David Teague

Middle Grade Novel and Picture Book Author

learn More

About David

Description Image

David Teague is the author of the picture books Franklin’s Big Dreams and The Red Hat. Two of his novels, Saving Lucas Biggs and Connect the Stars, are joint ventures with his wife, Marisa de los Santos. Henry Cicada’s Extraordinary Elktonium Escapade burst onto the scene in a pulsating greenish pyramid in January 2016, and his latest effort, How Oscar Indigo Broke the Universe and Put It Back Together Again, will begin destroying the space-time continuum on November 7, 2017.

David lives in Wilmington, Delaware, with his wife, Marisa, his children, Charles and Annabel, and their two dogs, Huxley and Finn. David teaches literature at the University of Delaware. Other people may dream of seeing their names on the back of a football jersey or on a billboard advertising plastic surgery. But David always dreamed of seeing his name on the spine of a book.

  • Our Family

    Marisa, Charles, Annabel, and me.

  • Our Household

    Two authors, two teens and two furry family members.

  • Our Dogs

    Huxley and Finny

books

September 2017

Oscar Indigo took nineteen seconds from the Universe. He didn't think the Universe would notice. He couldn't have been more wrong.
Click here to read more.

December 2015

Billy Hightower spends his whole life alone in a skyscraper high above a big city. Then one day, a skyscraper is built next door and a girl moves in. Could she be a friend?...
Click here to read more.

September 2015

When thirteen-year-olds Aaron and Audrey meet at a wilderness camp in the desert, they think their quirks are enough to prevent them from ever having friends...
Click here to read more.

april 2015

Thirteen-year-old Margaret knows her father is innocent, but that doesn't stop the cruel Judge Biggs from sentencing him to death. Margaret is determined to save her dad...
Click here to read more.

Watch the "saving Lucas Biggs" Trailer

School | library | Festival visits

I'd love to come read at your school, library, community center, or other literary hotspot. Just drop me a line! Other helpful links:

REviews

"This book is hard to put down! Vivid and memorable, SAVING LUCAS BIGGS casts a captivating spell that will keep you turning pages. A heartfelt yarn of family, friendship, and homespun time–travel magic.”

Ingrid Law, NEW YORK TIMES

"Connect the Stars...Strong storytelling, suspense, lyrical writing, high drama, weighty matters made accessible and a bit of humor add up to a terrific and heartwarming read.”

Kirkus Reviews

The Red hat: “This dynamic, gorgeously rendered glimpse into the fledgling bond between two people demonstrates the power of persistence.”

School Library Journal

“Filled with southern humor and a quirky characters, Henry Cicada's Extraordinary Elktonium Escapade is sure to delight ages 9 and up.”

Gerard Villegas, Goodreads

Oscar Indigo: "The game scenes are suspenseful, and the time travel plot is as logical as it is inventive, making this an accessible and entertaining read. Like many middle grade books, the story contains valuable life lessons: Oscar and Lourdes not only learn how to win gracefully, but how to play without fear of losing. VERDICT This sporty science fiction story's suspense, humor, and likeable characters give it broad appeal for middle grade readers.”

Lisa Goldstein, BROOKLYN PUBLIC LIBRARY

Oscar Indigo: "Teague weaves the tale with gentle expressions of teamwork, friendship, honesty, and compassion. Fantasy feels real, and it all works beautifully. . . .Suspend all disbelief and enjoy.”

Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

Frequently Asked Questions

How did I get started?

This may sound strange, but the whole Oscar Indigo story started when I saw a guy at a baseball game with a stopwatch. Of course, the one sport in which you don't need a watch is baseball, because in baseball, time doesn't matter. You just keep playing until somebody wins, no matter how long it takes. So I started imagining what this guy could possibly be up to. And then it became obvious. He was involved in a plot to destroy the universe! And ps: I modeled Eleanor Ethel Ellington on my grandmother.

Where do I write?

I write at the kitchen table and in the sunroom and on the couch and at the coffee shop. First, I stare into space and dream about things, and then I jot an outline in my notebook, after which I write my chapters in the notebook. Then I type everything into my laptop. And fiddle with it for weeks and months and years.


Do I have any pets?

Yes!  Finny and Huxley, Yorkshire Terriers who are brothers. Finn and Hux are very large, tiny dogs, which might seem like an oxymoron, but not to anyone who’s ever met them.

What was one of my favorite books?

The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper. It’s about Will Stanton, who learns on his eleventh birthday that he is an Old One, destined to play a crucial part in the struggle between Light and Dark. I read it when I was eleven, and was fascinated to think that a kid my age could be so important in the overall scheme of things!

Got Questions?

Or want to schedule a visit from David? Please use the form below.