steven Gurney, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1999
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Ninjas Don’t Bake Pumpkin Pies, illustrated by John Steven Gurney, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1999
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Sea Monsters Don’t Ride Motorcycles, illustrated by John Steven Gurney, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1999
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) The Bride of Frankenstein Doesn’t Bake Cookies, illustrated by John Steven Gurney, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2000
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Robots Don’t Catch Chicken Pox, illustrated by John Steven Gurney, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2000
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Vikings Don’t Wear Wrestling Belts, illustrated by John Steven Gurney, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2000
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Ghosts Don’t Rope Wild Horses, illustrated by John Steven Gurney, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2000
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Wizards Don’t Wear Graduation Gowns, illustrated by John Steven Gurney, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2000
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Sea Serpents Don’t Juggle Water Balloons, illustrated by John Steven Gurney, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2000
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Swamp Monsters Don’t Chase Wild Turkeys, illustrated by John Steven Gurney, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2001
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Aliens Don’t Carve Jack-o-Lanterns, illustrated by John Steven Gurney, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2001
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Mrs. Claus Doesn’t Climb Telephone Poles, illustrated by John Steven Gurney, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2001
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Leprechauns Don’t Play Fetch, illustrated by John Steven Gurney, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2002
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Ogres Don’t Hunt Easter Eggs, illustrated by John Steven Gurney, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2002
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Wizards Don’t Wear Graduation Gowns, illustrated by John Steven Gurney, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2002
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Dracula Doesn’t Play Kickball, illustrated by John Steven Gurney, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2004
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Werewolves Don’t Run for President, illustrated by John Steven Gurney, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2004
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) The Abominable Snowman Doesn’t Roast Marshmallows, illustrated by John Steven Gurney, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2005
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Dragons Don’t Throw Snowballs, illustrated by John Steven Gurney, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2006
“BAILEY SCHOOL KIDS” JUNIOR CHAPTER-BOOK SERIES
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Ghosts Do Splash in Puddles, illustrated by Joëlle Dreidemy, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2006
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Reindeer Do Wear Striped Underwear, illustrated by Joëlle Dreidemy, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2006
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Cupid Does Eat Chocolate-covered Snails, illustrated by Joëlle Dreidemy, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2007
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Dragons Do Eat Homework, illustrated by Joëlle Dreidemy, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2007
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Pirates Do Ride Scooters, illustrated by Joëlle Dreidemy, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2007
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Wizards Do Roast Turkeys, illustrated by Joëlle Dreidemy, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2007
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Vampires Do Hunt Marshmallow Bunnies, illustrated by Joëlle Dreidemy, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2008
“BAILEY SCHOOL KIDS SUPER SPECIALS” CHAPTER-BOOK SERIES
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Mrs. Jeepers Is Missing, illustrated by John Steven Gurney, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1996
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Mrs. Jeepers’ Batty Vacation, illustrated by John Steven Gurney, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1997
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Mrs. Jeepers’ Secret Cave, illustrated by John Steven Gurney, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1998
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Mrs. Jeepers in Outer Space, illustrated by John Steven Gurney, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1999
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Mrs. Jeepers’ Monster Class Trip, illustrated by John Steven Gurney, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2001
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Mrs. Jeepers on Vampire Island, illustrated by John Steven Gurney, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2001
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Mrs. Jeepers’ Scariest Halloween Ever, illustrated by John Steven Gurney, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2005
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Mrs. Jeeper’s Creepy Christmas, illustrated by John Steven Gurney, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2007
“BAILEY CITY MONSTERS” CHAPTER-BOOK SERIES
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) The Monsters Next Door, illustrated by John Steven Gurney, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1998
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Howling at the Hauntlys’, illustrated by John Steven Gurney, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1998
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Vampire Trouble, illustrated by John Steven Gurney, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1998
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Kilmer’s Pet Monster, illustrated by John Steven Gurney, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1999
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Double Trouble Monsters, illustrated by John Steven Gurney, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1999
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Spooky Spells, illustrated by John Steven Gurney, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1999
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Vampire Baby, illustrated by John Steven Gurney, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1999
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Snow Monster Mystery, illustrated by John Steven Gurney, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1999
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) The Hauntlys’ Hairy Surprise, illustrated by John Steven Gurney, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1999
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Happy Boo Day, illustrated by John Steven Gurney, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2000
“TRIPLET TROUBLE” SERIES
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Triplet Trouble and the Talent Show Mess, illustrated by John Speirs, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1995
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Triplet Trouble and the Runaway Reindeer, illustrated by John Speirs, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1995
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Triplet Trouble and the Red Heart Race, illustrated by John Speirs, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1996
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Triplet Trouble and the Field Day Disaster, illustrated by John Speirs, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1996
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Triplet Trouble and the Cookie Contest, illustrated by John Speirs, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1996
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Triplet Trouble and the Pizza Party, illustrated by John Speirs, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1996
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Triplet Trouble and the Class Trip, illustrated by John Speirs, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1997
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Triplet Trouble and the Bicycle Race, illustrated by John Speirs, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1997
“MARTY” SERIES
Marty the Maniac, illustrated by Mel Crawford, Willowisp Press (St. Petersburg, FL), 1996
Marty the Mud Wrestler, illustrated by Mel Crawford, Willowisp Press (St. Petersburg, FL), 1997
Marty the Millionaire, illustrated by Mel Crawford, Willowisp Press (St. Petersburg, FL), 1997
“BARKLEY'S SCHOOL FOR DOGS” SERIES
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Playground Bully, illustrated by Amy Wummer, Volo (New York, NY), 2001
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Puppy Trouble, illustrated by Amy Wummer, Volo (New York, NY), 2001
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Top Dog, illustrated by Amy Wummer, Volo (New York, NY), 2001
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Ghost Dog, illustrated by Amy Wummer, Volo (New York, NY), 2001
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Snow Day, illustrated by Amy Wummer, Volo (New York, NY), 2001
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Sticks and Stones and Doggie Bones, illustrated by Amy Wummer, Volo (New York, NY), 2002
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Buried Treasure, illustrated by Amy Wummer, Volo (New York, NY), 2002
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Blue Ribbon Blues, illustrated by Amy Wummer, Volo (New York, NY), 2002
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Santa Dog, illustrated by Amy Wummer, Volo (New York, NY), 2002
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Tattle Tails, illustrated by Amy Wummer, Volo (New York, NY), 2002
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Puppy Love, illustrated by Amy Wummer, Volo (New York, NY), 2002
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Puppies on Parade, illustrated by Amy Wummer, Volo (New York, NY), 2003
“GHOSTVILLE ELEMENTARY” SERIES
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Ghost Class, illustrated by Jeremy Tugeau, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2002
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Ghost Game, illustrated by Jeremy Tugeau, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2003
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) New Ghoul in School, illustrated by Jeremy Tugeau, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2003
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Happy Haunting, illustrated by Jeremy Tugeau, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2003
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Stage Fright, illustrated by Jeremy Tugeau, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2004
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Happy Boo-Day to You!, illustrated by Jeremy Tugeau, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2004
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Ghosts Be Gone!, illustrated by Guy Francis, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2004
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Beware of the Blabbermouth!, illustrated by Guy Francis, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2004
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Class Trip to the Haunted House, illustrated by Guy Francis, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2005
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Frights! Camera! Action!, illustrated by Guy Francis, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2005
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) The Treasure Haunt, illustrated by Guy Francis, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2005
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Frighting like Cats and Dogs, illustrated by Guy Francis, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2006
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Guys and Ghouls, illustrated by Guy Francis, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2006
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) No Haunting Zone!, illustrated by Guy Francis, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2007
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Red, White, and Boo!, illustrated by Guy Francis, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2007
“KEYHOLDERS” SERIES
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) This Side of Magic , illustrated by Adam Stower, Starscape (New York, NY), 2009
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) The Other Side of Magic , illustrated by Adam Stower, Starscape (New York, NY), 2009
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Inside the Magic , illustrated by Adam Stower, Starscape (New York, NY), 2009
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) The Wrong Side of Magic , illustrated by Adam Stower, Starscape (New York, NY), 2010
“MERMAID TALES” CHAPTER-BOOK SERIES
Trouble at Trident Academy, illustrated by Tatevik Avakyan, Aladdin (New York, NY), 2012
Battle of the Best Friends, illustrated by Tatevik Avakyan, Aladdin (New York, NY), 2012
A Whale of a Tale, illustrated by Tatevik Avakyan, Aladdin (New York, NY), 2012
Danger in the Deep Blue Sea, illustrated by Tatevik Avakyan, Aladdin (New York, NY), 2013
The Lost Princess, illustrated by Tatevik Avakyan, Aladdin (New York, NY), 2013
The Secret Sea Horse, illustrated by Tatevik Avakyan, Aladdin (New York, NY), 2013
Dream of the Blue Turtle, illustrated by Tatevik Avakyan, Aladdin (New York, NY), 2014
Treasure in Trident City, illustrated by Tatevik Avakyan, Aladdin (New York, NY), 2014
A Royal Tea, illustrated by Tatevik Avakyan, Aladdin (New York, NY), 2014
A Tale of Two Sisters, illustrated by Tatevik Avakyan, Aladdin (New York, NY), 2015
Mermaid Tales: 3-Books-in-1!, illustrated by Tatevik Avakyan, Aladdin (New York, NY), 2016
Wish Upon a Starfish, illustrated by Tatevik Avakyan, Aladdin (New York, NY), 2019
The Crook and the Crown, illustrated by Tatevik Avakyan, ABDO, Spotlight (New York, NY), 2019
Twist and Shout, illustrated by Tatevik Avakyan, Spotlight (New York, NY), 2019
Books vs. Looks, illustrated by Tatevik Avakyan, Aladdin (New York, NY), 2016
Flower Girl Dreams, illustrated by Tatevik Avakyan, Aladdin (New York, NY), 2017
Ready, Set, Goal, illustrated by Tatevik Avakyan, Aladdin (New York, NY), 2017
Fairy Chase, illustrated by Tatevik Avakyan, Aladdin (New York, NY), 2019
The Narwhal Problem, illustrated by Tatevik Avakyan, Aladdin (New York, NY), 2019
Winter Princess, Aladdin/Simon & Schuster (New York, NY), 2020
Sleepover at the Haunted Museum, illustrated by Tatevik Avakyan, Aladdin (New York, NY), 2021
A Titanic Friendship , illustrated by Tatevik Avakyan, Aladdin (New York, NY), 2022
Friendship Wish, illustrated byFuuji Takashi, Aladdin (New York, NY), 2023
OTHER
(With Marcia Thornton Jones) Story Sparkers: A Creativity Guide for Children’s Writers, Writer’s Digest Books (Cincinnati, OH), 2000

