Meet the Soaring ‘20s
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Valerie Bolling
Valerie Bolling is passionate about creating stories in which all children can see themselves and feel seen and heard, valued and validated. She is the author of six picture books—Let’s Dance! (SCBWI Crystal Kite Award winner), Together We Ride, Together We Swim (2023 Kirkus Prize finalist), Ride, Roll, Run: Time for Fun!; Bing, Bop, Bam: Time to Jam! and I See Color (Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection)—as well as a Scholastic Acorn early reader series, Rainbow Days.
A graduate of Tufts University and Teachers College, Columbia University, Valerie was an educator for 30 years and is an active member of the kidlit community. She’s a member of SCBWI, the 12X12 Picture Book Challenge, Black Creators HeadQuarters, Amplify Black Stories, Diverse Verse, two co-marketing groups (KidLit in Color and Soaring ‘20s), and three critique groups. She also teaches picture book classes (independently and for the Highlights Foundation), presents at conferences, and participates in book festivals.
Valerie enjoys teaching both students and adults and inspiring them to write their own stories. She lives with her husband in Connecticut, where they enjoy traveling, hiking, reading, going to the theater, and dancing. linktr.ee/ValerieBolling
Elisa Boxer
Elisa Boxer is an Emmy-winning journalist whose writing has been featured in publications including The New York Times and Fast Company. Her first picture book, The Voice That Won the Vote, released in 2020 to coincide with the suffrage centennial. Her second book, A Seat at the Table: The Nancy Pelosi Story, released in 2021 and features an interview with the House Speaker herself. Elisa lives in Maine with her family and has many more nonfiction picture books on the way. Find her on Twitter at @eboxer, on Instagram at @boxerelisa, and visit her website at elisaboxer.com.
Stephen Briseño
Stephen Briseño started reading at the age of three and hasn't stopped since. A middle school English teacher, a poet, and photographer, his debut picture book, The Notebook Keeper, comes out in 2022 from Random House Studio. He lives in San Antonio with his wife and daughter, enjoys long hikes outdoors, skateboarding, and drinks far too much coffee. Find him on Twitter @stephen_briseno, Instagram @stephen_briseno_writes, and on his website at stephenbriseno.weebly.com.
Kelly Carey
Kelly Carey is an award-winning writer from New England. Her picture book, How Long Is Forever? (Charlesbridge 2020) received a glowing review from Kirkus and was named a “Must Read” by the Mass Center for the Book. Her fiction stories have appeared in Clubhouse Jr., Highlights for Children, and Girls’ World. She is the 2008, 2009 and 2015 recipient of the Higher Goals Award from the Evangelical Press Association. When not writing in her pajamas, Kelly is happiest hiking a New Hampshire mountain or hitting the beach on Martha’s Vineyard. She is the proud co-founder of 24 Carrot Writing (www.24carrotwriting.com) and you can follow her at www.kcareywrites.com, on Twitter @KCareyWrites, and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/KCareyWrites.
Abi Cushman
Abi Cushman is the author-illustrator of Soaked! (Viking 2020), which was a Kids’ Indie Next List Top Ten Pick, and Animals Go Vroom! (Viking 2021), a Cybils Award Finalist. Her upcoming books include Wombats are Pretty Weird (Greenwillow, 2023) and The Quiet Forest, written by Charlotte Offsay (Paula Wiseman Books, 2024). When she’s not writing about sassy animals in her picture books, Abi writes about sassy animals on her two websites: Animal Fact Guide and My House Rabbit. In her spare time, Abi enjoys running, playing tennis, and eating nachos. (Yes, at the same time.) She lives with her family in a small beach town in Connecticut. Find her on Twitter @AbiCushman, Instagram @Abi.Cushman, or her website at www.AbiCushman.com.
