Tom Angleberger

Tom Angleberger is a bestselling American children's author and illustrator best known for his Origami Yoda series, which became a publishing sensation by combining the universal appeal of Star Wars with the accessible craft of paper folding and the relatable comedy of middle school life. His picture book Crankee Doodle is a hilarious retelling of the classic American song Yankee Doodle, featuring a cranky horse named Crankee who refuses to go along with the cheerful patriotic shenanigans happening around him. Angleberger's work for children is characterised by irreverent humour, inventive illustration, and an understanding that children respond best to stories that respect their intelligence while making them laugh. His Origami Yoda books cleverly use the format of school documents and student testimonials to create a uniquely engaging reading experience, and they include instructions for folding origami Star Wars characters that have inspired millions of young readers to engage with both reading and crafting. Angleberger's picture books demonstrate the same comic sensibility in a format accessible to younger readers, using simple concepts and visual humour to create books that children want to read and hear again and again. Crankee Doodle is available as an audiobook, offering young listeners a laugh-out-loud retelling of a familiar song that celebrates the joy of being gloriously grumpy.