Contributing editor of Kidstuff magazine, and of Writer’s Digest, 1998-2002. Contributor to Kicks magazine.

SIDELIGHTS

In the many easy-reading books she has written for primary-grade and middle-grade readers, Debbie Dadey blends elements ranging from compelling kid mysteries to tongue-in-cheek horror within her fast-paced stories. Working with Marcia Thornton Jones on such popular series as the “Adventures of the Bailey School Kids,” the “Bailey City Monsters,” “Barkley’s School for Dogs,” and “Keyholders” books, Dadey has introduced legions of young readers to a jaunty world of gremlins, wizards, pirates, and aliens. Her solo efforts have also won over fans, among them her “Marty” and “Bobby” books for younger readers, as well as her girl-friendly “Mermaid Academy” tales and humorous stand-alone stories such as King of the Kooties and My Mom the Frog. Other of Dadey’s solo books, such as Cherokee Sister and Whistler’s Hollow, are for somewhat older readers and of a more serious nature.

“I have always been a daydreamer, sometimes to my teachers’ chagrin,” Dadey once told SATA. “I think anyone who can dream can write. All it takes is the desire and the dream.” She began achieving her dream when she met Jones, who worked as a teacher in the same elementary school where Dadey then worked as a librarian. “It was one of those days when the kids didn’t seem to be paying attention to anything we had to say,” she recalled. “We decided if we grew horns, sprouted fangs, had steam rolling out of our ears, and were fifteen feet tall the kids in our school would really pay attention to us. That’s the reason we wrote Vampires Don’t Wear Polka Dots. ”

The success of their first book encouraged fueled Dadey and Jones’s collaboration, which was done largely during lunch in their school’s cafeteria. Memories of summer camp inspired Werewolves Don’t Go to Summer Camp, another book in the “Bailey School Kids” saga and they continued to explore fantasy in Leprechauns Don’t Play Basketball , which pits a vampire and a leprechaun against one another during an elementary school day. “If we write about a certain creature, we always read as much as we can about it,” Dadey and Jones once told SATA in discussing the long-running series. “We come up with some interesting tid-bits and try to include them in our stories.” While writing Ghosts Don’t Eat Potato Chips, for example, they “read so many ghost books we had to check under our beds before we went to sleep at night!”

In the forty-fourth book in the “Bailey School Kids” series, Ghosts Don’t Ride Wild Horses, the kids from Bailey School are on a trip to a ghost town. The school outing turns dangerous when the ghost of a cowboy picks on redheaded Eddie, whom the spirit believes is the incarnation of Blackheart Eddie who stole his gold. Can school kids Liza, Melody, and Howie save their friend? In Swamp Monsters Don’t Chase Wild Turkeys Melody, Liza, Eddie, and Howie once again find something strange going on at their school. This time the ecology project coordinator claims to be from Australia, but when he turns out to be a swamp monster the kids at Bailey School are the best chance at saving their town from his evil intentions.

The “Adventures of the Bailey School Kids” proved so popular that Dadey and Jones decided to branch out into companion series. In the “Bailey City Monsters” books Ben and his sister are sure that new neighbors the Hauntlys, are as creepy as their name implies. The siblings strive, throughout several volumes, to prove that the Hauntlys are in fact monsters and that their hotel, the Hauntly Manor Inn, is a monster vacation spot. In the “Ghostville Elementary” series, which includes Ghost Class, Happy Haunting, and Ghosts Be Gone, a group of young students bravely confronts all manner of school spooks, from ghosts lurking in the school’s basement to transparent teachers wandering the elementary school’s hallowed halls.

