Short bio:
Rachel Michelle Wilson is an award-winning children’s book author-illustrator with a sweet tooth and a dash of sass. Her picture books include TO CATCH A GHOST (Scholastic) and HOW TO PEE YOUR PANTS: THE RIGHT WAY (Macmillan) which was a Kirkus Review Best Picture Book of 2024 and an ALSC Notable Children’s Book of 2025. The sequel HOW TO ESCAPE A PLAYDATE will be released in fall 2026. When Rachel is not making books, you can find her puzzling over a logic problem, hosting a living room dance party, or paddle boarding near her home in Washington state with her husband and dog.
Longer bio:
Rachel Michelle Wilson is an award-winning children’s book author-illustrator with a sweet tooth and a dash of sass. She loves creating funny stories with emotional layers, crafting a playful relationship between words and art, and drawing mischievous characters with big hearts. Books are her favorite way to connect with people.
She was named one of Publisher’s Weekly Fall 2024 Children’s Flying Starts, and her debut picture book HOW TO PEE YOUR PANTS: THE RIGHT WAY (Macmillan) which was a Kirkus Review Best Picture Book and an ALSC Notable Children’s Book. It received starred reviews from Kirkus, Publisher’s Weekly, Booklist, and School Library Journal. Kirkus described her latest picture book TO CATCH A GHOST (Scholastic) as “Hauntingly good—quirky, amusing, and deeply felt.” It was selected as an Amazon Best Book of the Month and received a starred review from School Library Journal.
When Rachel is not making books, you can find her puzzling over a logic problem, hosting a living room dance party, or paddle boarding near her home in Washington state with her husband and dog.
She is represented by Lindsay Auld at Writers House.
Books
HOW TO PEE YOUR PANTS: THE RIGHT WAY (Oct 15, 2024, Feiwel & Friends, Macmillan)
TO CATCH A GHOST (July 1, 2025, Orchard Books, Scholastic)
HOW TO ESCAPE A PLAYDATE (Oct 2026, Feiwel & Friends, Macmillan)
Picture book (Scholastic)
Short stories
“The Monster of Bear Lake,” The Haunted States of America Anthology (July 9, 2024, Henry Holt)
Interviews
Fall 2024 Children’s Flying Starts: Rachel Michelle Wilson
Featured article on Knowledge Quest with the American Association of School Librarians
What Gives Rachel Michelle Wilson Hope (article, podcast)
New Books Network Interview (Youtube, Facebook, Podcast)
100 Scope Notes Feature: HOW TO PEE YOUR PANTS
Kidlit411: Illustrator Spotlight
Other press
Moonbow: My Favorite Picture Books of 2024
Chrissie Writes, Vol. 24: The big favorites post of 2024
Surveying the Fall Season: Children's Booksellers Share Trends and Their Must-Have Titles
The Yarn Episode 227: Colby & Travis - 2024 Children's Literature Year in Review
Children's Booksellers Reveal Their 2024 Holiday Book Lists
Literaticast Episode 68: The Great Big Holiday Gift Guide, 2024 Edition
Book Delight with Chrissie Wright Ep 69 - Bonus: December Read Alouds, Ranked