Meagan Dekker, Writer

Growing up in the rural mountains of Northern California, I had no neighbors or electricity — but lots of creativity. Now, I live in the San Francisco Bay Area, creating heartfelt, humorous stories often inspired by my unique childhood and my own adventurous kids. 

I graduated from the Children’s Book Academy, completed courses through Storyteller Academy, and am part of the 12 x 12 Challenge, SCBWI, and critique groups.

Working in classrooms as a Para Educator has inspired me to write stories that are fun to read aloud and that spark laughter and conversation, helping make the world a little nicer.

Writing is my passion. As a copywriter/editor with a B.A. in Advertising, I enjoy telling a compelling story in a few powerful words. 

Writer at about age 5 sitting on a log smiling. She's wearing her mom's big poncho and the setting is in her family's outdoor "kitchen," which included only a camp stove and creek.
Living in the woods in Northern California
Children's Book Academy Graduate logo
Writer as a chid (about age 4) poising with mom and dad in front of their in-progress a-frame cabin in the classic style of Wood's famous painting: American Gothic. Her mom holds a shovel and dense trees are in the background.
Homesteading
(I’m the little one)
Writer holds a fun craft project up to let the sky show through the dress cut-out from a piece of cardboard that has writer's adult face cut and glued to top of dress with arms drawn in.
Getting creative
Member SCBWI logo
Writer as an adult, smiling with large book bags in front of the library signage.
Much love for libraries
Writer's two young kids — the boy is about age 6 and is reading a book to the little sister (about age 3) who leans in close to look at the pages intently.
Raising book lovers
12 X 12 Picture Book Challenge membership logo
Writer is adult and wears a Rossie the Riveter costume — possing in the classic strong-arm/showing muscle pose.
My favorite stories inspire and empower
Meagan Dekker * mdekker @ pacbell. net * San Ramon, California * Instagram: @dekkerwrites

Here are just a few of the picture books I love.

  • Not Enough Lollipops by Megan Maynor, illustrated by Micah Player (2022, Knopf)
  • New by Nina Mata (2025, Harper) 
  • Real To Me by Minh Le, illustrated by Raissa Figueroa (2023, Knopf)
  • Mole Is Not Alone by Maya Tatsulawa (2023, Henry Holt)
  • When You Can Swim by Jack Wong (2023, Orchard, imprint of Scholastic)
  • Noodles on a Bicycle by Kyo Maclear, illustrated by Gracey Zhang (2024, Random House)
  • Annie’s Cat Is Sad by Heather Smith, illustrated by Karen Obuhanych (2022, Clarion)
  • Evelyn Del Rey Is Moving Away by Meg Medina, illustrated by Sonia Sanchez (2020, Candlewick) 
  • The Longest Letsgoboy by Derick Wilder, illustrated by Caitia Chein (2021, Chronicle) 
  • I Do Not Like Yolanda by Zoey Abbott (2021 Tundra) 
  • Nigel and the Moon by Antwan Eady, illustrated by Gracey Shang (2022, Harper Collins) 
  • That Always Happens Sometimes by Kiley Frank, illustrated by K-Fai Steele (2024, Knopf)
  • Mary Wears What She Wants by Keith Negley (2019, Balzer + Bray)
  • That’s My Sweater! by Jessika von Innerebnerf (2022, Dial, imprint of Penguin Random House)
  • My Tree by Hope Lim, illustrated by Il Sung Na (2020, Little Brown and Company)
  • The World Belonged To Us by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by Leo Espinosa (2022, Nancy Paulsen Books)
  • Room For Everyone by Naaz Khan, illustrated by Merce Lopez (2023, Atheneum Books for Young Readers)
  • That Flag by Tameka Fryer Brown, illustrated by Nikkolas Smith (2023, Harper)
  • The Paper Kingdom by Helena Ku Rhee, illustrated by Pascal Campion (2020, Random House)
  • Midnight and Moon by Kelly Cooper & Daniel Miyares (2022, Tundra)
  • This Story Is Not About A Kitten by Randall de Seve and Carson Ellis (2022, Random House Studio)
  • What If, Pig? by Linzie Hunter (2021, Harper)
  • Your Birthday Was The Best! by Maggie Hutchings, illustrated by Felicita Sala (2020 Tundra)
  • Sarah and the Big Wave: The True Story of the First Woman to Surf Mavericks by Bonnie Tsui, illustrated by Sophie Diao (2021, Henry Holt)
  • This Book Is Not For You! by Shannon Hale, illustrated by Tracy Subisak (2022 Dial)
  • There Must Be More Than That! by Shinsuke Yoshitake (2020 Chronicle Books)
  • A Place For Pauline by Anouk Mahiout, illustrated by Marjolaine Perreten (2020, Groundwood of Anansi Press)