The Boy With Two Belly Buttons

I first became a published writer at age 11, when a poem that I wrote for school (“The Possum”) appeared in Highlights magazine. While I have since written about thieves, terrorists, and even economists, I guess it is fitting that I have finally written a children’s book.

It’s called The Boy With Two Belly Buttons, with illustrations by the remarkable Christoph Niemann, and it goes on sale today.

It’s a picture book, roughly for kids ages four to eight, and it begins like this:

Solomon never thought it was strange that he had two belly buttons until he got a baby sister. Anya had only one.

Observant readers of this blog may note that Solomon and Anya are the names of my real kids. I plead guilty to anything that anyone wants to charge me with, but I was not about to write a kids’ book and leave my kids out of it. Anyway: I really love how the book turned out — Christoph’s illustrations are really fantastic — and I hope other people love it too. Here is Solomon at the swimming pool, trying to see if he really is the only person in the world with two belly buttons:

After a long and frustrating journey during which he realizes that he is the only person in the world with two belly buttons, Solomon has a chance encounter with “a very famous movie director,” and his perspective finally changes for the better.

If you happen to live in New York (and have kids), feel free to stop by one of my upcoming readings:

Sat., Sept. 29, at Books of Wonder.

Sat., Oct. 13, at a Barnes & Noble on the Upper East Side.

I will have another announcement or two to post later, and I will also give away some signed books. For now, let me just say this: I feel like a kid again.