Rachel Michelle Wilson writes and illustrates picture books for kids who’d rather laugh than sit still, and her newest, How to Escape a Playdate: The Fun Way, is a hilarious companion to her debut, How to Pee Your Pants: The Right Way. In it, a kid named Bertie has been set up on a blind playdate and is determined to get out of it by any means necessary — wits, a dashing disguise, and a roof-crushing robot all make an appearance before Bertie discovers that a stranger and a new best friend might not be so different after all.

Wilson’s debut, How to Pee Your Pants: The Right Way, earned a starred review from Kirkus and quickly found a devoted following among kids and the grown-ups who read to them. Her second book, To Catch a Ghost (Scholastic), was named an ALSC Notable Children’s Book. Across all three titles, Wilson’s textured, retro-styled art and her knack for turning everyday kid milestones — potty training, ghost stories, awkward playdates — into stories full of humor, heart, and honesty have made her one of the most relatable voices in picture books today.

When she’s not making books, Wilson can usually be found puzzling over a logic problem, hosting an impromptu living room dance party, or paddleboarding near her home in Washington state with her husband and dog. Her school visits are known for turning kids into storytellers and artists in real time, whether they’re inventing their own ghost stories or drawing their way through a new adventure.

Come laugh along with Bertie’s great escape and meet the author behind it at the Salt Lake Book Festival.