Another series by Dadey and Jones, “Triplet Trouble,” is geared for slightly younger readers and features the mischievous Tucker triplets while avoiding the monsters that appear in the “Bailey School Kids” books. The coauthors also teamed up to write the “Barkley’s School for Dogs” books as well as enjoying a change of pace with their “Keyholder” fantasy series. This Side of Magic, the first book in their “Keyholder” saga, focuses on fifth graders Penny, Luke, and Natalie, who live in a small town that is surrounded by magical creatures that remain unseen. The town is protected by a magical wall of thorns that has been crafted of ancient spells, and six “Keyholders” in every generation are entrusted with maintaining the wall. That task now falls to the three friends, who learn of the existence of unicorns, dragons, and talking rodents while also striving to keep the wall strong against the advances of the evil Queen of Boggarts. In Kirkus Reviews a writer remarked on the “bright humor” in This Side of Magic, and Carolyn Phelan predicted in Booklist that the “Keyholder” books “will find a ready audience” of fantasy fans.

After Dadey began writing full time, she no longer collaborated with Jones over the lunch table; instead, because they soon lived in different states they turned to e-mail. In these long-distance collaborations, they take turns writing chapters of their fast-selling books, employing what they refer to as the “hot potato” method of writing. Beginning with research on various topics, they then move on to an outline, and then one collaborator begins writing a chapter, forwarding that portion to the other, who then takes the “hot potato” and continues the tale.

In addition to her collaborative efforts, Dadey has also carved out a successful writing career on her own, penning both novels and picture books. Her first solo effort, Buffalo Bill and the Pony Express, is a short fictional account of that legend of the Wild West and of the opening of travel and communication routes. Dadey continued to write about Western themes with her picture book Shooting Star: Annie Oakley, the Legend, a tall tale about the famous sharp-shooter, as well as honoring an early-twentieth-century comedic icon in Will Rogers: Larger than Life . In Dadey’s “spirited yarn” for Shooting Star, as a contributor for Publishers Weekly described it, Oakley not only out-shoots the grand duke of Russia and shoots candles out with her bullets, but she also manages to shoot craters in the moon and blunt the points of celestial stars. Ilene Cooper noted in a Booklist review of Shooting Star that Dadey mixes fact and fantasy with a “sassy” tone, and School Library Journal critic Shirley Wilton described Shooting Star as a “great book for reading aloud or for introducing children to a colorful historical figure.”

Dadey’s primary- and middle-grade novels are full of the same sort of fun and irreverent humor that characterize her series work with Jones. Her books about Marty— Marty the Maniac, Marty the Mud Wrestler, and Marty the Millionaire —as well as her “Bobby” books— Bobby and the Great, Green Booger and Bobby and the Big Blue Bulldog —are easy readers for primary grades, as is My Mom the Frog. Also geared for elementary graders, her “Mermaid Academy” stories follow two somewhat mischievous eight year olds as they learn to become proper mermaids at a special school. Reviewing Trouble at Trident Academy, the first book in the series, a Kirkus Reviews writer noted that the gir’s “interactions are funny and believable” and “the underwater setting adds some dimension to [the series’] straightforward friendship stories.”

King of the Kooties is a humorous tale about bullying, which is “a topic of concern to elementary school children,” as Phelan noted in Booklist. Nate has a new friend, Donald, who has just become his neighbor and will be in his fourth-grade class this year. However, they will have to share their class with Louisa, a bully who loves to tease and ridicule. Her newest target, it seems, is Donald, whom she calls the Kootie King. The two friends try a number of defenses to ward off Louisa’s attacks, including a bribe of cookies, but they finally decide that their best tactic would be to create a good offense. They decide to set up the Kingdom of the Kooties and to establish Louisa as its first princess. A contributor for Kirkus Reviews noted that this exploration of “one approach to the age-old problem of bullies” is “never didactic.”

More serious in tone and geared for middle-grade readers are Cherokee Sister and Whistler’s Hollow. The former title, set in 1838, is full of “vivid description … [which] transport readers back to the 1830s,” as Sarah O’Neal wrote in School Library Journal. Twelve-year-old Allie’s best friend is Leaf, a young Cherokee girl. One Sunday, Allie slips away from church and goes to visit Leaf, where, with her tanned skin and Leaf’s buckskin dress, she blends in very well—so well, in fact, that the soldiers who have been sent to remove the Cherokee from their land mistake Allie for one and send her off to a relocation camp for the Trail of Tears. “ Cherokee Sister took me eight years to write,” Dadey told online interviewer Julia Durango in By the Book. “It was an education for me because I did a lot of research and rewrote the story so many times. Of course, in that same time period I also did five series.”

Adapting a tale from her own grandmother, Dadey follows the trials of a young girl who becomes orphaned after World War I in Whistler’s Hollow. When her mother dies, eleven-year-old Lillie Mae is sent to the Kentucky farm of a great uncle and aunt by another greedy aunt. These nurturing older relatives raised Lillie Mae’s father, who is now missing in action. The young girl hopes against hope that her father will return to claim her, but meanwhile she finds that something is terribly wrong at the farm. There is a terrible smell emanating from the attic, and mysterious sounds come at night. Although her neighbor, Paul, knows the source of the smells and sounds—her great-uncle has a still set up in the attic—Paul convinces her that the house is haunted. To make Lillie Mae’s life even more miserable, Paul turns the other children at school against her.

Reviewing Whistler’s Hollow for Kirkus Reviews, a critic praised Dadey’s ability to render characters in a “few short strokes.” Readers will have “no problem identifying with [Lillie Mae’s] most universal desire … to be connected to people she can love and be loved in return,” the critic added, while Alison Grant described the work in School Library Journal as “a quiet, lovely story about extended family, acceptance, and the power of secrets.”

(open new)

In her 2023 nonfiction picture book, Never Give Up: Dr. Kati Karikó and the Race for the Future of Vaccines, illustrated by Juliana Oakley, Dadey offers young readers an introduction to the life and work of a woman who was determined to create a new type of vaccine. Her hard work paid off for the entire world when the COVID-19 virus struck, infecting and killing millions around the world. Young Kati was a curious child as she grew up in her small Hungarian town. Emigrating to the United States, she studied at Temple University, and began researching a new type of vaccine, mRNA vaccine. Traditional vaccines work by inserting a weakened or inactive germ in our bodies. However, mRNA vaccines actually teach the body how to produce a certain protein to signal the body to create an immune response. And though many doubted such vaccines would work, Kati stuck with it, never giving up, and her work ultimately helped to show the world that this type of vaccine was exactly what everyone needed.

Reviewing Never Give Up in Booklist, Kay Weisman termed it a “fascinating and up-to-date choice for primary science, health, and women’s history units.” Similarly, a Kirkus Reviews contributor found this an “engaging look at scientific dedication and the timely development of effective vaccines.” Likewise, School Library Journal reviewer Tracy Cronce concluded: “Informative as well as inspiring, this book shows how Karikó’s tenacity is proof to never give up.”

On the Lerner Blog, Dadey commented on the inspiration for writing this book. She noted that when she first read about this woman who worked for decades to develop mRNA technology for use in vaccines, “I thought someone should write a book about her. Then I said to myself, ‘Well, I am a writer!'” Dadey also commented that she hopes young readers will learn an important lesson from her book: “That life is not always easy and succeeding often means failing and trying again.”

(close new)

Responding to a question from Durango as to whether she might run out of ideas after so many books, Dadey replied, “I have lots of ideas, after all they are all around me.” She further noted: “My problem is having enough time to write all the ideas that come to me.”

