Words & Pictures

Hello, Captain Underpants! Words & Pictures series unites hot authors with Pittsburgh fans

The line-up for the kid-themed version of Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures Series is one that many grownups will want to catch, too.

This year’s Words & Pictures season brings beloved authors and illustrators who touch the hearts and funny bones from the youngest read-me-a-story toddlers to book-toting teens. It’s an exciting opportunity for kids to hear their favorite writers discuss their well-thumbed books.

The collection includes Newbery and Caldecott honorees, along with New York Times bestsellers and National Book Award winners.

The season begins with Dav Pilkey of “Captain Underpants” fame, whose superhero series just hit the big screen with his animated “Epic Movie.” Younger fans know the author and illustrator from his hilarious “Dumb Bunnies” Scholastic books.

Native American author, filmmaker and poet Sherman Alexie has written for both children and adults. His insightful works for kids includes the picture book “Thunder Boy Jr.” and “The Absolutely True Story of a Part-Time Indian,” which won the National Book Award.

Named a Living Legend by the Library of Congress, Katherine Paterson is the author of 16 novels for children, including “Bridge to Terabithia” and “The Great Gilly Hopkins.” She is a two-time winner of the Newbery Award and the National Book Award.

Here’s the complete schedule:

Words & Pictures
Dav Pilkey fans keep the giggles going with his “Dumb Bunnies” and “Captain Underpants” series. Photo by Kai Suzuki

Sept. 17: Dav Pilkey. Writer and illustrated of popular, award-winning books for children. His “Dog Breath” won the California Young Reader Medal and “The Paperboy” was a Caldecott Honor Book.

Oct. 1: Katherine Applegate. She is the author of the Newbery Medal-winning “The One and Only Ivan,” the New York Times bestselling “Crenshaw,” and “Home of the Brave.” Her young adult series include “Animorphs” and “Roscoe Riley Rules.” Her upcoming book, “The Wishtree,” features an old oak tree and a crow, who help their neighbors embrace their differences.

Oct. 5: Sherman Alexie. His No. 1 New York Times-bestselling “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” is celebrating its 10th Anniversary.

Katherine Paterson

Dec. 3: Katherine Paterson.  Her 16 novels for kids include “Jacob Have I Loved” and “The Master Puppeteer.” Her new book, “My Brigadista Year,” follows a young Cuban teenager as she volunteers for Fidel Castro’s national literacy campaign.

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Nicola Yoon

Jan. 21: Nicola Yoon. Her bestselling young adult novel “Everything, Everything” is a recently released major motion picture. “The Sun Is Also a Star” was a National Book Award finalist, among other honors.

Feb. 4: Bryan Collier. His style of illustration combines watercolor and detailed collage in his works, which include Martin Luther King, Jr., Roberto Clemente, and President Barack Obama. The four-time Caldecott Honor recipient will appear with collaborator Sandra Neil Wallace, a former ESPN sportscaster writer and award-winning author of books for young readers.

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Melissa Sweet has illustrated more than 80 children’s books. Photo by Marti Stone

March 11: Melissa Sweet. She illustrated more than 80 children’s books, including the Caldecott Honor books “The Right Word” and “A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams.” She wrote and illustrated “Tupelo Rides the Rails”; “Carmine: A Little More Red,” a New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Book; and “Balloons Over Broadway,” a picture book biography named a Publishers Weekly Best Nonfiction Picture Book.

Subscriptions and single tickets for the Words & Pictures season are on sale now. All lectures will be at 2:30 p.m. Sundays at Carnegie Library Lecture Hall in Oakland. Subscriptions begin at $24. Single ticket prices are $11. Call 412-622-8866 or visit  pittsburghlectures.org.