Melanie Ellsworth
Melanie Ellsworth writes in an old barn in Maine, surrounded by books. She loves creating books that make children laugh while they learn, and her picture books include Hip, Hip…Beret!, Clarinet and Trumpet, and Battle of the Books. Melanie holds a Master of Education in Language and Literacy and has worked as an ESOL teacher and a literacy specialist. She currently serves on the Equity & Inclusion Committee for the New England Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. Visit Melanie at www.MelanieEllsworth.com, on on Twitter @melanieells, or on Instagram @melaniebellsworth.
Vicky Fang
Vicky Fang is a product designer who spent five years designing kids’ technology experiences for both Google and Intel, often to inspire and empower kids in coding and technology. She started writing to support the growing need for early coding education, particularly for girls and kids of color. She is the author and sometimes illustrator of fifteen new and upcoming books for kids, including Invent-a-Pet, I Can Code, Layla and the Bots, Friendbots, and AlphaBot. Find out more about Vicky by following her on Twitter at @fangmous or on her website at www.vickyfang.com.
Liza Ferneyhough
Liza Ferneyhough is an artist who grew up ambiguously tan in California. Her family’s passports came from three different countries: Malaysia, England, and the U.S. After studying illustration at Otis and RISD, she worked as a children’s bookseller, a designer, and a freelance illustrator (New Moon Girls magazine, Ten Speed Press). She currently draws and paints in a hobbity San Francisco apartment she shares with her husband and too many piles of books, gadgets, and musical instruments. Nana, Nenek, and Nina, her debut picture book as an author/illustrator, will be published by Dial Books for Young Readers in 2022. She is represented by Kurestin Armada at Root Literary.
Carrie Finison
Carrie Finison began her literary career at the age of seven with an idea, a box of markers, and her father’s typewriter. She has been writing off and on ever since, though she has (somewhat regretfully) traded in the typewriter for a laptop. She is the author of four picture books: DOZENS OF DOUGHNUTS, illustrated by Brianne Farley (Putnam, 2020); DON’T HUG DOUG, illustrated by Daniel Wiseman (Putnam, 2021); LULU & ZOEY: A SISTER STORY, illustrated by Brittany Jackson (Running Press Kids, 2022); and HURRY, LITTLE TORTOISE, TIME FOR SCHOOL! illustrated by Erin Kraan (Random House Studio, 2022). She lives outside Boston with her husband, son, daughter, and two cats who allow her to write in their cozy attic office. Find her online at www.carriefinison.com or on Twitter @CarrieFinison.
Margaret Chiu Greanias
If you told Margaret Chiu Greanias she would be an author when she grew up, she would have said you were dreaming. She dreaded writing open-ended homework questions, term papers, and especially essays—until her last year in college when she fell in love with creative writing. She is the author of Amah Faraway (Bloomsbury Children's, 2022), which was a Junior Library Guild selection; Maximillian Villainous (Running Press Kids, 2018); and the upcoming Hooked on Books (Peachtree Publishing, 2023). She currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and three children. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram, or sign up for updates on her website at margaretgreanias.com.
Kjersten Hayes
Kjersten Hayes wears many artistic hats: collage artist, book artist, art teacher, and picture book writer. Her debut picture book THE ELEPHANTS’ GUIDE TO HIDE-AND-SEEK, a tongue-in-cheek guidebook for elephants seeking to improve their hide-and-seek-skills, will be published by Sourcebooks Jabberwocky on April 1, 2020, and illustrated by Gladys Jose-Fabii. Kjersten currently lives in Bellingham, WA, in a century-old house full of color, books, pottery, art, and music (or sometimes just noise). In addition to kids’ books, her biggest passions are travel, the outdoors, and crafty play. Find her at www.kjersten.com, or on Twitter and Instagram @kjerstenhayes.
Angela Burke Kunkel
Angela Burke Kunkel lived in New Mexico for ten years, teaching and working as a librarian in a dual language school. Now back in Vermont with her family and two dogs, she tries to stay warm by baking bread and knitting socks. Her debut picture book, DIGGING FOR WORDS: JOSÉ ALBERTO GUTIÉRREZ AND THE LIBRARY HE BUILT, illustrated by Paola Escobar, will be published by Random House/Schwartz & Wade in Fall 2020. Find her on Twitter and Instagram @angkunkel or at her website, www.angelakunkel.com.