BIOCRIT

PERIODICALS

Booklist, September 15, 1992, Sheilamae O’Hara, review of Leprechauns Don’t Play Basketball, p. 148; March 15, 1997, Ilene Cooper, review of Shooting Star: Annie Oakley, the Legend, p. 1245; April 1, 1999, John Peters, review of Will Rogers: Larger than Life, p. 1419; September 15, 1999, Carolyn Phelan, review of King of the Kooties, p. 256; April 1, 2000, Susan Dove Lempke, review of Cherokee Sister, p. 1476; June 1, 2009, Carolyn Phelan, review of This Side of Magic, p. 57; April 15, 2023, Kay Weisman, review of Never Give Up: Dr. Kati Karikó and the Race for the Future of Vaccines, p. 46.
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, June, 1997, Elizabeth Bush, review of Shooting Star, pp. 353-354.
Kirkus Reviews, April 1, 1997, review of Shooting Star, p. 552; July 15, 1999, review of King of the Kooties, p. 1131; June 1, 2002, review of Whistler’s Hollow, p. 803; April 1, 2009, review of This Side of Magic; March 15, 2012, review of Trouble at Trident Academy; December 15, 2022, review of Never Give Up.
Publishers Weekly, March 24, 1997, review of Shooting Star, p. 83; October 4, 1999, review of King of the Kooties, p. 75; June 10, 2002, review of Whistler’s Hollow, p. 61; May 4, 2009, review of This Side of Magic, p. 50.
School Library Journal, April, 1997, Shirley Wilton, review of Shooting Star, p. 122; September, 1999, Ruth Semrau, review of Will Rogers, p. 180; November, 1999, Anne Knickerbocker, review of King of the Kooties, p. 112; April, 2000, Sarah O’Neal, review of Cherokee Sister, p. 134; July, 2002, Alison Grant, review of Whistler’s Hollow, p. 118; February, 2023, Tracy Cronce, review of Never Give Up, p. 85.

ONLINE

Bailey Kids School Web site, http://www.baileykids.com (June 1, 2010).
By the Book Web site, http://www.geocities.com/juliadurango/ (March 13, 2001), Julia Durango, “Debbie Dadey Does It All.”
Debbie Dadey website, http://www.debbiedadey.com (May 23, 2023).
Lerner Blog, https://lernerbooks.blog/ (March 1, 2023), author interview.*

Never Give Up: Dr. Kati Karikó and the Race for the Future of Vaccines Millbrook Press (Minneapolis, MN), 2023
Mermaid Tales: 3-Books-in-1! Aladdin (New York, NY), 2016
Wish Upon a Starfish Aladdin (New York, NY), 2019
The Crook and the Crown ABDO, Spotlight (New York, NY), 2019
Twist and Shout Spotlight (New York, NY), 2019
Books vs. Looks Aladdin (New York, NY), 2016
Flower Girl Dreams Aladdin (New York, NY), 2017
Ready, Set, Goal Aladdin (New York, NY), 2017
Fairy Chase Aladdin (New York, NY), 2019
The Narwhal Problem Aladdin (New York, NY), 2019
Winter Princess Aladdin/Simon & Schuster (New York, NY), 2020
Sleepover at the Haunted Museum Aladdin (New York, NY), 2021
A Titanic Friendship Aladdin (New York, NY), 2022
Friendship Wish Aladdin (New York, NY), 2023

