Massachusetts author Jarrett J. Krosoczka embarked on a public library book tour from June 21–August 2, billing his stops as JJK’s Summah Readin’ Roadtrip. “I went thick on the accent because I was only programming events in the Northeast that were drivable from my home” in Northampton, Krosoczka told PW. “Ahead of each stop, the library received a promo video just for their event and an original drawing of their mascot.”

Depending on the audience, Krosoczka talked about his YA memoirs—Hey, Kiddo, about growing up in Worcester among family members battling addiction, and Sunshine, about his high school summer job at a camp for critically ill children—or his books for younger readers, primarily the middle grade Lunch Lady series. During his slideshow, a voice-bubble image provided pronunciation assistance for his last name (“Crow–sauce–kah”), and Krosoczka delivered interactive cartooning demos from the stage. “I draw on my iPad, which is mirrored to my MacBook,” he said. “Long gone are the days of an easel with paper—and the finished images and a timelapse video of the artmaking get airdropped to the librarian to share with their patrons.”

The 11-library tour came together in conversation with Lexi Wright, owner of High Five Books in Florence, Mass. “Lexi and I often meet to strategize ways to reach readers,” Krosoczka said. Last spring, during a “bagel-brainstorm session” at a nearby Tandem Bagel Company, they talked about how his school visits “were just getting back to pre-pandemic levels. Lexi suggested I create a program that could string public library events together,” and the plan was hatched for the Summah Readin’ Roadtrip. For libraries without local indie bookstores, High Five provided a self-checkout system of QR codes, enabling patrons to make book orders.

Krosoczka’s travels took him to South Hadley, Easthampton, and Medford public libraries in Massachusetts, along with destinations in Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York. He met readers of all ages, including “some who traveled hours to the venue closest to them,” he said, and he loved signing books one-on-one, having conversations with young fans. “Those small moments are the real gems,” he said. “I don’t want to give anything away, but I think there were a few observations that will lead to future titles.”

Now that his summer tour is over, Krosoczka said he feels a fresh momentum to draw and write. “I have been firing on all cylinders and have several new books in the works,” he said.

Visiting libraries and schools has a positive influence on young readers too. Of all the summer’s memorable moments, “What most sticks out to me is meeting a writer in his mid-teens,” Krosoczka recalled. “He was excited to share his work with me because he’d been writing ever since I had visited his elementary school, 10 years prior. It’s hard to put into words how validating that felt.”

Jarrett J. Krosoczka talked with young readers at Paramus Public Library in New Jersey on July 10. The Curious Reader, an indie bookstore in Glen Rock, N.J., partnered with the library for the event. All photos courtesy of Jarrett J. Krosoczka.

(From l.): Krosoczka, Easthampton youth services librarian Emily Prabhaker, and High Five Books owner Lexi Wright at Easthampton Public Library in Massachusetts on July 8.

Krosoczka took a selfie with the crowd at Avalon Free Public Library in New Jersey, at a July 9 event supported by Avalon's indie Beach Bound Books.

Lunch Lady sailed above the crowd at Northport–East Northport Public Library in New York on July 22.

Krosoczka staged a book table with Jackie Lombardi, events staffer at Wesleyan R.J. Julia Bookstore (l.) and Emily Mills (r.), youth services librarian at Cromwell Belden Public Library in Cromwell, Ct., on July 11.

Readers—one in a Green Monstah T-shirt—queued for Krosoczka's signing at South Hadley Public Library on June 21, with copies provided by the Odyssey Bookshop, the town's local indie.

Using a classic narrative arc from his Lunch Lady comics, Krosoczka instructed pupils on rising action, story climax, and denouement at South Hadley Public Library on June 21.

Haddonfield Public Library and local indie Inkwood Books in Haddonfield, N.J., brought the crowd to Krosoczka on July 9.

Krosoczka's wicked cool itinerary for the Summah Readin' Roadtrip emulated a stamped library card.