Local residents have a chance to meet with an acclaimed and multifaceted author this week.

Chicago resident Amy Krouse Rosenthal is coming to town for the fifth annual children's book gala “Hooked on Books,” at Chaska High School this Saturday.

On Thursday Krouse Rosenthal is dropping by the Chaska and Chanhassen libraries (see times below) to talk about her work.

Krouse Rosenthal has written books for adults and children. Her most acclaimed book for adults is the memoir “Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life.”

She's written 12 books for children (with several more on the way, including “The Wonder Book,” to be released next Tuesday). One of her most recent books, "Duck! Rabbit!," was named the top children's book of the year by Time Magazine.

Besides writing memoirs, parenting books, children’s books and a line of journals, Krouse Rosenthal also hosts a radio show, blogs regularly and makes short online films.

A complete story on Krouse Rosenthal will appear in this Thursday's Chaska Herald, print and online editions.

To get a sense of Krouse Rosenthal's ...

Memoir writing, click here.

Children’s book, click here.