1. Friendship wish LCCN 2022948892 Type of material Book Personal name Dadey, Debbie, author. Main title Friendship wish / Debbie Dadey, Fuuji Takashi. Published/Produced New York : Aladdin, 2023. Projected pub date 2305 Description volumes cm ISBN 9781534489240 (paperback) 9781534489257 (hardcover) (ebook) Item not available at the Library. Why not? 2. Dragons don't cook pizza LCCN 2023938077 Type of material Book Personal name Jones, Marcia Thornton, author. Main title Dragons don't cook pizza / Marcia Thornton Jones, Debbie Dadey, Angeli Rafer, Wes Dzioba. Published/Produced New York : Graphix / Scholastic, 2024. Projected pub date 2404 Description pages cm ISBN 9781338881684 (paperback) 9781338881691 (hardcover) (ebook) Item not available at the Library. Why not? 3. Ghosts don't eat potato chips LCCN 2022946124 Type of material Book Personal name Jones, Marcia Thornton, author. Main title Ghosts don't eat potato chips / Marcia Thornton Jones, Debbie Dadey, Angeli Rafer, Wes Dzioba. Published/Produced New York : Graphix / Scholastic, 2023. Projected pub date 2308 Description pages cm ISBN 9781338881653 (paperback) 9781338881660 (hardcover) (ebook) Item not available at the Library. Why not? 4. Never give up : Dr. Kati Karikó and the race for the future of vaccines LCCN 2022020319 Type of material Book Personal name Dadey, Debbie, author. Main title Never give up : Dr. Kati Karikó and the race for the future of vaccines / Debbie Dadey ; illustrated by Juliana Oakley. Published/Produced Minneapolis : Millbrook Press, [2023] Projected pub date 2301 Description 1 online resource ISBN 9781728485584 (ebook) (library binding) Item not available at the Library. Why not? 5. A Titanic friendship LCCN 2021046642 Type of material Book Personal name Dadey, Debbie, author. Main title A Titanic friendship / Debbie Dadey ; illustrated by Tatevik Avakyan. Edition First Aladdin paperback edition. Published/Produced New York : Aladdin, 2022. ©2022 Projected pub date 2206 Description 1 online resource ISBN 9781534457379 (ebook) (paperback) (hardcover) Item not available at the Library. Why not? 6. Frankenstein doesn't plant petunias LCCN 2021936601 Type of material Book Personal name Jones, Marcia Thornton, author. Main title Frankenstein doesn't plant petunias / Marcia Thornton Jones, Debbie Dadey, Pearl Low. Published/Produced New York : Graphix / Scholastic, 2022. Projected pub date 2207 Description pages cm ISBN 9781338736625 (paperback) 9781338736632 (hardcover) (ebook) Item not available at the Library. Why not? 7. Sleepover at the haunted museum LCCN 2020027509 Type of material Book Personal name Dadey, Debbie, author. Main title Sleepover at the haunted museum / Debbie Dadey ; illustrated by Tatevik Avakyan. Published/Produced New York : Aladdin, 2021. Projected pub date 2106 Description 1 online resource ISBN 9781534457348 (ebook) (hardcover) (paperback) Item not available at the Library. Why not? 8. Winter princess LCCN 2019934416 Type of material Book Personal name Dadey, Debbie. Main title Winter princess / Debbie Dadey. Published/Produced New York, NY : Aladdin/Simon & Schuster, 2020. Projected pub date 2006 Description pages cm ISBN 9781481487177 (pbk.) 9781481487184 (hardcover) 9781481487191 (email) Item not available at the Library. Why not? 9. Wish upon a starfish LCCN 2019720751 Type of material Book Personal name Dadey, Debbie, author. Main title Wish upon a starfish / Debbie Dadey ; illustrated by Tatevik Avakyan. Edition Reinforced library bound edition. Published/Produced New York : Aladdin ; Minneapolis, Minnesota : ABDO Spotlight, 2019. Description 1 online resource (95 pages) : illustrations. ISBN (hardcover) Item not available at the Library. Why not? 10. The narwhal problem LCCN 2018047906 Type of material Book Personal name Dadey, Debbie, author. Main title The narwhal problem / by Debbie Dadey ; illustrated by Tatevik Avakyan. Edition First Aladdin hardcover/paperback edition. Published/Produced New York : Aladdin, 2019. Projected pub date 1906 Description 1 online resource. ISBN 9781481487160 () Item not available at the Library. Why not? 11. Twist and shout LCCN 2017961295 Type of material Book Personal name Dadey, Debbie, author. Main title Twist and shout / Debbie Dadey ; illustrated by Tatevik Avakyan. Edition Reinforced library bound edition. Published/Produced New York : Spotlight, 2019. Description 86 pages : illustrations, map ; 22 cm. ISBN 1532142110 (hardcover) 9781532142116 (hardcover) CALL NUMBER PZ7.D128 Tw 2019 CABIN BRANCH Copy 1 Request in Jefferson or Adams Building Reading Rooms - STORED OFFSITE 12. The crook and the crown LCCN 2017961294 Type of material Book Personal name Dadey, Debbie, author. Main title The crook and the crown / Debbie Dadey ; illustrated by Tatevik Avakyan. Edition Reinforced library bound edition. Published/Produced New York : ABDO, Spotlight, 2019. ©2015 Description 106 pages : illustrations, map ; 22 cm. ISBN 1532142102 (hardcover) 9781532142109 (hardcover) CALL NUMBER PZ7.D128 Cr 2019 CABIN BRANCH Copy 1 Request in Jefferson or Adams Building Reading Rooms - STORED OFFSITE 13. Fairy chase LCCN 2017943952 Type of material Book Personal name Dadey, Debbie, author. Main title Fairy chase / Debbie Dadey ; illustrated by Tatevik Avakyan. Edition Aladdin paperback edition. Published/Produced New York : Aladdin, 2018. Description 92 pages : illustrations ; 20 cm. ISBN 9781481487122 (hc) 1481487124 (hc) 9781481487115 (pbk.) 1481487116 (pbk.) 9781544408859 (FollettBound) 1544408854 (FollettBound) CALL NUMBER PZ7.D128 Fai 2018 CABIN BRANCH Copy 1 Request in Jefferson or Adams Building Reading Rooms - STORED OFFSITE 14. Ready, set, goal! LCCN 2016962154 Type of material Book Personal name Dadey, Debbie, author. Main title Ready, set, goal! / Debbie Dadey ; illustrated by Tatevik Avakyan. Edition First Aladdin hardcover edition. Published/Produced New York : Aladdin, 2017. Description 95 pages : illustrations ; 20 cm. ISBN 9781481487092 (hc) 1481487094 (hc) 9781481487085 (pbk.) 1481487086 (pbk.) CALL NUMBER PZ7.D128 Re 2017 CABIN BRANCH Copy 1 Request in Jefferson or Adams Building Reading Rooms - STORED OFFSITE 15. Flower girl dreams LCCN 2016954655 Type of material Book Personal name Dadey, Debbie, author. Main title Flower girl dreams / Debbie Dadey ; illustrated by Tatevik Avakyan. Edition Aladdin paperback edition. Published/Produced New York : Aladdin, 2017. Description 105 pages : illustrations ; 20 cm. ISBN 1481440853 (hc) 9781481440851 (hc) 1481440845 (pbk.) 9781481440844 (pbk.) 9781536402643 (library binding) 1536402648 (library binding) 9781518241987 (Paw Prints) 1518241980 (Paw Prints) CALL NUMBER PZ7.D128 Fl 2017 CABIN BRANCH Copy 1 Request in Jefferson or Adams Building Reading Rooms - STORED OFFSITE 16. Mermaid tales : 3-books-in-1! LCCN 2016298048 Type of material Book Personal name Dadey, Debbie, author. Main title Mermaid tales : 3-books-in-1! / Debbie Dadey ; illustrated by Tatevik Avakyan. Edition Aladdin paperback edition. Published/Produced New York Aladdin, 2016. Description 299 pages : illustrations ; 20 cm ISBN 9781481485555 (pbk) 1481485555 Links Contributor biographical information https://www.loc.gov/catdir/enhancements/fy1703/2016298048-b.html Publisher description https://www.loc.gov/catdir/enhancements/fy1703/2016298048-d.html CALL NUMBER MLCS 2017/46842 CABIN BRANCH Copy 1 Request in Jefferson or Adams Building Reading Rooms - STORED OFFSITE 17. Books vs. looks LCCN 2016944860 Type of material Book Personal name Dadey, Debbie, author. Main title Books vs. looks / Debbie Dadey ; illustrated by Tatevik Avakyan. Edition Aladdin paperback edition. Published/Produced New York : Aladdin, 2016. Description 99 pages : illustrations ; 20 cm. ISBN 9781481440813 (paperback) 1481440810 (paperback) 9781481440820 1481440829 9781518225703 1518225705 CALL NUMBER PZ7.D128 Bp 2016 CABIN BRANCH Copy 1 Request in Jefferson or Adams Building Reading Rooms - STORED OFFSITE

Fantastic Fiction -
Debbie Dadey
USA flag (b.1959)

Debbie Dadey is the author of Whistler's Hollow. She grew up in Kentucky and is well known for co-authoring the successful Adventures of the Bailey School Kids series. Her individual titles include Cherokee Sister, which was recently on Bank Street College's list of Best Children's Books of the year. She now lives in Fort Collins, Colorado with her husband, three children, two dogs, and one gerbil.

Genres: Children's Fiction

New Books
May 2023

thumb
The Friendship Wish
(Mini Mermaid Tales, book 1)
Series
Adventures of the Bailey School Kids (with Marcia Thornton Jones)
1. Vampires Don't Wear Polka Dots (1990)
2. Werewolves Don't Go to Summer Camp (1991)
3. Santa Claus Doesn't Mop Floors (1991)
4. Leprechauns Don't Play Basketball (1992)
5. Ghosts Don't Eat Potato Chips (1992)
6. Frankenstein Doesn't Plant Petunias (1993)
7. Aliens Don't Wear Braces (1993)
8. Genies Don't Ride Bicycles (1993)
9. Pirates Don't Wear Pink Sunglasses (1994)
10. Witches Don't Do Backflips (1994)
11. Skeletons Dont Play Tubas (1994)
12. Cupid Doesn't Flip Hamburgers (1995)
13. Gremlins Don't Chew Bubble Gum (1995)
14. Monsters Don't Scuba Dive (1995)
15. Zombies Don't Play Soccer (1995)
16. Dracula Doesn't Drink Lemonade (1995)
17. Elves Don't Wear Hard Hats (1995)
18. Martians Don't Take Temperatures (1996)
19. Gargoyles Don't Drive School Buses (1996)
20. Wizards Don't Need Computers (1996)
21. Mummies Don't Coach Softball (1996)
22. Cyclops Doesn't Roller Skate (1996)
23. Angels Don't Know Karate (1996)
24. Dragons Don't Cook Pizza (1997)
25. Bigfoot Doesn't Square Dance (1997)
26. Mermaids Don't Run Track (1997)
27. Bogeymen Don't Play Football (1997)
28. Unicorns Don't Give Sleigh Rides (1997)
29. Knights Don't Teach Piano (1998)
30. Hercules Doesn't Pull Teeth (1998)
31. Ghouls Don't Scoop Ice Cream (1998)
32. Phantoms Don't Drive Sports Cars (1997)
33. Giants Don't Go Snowboarding (1998)
34. Frankenstein Doesn't Slam Hockey Pucks (1989)
35. Trolls Don't Ride Roller Coasters (1999)
36. Wolfmen Don't Hula Dance (1999)
37. Goblins Don't Play Video Games (1999)
38. Ninjas Don't Bake Pumpkin Pies (1999)
39. Dracula Doesn't Rock and Roll (2000)
40. Sea Monsters Don't Ride Motorcycles (2000)
41. The Bride of Frankestein Doesn't Bake Cookies (2000)
42. Robots Don't Catch Chicken Pox (2001)
43. Vikings Don't Wear Wrestling Belts (2001)
44. Ghosts Don't Ride Wild Horses (2001)
45. Wizards Don't Wear Graduation Gowns (2002)
46. Sea Serpents Don't Juggle Water Balloons (2002)
47. Frankenstein Doesn't Start Food Fights (2003)
48. Dracula Doesn't Play Kickball (2004)
49. Werewolves Don't Run For President (2004)
50. The Abominable Snowman Doesn't Roast Marshmallows (2005)
51. Dragons Don't Throw Snowballs (2005)
thumbthumbthumbthumb
thumbthumbthumbthumb
thumbthumbthumbthumb
thumbthumbthumbthumb
thumbthumbthumbthumb
thumbthumbthumbthumb
thumbthumbthumbthumb
thumbthumbthumbthumb
thumbthumbthumbthumb
thumbthumbthumbthumb
thumbthumbthumbthumb
thumbthumbthumbthumb
thumbthumbthumb

Triplet Trouble (with Marcia Thornton Jones)
The Talent Show Mess (1995)
The Runaway Reindeer (1995)
The Red Heart Race (1996)
The Cookie Contest (1996)
The Pizza Party (1996)
The Class Trip (1997)
The Bicycle Race (1997)
The Field Day Disaster (1999)
thumbthumbthumbthumb
thumbthumbthumbthumb

Marty the...
1. Marty the Mudwrestler (1997)
2. Marty the Millionaire (1997)
Marty the Maniac (1996)
thumbthumbno image available

Adventures of the Bailey School Kids Super Special (with Marcia Thornton Jones)
1. Mrs. Jeepers Is Missing! (1996)
2. Mrs. Jeepers' Batty Vacation (1997)
3. Mrs. Jeepers' Secret Cave (1998)
4. Mrs. Jeepers in Outer Space (1999)
5. Mrs. Jeepers' Monster Class Trip (2000)
6. Mrs. Jeepers on Vampire Island (2002)
7. Mrs. Jeepers' Scariest Halloween Ever (2005)
thumbthumbthumbthumb
thumbthumbthumb

Bobby and the...
1. Bobby and the Great, Green Booger (1997)
2. Bobby and the Big, Blue Bulldog (1998)
thumbthumb

Adventures of the Bailey School Kids Special (with Marcia Thornton Jones)
1. Swampmonsters Don't Chase Wild Turkeys (2001)
2. Aliens Don't Carve Jack-O'-Lanterns (2002)
3. Mrs. Claus Doesn't Climb Telephone Poles (2002)
4. Leprechauns Don't Play Fetch (2003)
5. Ogres Don't Hunt Easter Eggs (2003)
Bailey School Kids Joke Book (1997)
thumbthumbthumbthumb
thumbthumb

Bailey City Monsters (with Marcia Thornton Jones)
1. The Monsters Next Door (1998)
2. Howling at the Hauntlys' (1998)
3. Vampire Trouble (1998)
4. Kilmer's Pet Monster (1999)
5. Double Trouble Monsters (1999)
6. Spooky Spells (1999)
7. Vampire Baby (1999)
8. Snow Monster Mystery (1999)
9. Happy Boo Day (2000)
thumbthumbthumbthumb
thumbthumbthumbthumb
thumb

Bailey City Monsters Super Special (with Marcia Thornton Jones)
1. The Hauntlys' Hairy Surprise (1998)
thumb

Barkley's School for Dogs (with Marcia Thornton Jones)
1. Playground Bully (2001)
2. Puppy Trouble (2001)
3. Top Dog (2001)
4. Ghost Dog (2001)
5. Snow Day (2001)
6. Sticks and Stones and Doggie Bones (2002)
7. Buried Treasure (2002)
8. Blue-Ribbon Blues (2002)
9. Santa Dog (2002)
10. Tattle Tails (2002)
11. Puppy Love (2002)
12. Puppies on Parade (2003)
thumbthumbthumbthumb
thumbthumbthumbthumb
thumbthumbthumbthumb

Ghostville Elementary (with Marcia Thornton Jones)
1. Ghost Class (2002)
2. Ghost Game (2003)
3. New Ghoul in School (2003)
4. Happy Haunting! (2004)
5. Stage Fright (2004)
6. Happy Boo-Day to You! (2004)
7. Hide-And-Spook (2004)
8. Ghosts Be Gone! (2005)
9. Beware of the Blabbermouth! (2005)
10. Class Trip to the Haunted House (2005)
11. The Treasure Haunt (2005)
12. Frights, Camera, Action! (2005)
13. Guys and Ghouls (2006)
14. Frighting Like Cats and Dogs (2006)
15. A Very Haunted Holiday (2006)
16. Red, White, and Boo! (2007)
17. No Haunting Zone! (2007)
thumbthumbthumbthumb
thumbthumbthumbthumb
thumbthumbthumbthumb
thumbthumbthumbthumb
thumb

Swamp Monster in the Third Grade
1. The Swamp Monster in the Third Grade (2003)
2. Lizards in the Lunch Line (2004)
3. Trapped in the Principal's Office (2005)
4. Great Green Gator Graduation (2006)
thumbthumbthumbthumb

Slime Wars
1. The Slime Wars (2003)
2. Slime Time (2004)
thumbthumb

Bailey School Kids Jr. Chapter Book (with Marcia Thornton Jones)
1. Ghosts Do Splash in Puddles (2006)
2. Reindeer Do Wear Striped Underwear (2006)
3. Cupid Does Eat Chocolate Covered Snails (2007)
4. Pirates do Ride Scooters (2007)
5. Dragons Do Eat Homework (2007)
6. Wizards Do Roast Turkeys (2007)
7. Vampires Do Hunt Marshmallow Bunnies (2008)
8. Cavemen Do Drive School Buses (2008)
9. Snow Monsters Do Drink Hot Chocolate (2009)
thumbthumbthumbthumb
thumbthumbthumbthumb
thumb

Keyholders (with Marcia Thornton Jones)
1. This Side of Magic (2009)
2. The Other Side of Magic (2009)
3. Inside the Magic (2009)
4. The Wrong Side of Magic (2009)
thumbthumbthumbthumb

Mermaid Tales
1. Trouble at Trident Academy (2012)
2. Battle of the Best Friends (2012)
3. A Whale of a Tale (2012)
4. Danger in the Deep Blue Sea (2013)
5. The Lost Princess (2013)
6. The Secret Sea Horse (2013)
7. Dream of the Blue Turtle (2014)
8. Treasure in Trident City (2014)
9. A Royal Tea (2014)
10. A Tale of Two Sisters (2015)
11. The Polar Bear Express (2015)
12. Wish upon a Starfish (2015)
13. The Crook and the Crown (2015)
14. Twist and Shout (2016)
15. Books vs. Looks (2016)
16. Flower Girl Dreams (2017)
17. Ready, Set, Goal! (2017)
18. Fairy Chase (2018)
19. The Narwhal Problem (2019)
20. The Winter Princess (2020)
21. Sleepover at the Haunted Museum (2021)
22. A Titanic Friendship (2022)
thumbthumbthumbthumb
thumbthumbthumbthumb
thumbthumbthumbthumb
thumbthumbthumbthumb
thumbthumbthumbthumb
thumbthumb

Mini Mermaid Tales
1. The Friendship Wish (2023)
thumb

Novels
Buffalo Bill and the Pony Express (1994)
My Mom the Frog (1996)
King of the Kooties (1999)
Cherokee Sister (2000)
Whistler's Hollow (2002)
Worst Name in Third Grade (2007)
thumbthumbthumbthumb
thumbthumb

Collections
School's In! (2001) (with Ann Cameron, Beverly Cleary, Tomie dePaola, Marcia Thornton Jones, Suzy Kline and James Preller)
thumb

Non fiction
Shooting Star (1997)
Will Rogers: Larger Than Life (1999)
Story Sparkers (2000) (with Marcia Thornton Jones)
Writing for Kids (2019) (with Marcia Thornton Jones)
Debbie Dadey website - https://www.debbiedadey.com/
Hi! I'm Debbie Dadey.

I used to be Debbie Gibson when I was a little kid growing up in Kentucky. I got in trouble for talking too much in school. In fact, I learned Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg address by heart because I had to write it so much in fifth grade (punishment for talking). My older brother still lives in Kentucky. If you're ever in Henderson, KY. stop by Thomason's BBQ for the best beans and mutton you've ever tasted and say Hi to my brother Frank.

Now I live in Sevierville, TN with my husband Eric and our dog Carmen. I'm very proud of my husband-he's a smart scientist. He worked in industry, but now he teaches pharmacy. Of course, he'd have to be special to put up with a kooky writer like me! My kids are awesome too. My oldest son graduated from Penn State and the University of Colorado and now I call him Dr. Nathan. Hurrah Nathan! My daughter attended Penn State, but now she is in graduate school. My youngest son was the nicest guy I ever knew. He would have given you the shirt off his back if you needed it. Sadly, he died in 2020.

Some people think that the Bailey School Kids series was named after my dog Bailey, but that's not so. My grandmother's name was Lilly Bailey and I loved her very much. Marcia suggested using the name Bailey for our books and I liked it. Later, when my family got our new puppy we named her Bailey, too. Bailey was a wonderful dog and it broke my heart when she died. Her buddy, Skippy, died just about a year later. I like to think they are playing together in puppy heaven. Many years ago, we had Cleo and Comet. They died within months of each other as well.

I think my Grandmother had a lot to do with me being a writer. She always kept a diary and I thought that was so cool.

I spend lots of time watching my kids do their activities, like soccer. My youngest son was also into skateboarding and my daughter was really involved in the plays at her school. I also like playing the piano, hiking, scrapbooking, fixing up my log cabin, tennis, reading, and writing of course!

Here's another interview that tells the three people from the past that I'd like to have dinner with.
(photo (c) Portrait Innovations 2008)

Here's a bit more about me:
1. Besides Marcia Jones, Nathan Dadey, and Becky Dadey-Richard Peck is my favorite author.
2. I like to visit schools. I even visited one in Cairo, Egypt.
3. I was a terrible waitress in college. I went to Western KY University.
4. I collect birdhouses.
5. My office overlooks the Smoky Mountains.
6. I love to watch Broadway plays (actually any plays, especially musicals.)
7. My father-in-law met John Wayne during WWII.
8. My ancesters, Joel Gibson and Andrew Slack, fought in the Revolutionary War.
9. I play the piano.
10. I sky-dived to get ideas for a book.
11. I have two states I haven't visited: Oregon and Washington.

Eight things people don't know about me:

♦ I was top man on the seven man pyramid in a ski show.

♦ I was an extra in a movie called The Music Never Stops.

♦ I was a cheerleader and played basketball on a winning team in Junior High

♦ My tennis team won second place at a state-wide competition.

♦ My brothers used to hide under my bed to scare me at night. My oldest brother now owns a great BBQ place!

♦ I was a very cheerful McDonald's employee in High School.Debbie and McDonalds

♦ My 77th grand-mother was Cleopatra of Egypt!
Lerner Blog - https://lernerbooks.blog/2023/03/never-give-up-an-interview-with-author-debbie-dadey-and-illustrator-juliana-oakley.html
QUOTE: , “I thought someone should write a book about her. Then I said to myself, ‘Well, I am a writer!'”
“That life is not always easy and succeeding often means failing and trying again.”
NEVER GIVE UP: AN INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR DEBBIE DADEY AND ILLUSTRATOR JULIANA OAKLEY

Meet Hungarian American biochemist Katalin “Kati” Karikó. She became fascinated by science as a child and grew up determined to find a way to use messenger RNA—a copy of a part of DNA that provides cells with instructions to make proteins—to help fight illness. Never Give Up: Dr. Kati Karikó and the Race for the Future of Vaccines follows her journey from her childhood in rural Hungary to leading the way in the creation of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.

Today author Debbie Dadey and illustrator Juliana Oakley join us to discuss the inspiration behind their work and their hopes for young readers as they discover Dr. Karikó for the first time.

Front cover of Never Give Up
Why did you want to write about Dr. Katalin Kariko specifically?
Debbie Dadey (DD): I happened to read an article about a woman who worked for decades on the mRNA technology that directly went into making the Covid-19 vaccine. I thought someone should write a book about her. Then I said to myself, “Well, I am a writer!”

What makes biographical books special for you?
Juliana Oakley (JO): I think it has an ability to really inspire people, and to connect them somehow. The Name becomes a person and this person, in a way, becomes your friend.

You write mostly fiction, was it hard to write a nonfiction book about a scientist?
DD: Strangely enough, even though most of my 182 traditionally published books are fiction, I have always done research to find interesting facts to put into my stories. For instance, for Werewolves Don’t Go to Summer Camp, I learned many legends about how to become a werewolf! My Mermaid Tales series is fiction, but it has a nonfiction component since each book features learning a bit about a real ocean concept or creature.

What was the inspiration for the colour palette you used throughout the book?
JO: The colour scheme starts with the soft muted colours (like an old photographs) when we go back in time and gets more vivid as we approach modern days in order to give the reader a better understanding of the time scale.

Spread from Never Give Up in which scientists work in a lab.
What is your favorite part of Never Give Up?
DD: My favorite part in the text is when Kati chooses between going to a science competition and going on a fun vacation. I was proud of her that even though she didn’t win she was inspired her to keep learning more.

My favorite picture is the group of kids gathered around the microscope. The artist painted my son Alex in the group and truly captured him.

JO: Coming from quite similar background, I could very much relate to the childhood of Katalin Karikó, and to having to make some life-changing decisions of my own. And, of course, living through the pandemic, all of us have been touched by it one way or another.

You have written biographies about Will Rogers and Annie Oakley. Was it hard to write about a living person?
DD: Yes! There are a lot fewer references, but luckily I had the chance to communicate with Katie and her daughter, who were kind enough to look over the text and illustrations. They even provided some amazing family photos, some of which we were able to include with the timeline at the end of the book.

Did you find a subject of the book challenging to illustrate?
JO: Yes, it was a first biographical book I’ve illustrated, so I had to have a different approach to the illustrations, do a lot of research, but I’ve enjoyed it a great deal and learned a lot.

What do you hope kids (and adults) will take with them after reading Never Give Up?
DD: That life is not always easy and succeeding often means failing and trying again.

JO: No matter what country or time we live in, we are all facing our own difficulties, but I hope that the book shows that if one has a dream or passionate about something and chooses to follow those dreams, there is always a possibility for great achievements!

Free Educator Resource
Download the free teaching guide to use in the classroom. This file can also be found on the Lerner website.

Never-Give-Up_Teaching-GuideDOWNLOAD
Praise for Never Give Up
★ “Bright, beautiful illustrations are rendered in pencil and finished digitally. . . . Informative as well as inspiring, this book shows how Karikó’s tenacity is proof to never give up. A first purchase for all biography collections.”—starred, School Library Journal

“An engaging look at scientific dedication and the timely development of effective vaccines.”—Kirkus Reviews

QUOTE: “fascinating and up-to-date choice for primary science, health, and women’s history units.”
Never Give Up: Dr. Kati Kariko and the Race for the Future of Vaccines. By Debbie Dadey. Illus, by Juliana Oakley, 2023.40p. Lerner/Millbrook, $21.99 (9781728456331). K-Gr. 3.572.092.

Dadey profiles Hungarian American biochemist Kati Kariko, whose pioneering work with mRNA led to the development of Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna's COVID-19 vaccines. Born in rural Hungary, Kariko showed an early interest in the sciences, emigrated to the U.S. to work at Temple University after earning her PhD, and experienced snubs throughout her career from peers who felt her work would never yield any useful results. Throughout, Dadey emphasizes Kariko's conviction that mRNA could be used to teach cells to produce compounds useful to the body. Oakley's colorful pencil-and-digital illustrations depict mid- to late-twentieth-century styles and fashions, lab settings, and include several diagrams of mRNA. Some of the illustrations employ COVID molecule-shaped frames that allow multiple scenes to be depicted in one spread, and relevant quotes from Kariko and other scientists are included in the art. Generously appended with an illustrated time line, stages for U.S. vaccine approval, a glossary, source notes, and a bibliography, this is a fascinating and up-to-date choice for primary science, health, and women's history units.--Kay Weisman

Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2023 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist/
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
Weisman, Kay. "Never Give Up: Dr. Kati Kariko and the Race for the Future of Vaccines." Booklist, vol. 119, no. 16, 15 Apr. 2023, p. 46. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A747135490/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=cf41bf28. Accessed 17 May 2023.

QUOTE: “engaging look at scientific dedication and the timely development of effective vaccines.”
Dadey, Debbie NEVER GIVE UP Millbrook/Lerner (Children's None) $21.99 3, 7 ISBN: 978-1-72845-633-1

The inspiring story of a passionate scientist whose persistence pays off.

A childhood on a farm in a Hungarian village might not seem a promising path to immunological fame, but Kati Karikó (b. 1955) strides undeterred toward her dreams. Her curiosity is empowering, and she knows that discipline (like choosing the Science Olympics over a vacation) is nonnegotiable. Asking unexpected questions, she embarks on a long-shot quest: enabling bodies to heal themselves via messenger RNA. Other (male) scientists deride the goal, but she is not discouraged, even when it means personal sacrifice. A chance meeting suggests a new approach, and it works. Karikó takes her research to BioNTech. Then Covid-19 breaks out, but Pfizer/BioNTech are able to quickly make millions of doses of reliable vaccine thanks to Karikó's unswerving focus: As we're told early on, "Making one small change could have a huge impact." The restrained but realistic illustrations use lots of matte color, subtle linework, changes of perspective, and clever layout to provide visual interest and convey complex information. Quotes from Karikó and others in her field--including Anthony Fauci--are interspersed throughout. Karikó is White; background characters are diverse. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

An engaging look at scientific dedication and the timely development of effective vaccines. (timeline, vaccine-development stages, author's note, glossary, source notes, further study) (Informational picture book. 6-10)

Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2022 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"Dadey, Debbie: NEVER GIVE UP." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Dec. 2022, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A729727448/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=6a061e6f. Accessed 17 May 2023.

QUOTE: “Informative as well as inspiring, this book shows how Karikó’s tenacity is proof to never give up.”
DADEY, Debbie. Never Give Up: Dr. Kati Kariko and the Race for the Future of Vaccines. illus. by Juliana Oakley. 40p. Millbrook. Mar. 2023. Tr $21.99'. ISBN 9781728456331.

Gr 2-6--Katalin "Kati" Kariko became fascinated with science from a young age. Bom in 1955 and raised in Hungary, she grew up on a farm where she was often curious about life and what comprised it. At school, her thirst for knowledge only increased as she learned about cells and saw them under a microscope. Not surprisingly, Kariko grew up to work in a lab where she was interested in mRNA, a part of DNA that is useful when illness strikes. Sure she could find a way to train cells to cure illness, Kariko persevered despite her colleagues' doubts. To learn more, she moved to the United States where she lost one job and was demoted in another because she simply would not give up on her idea. Dr. Anthony Fauci, a fellow doctor of infectious diseases, is quoted as saying, "She was, in a positive sense, kind of obsessed with the concept of messenger RNA. It's going to be transforming." It wasn't until Kariko met another scientist that things changed. By working together, Kariko and Drew Weissman came up with a breakthrough that led to the founding of

Moderna and was key to the development of the COVID-19 vaccine at Pfizer. Bright, beautiful illustrations are rendered in pencil and finished digitally. Back matter includes a time line, glossary, resources, and more. VERDICT Informative as well as inspiring, this book shows how Kariko's tenacity is proof to never give up. A first purchase for all biography collections.--Tracy Cronce

Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2023 A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
Cronce, Tracy. "DADEY, Debbie. Never Give Up: Dr. Kati Kariko and the Race for the Future of Vaccines." School Library Journal, vol. 69, no. 2, Feb. 2023, pp. 85+. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A735605054/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=99d02c6a. Accessed 17 May 2023.

Weisman, Kay. "Never Give Up: Dr. Kati Kariko and the Race for the Future of Vaccines." Booklist, vol. 119, no. 16, 15 Apr. 2023, p. 46. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A747135490/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=cf41bf28. Accessed 17 May 2023. "Dadey, Debbie: NEVER GIVE UP." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Dec. 2022, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A729727448/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=6a061e6f. Accessed 17 May 2023. Cronce, Tracy. "DADEY, Debbie. Never Give Up: Dr. Kati Kariko and the Race for the Future of Vaccines." School Library Journal, vol. 69, no. 2, Feb. 2023, pp. 85+. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A735605054/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=99d02c6a. Accessed 17 May 2023.