Darshana Khiani
Darshana Khiani is a first-generation Indian American who grew up in rural Pennsylvania and now resides in Northern California with her family and a furry pooch. She is an author, engineer, and a South Asian Kidlit Blogger. Her debut picture book, How to Wear a Sari, was an Amazon Editors’ Pick. Darshana has two books scheduled for release in 2023: I’m an American (Viking) and The Boys of Koh Panyee (Eerdmans). Visit Darshana online at www.darshanakhiani.com or follow her on Twitter and Instagram.
Isabella Kung
Isabella Kung is the author and illustrator of NO FUZZBALL! (Scholastic, 2020) & NO SNOWBALL! (Scholastic, 2022), about a fuzzy feline that was once described as an “expressive, endearing little chunk of well-meaning evil” by Kirkus Reviews. Continuing her feline obsession, Isabella also illustrated over 120 cats for the board books 123 CATS and ABC CATS by Lesléa Newman (Candlewick, 2021). Her illustrations have received accolades from such institutions as the Society of Illustrators, Spectrum Fantasy Art, 3x3, Creative Quarterly, and SCBWI. Outside the world of publishing, Isabella teaches illustration and watercolor classes at Storyteller Academy and Etchr Lab. Isabella resides in San Francisco with her husband and two adorable—you guessed it—cats! She is represented by Jennifer Laughran at Andrea Brown Literary.
Susan Kusel
Susan Kusel has turned a life as a book lover into many careers as an author, librarian, and book buyer for an independent bookstore. She has served on lots of book award committees, including the Caldecott Medal and Sydney Taylor Book Award committees. Her debut book, THE PASSOVER GUEST, illustrated by Sean Rubin was published in 2021 with Neal Porter Books/Holiday House. She lives in the Washington, D.C. area. You can find her online at susankusel.com, on Twitter @susankusel and on Instagram at susanhkusel.
Rajani LaRocca
Rajani LaRocca was born in India, raised in Kentucky, and now lives in the Boston area, where she practices medicine and writes award-winning books for young readers, including Midsummer’s Mayhem (Yellow Jacket/Little Bee Books, 2019), Seven Golden RIngs (Lee & Low Books, 2020), Red, White, and Whole (Quill Tree/HarperCollins, 2021), Bracelets for Bina’s Brothers (Charlesbridge, 2021), Much Ado About Baseball (Yellow Jacket/Little Bee Books, 2021), Where Three Oceans Meet (Abrams, 2021), My Little Golden Book About Kamala Harris (Golden Books, 2021), The Secret Code Inside You (Little Bee Books, 2021), I’ll Go and Come Back (Candlewick, 2022), and more. She’s always been an omnivorous reader, and now she is an omnivorous writer of fiction and nonfiction, novels and picture books, prose and poetry. She also cohosts the STEM Women in KidLit Podcast. Find her at www.rajanilarocca.com or on Twitter and Instagram @rajanilarocca.
Kirsten W. Larson
Kirsten W. Larson used to work with rocket scientists at NASA. Now she writes books for curious kids. She is the author of the picture books Wood, Wire, Wings: Emma Lilian Todd Invents an Airplane, illustrated by Tracy Subisak (Calkins Creek, 2020); A True Wonder: The Comic Book Hero Who Changed Everything, illustrated by Katy Wu (Clarion, 2021); and The Fire of Stars: The Life and Brilliance of the Woman Who Discovered What Stars Are Made Of, illustrated by Katherine Roy (Chronicle, 2023), an NCTE Orbis Pictus Honor Book. Forthcoming books include This is How You Know, illustrated by Cornelia Li (Little, Brown); and the middle-grade graphic nonfiction, The Light of Resistance, illustrated by Barbara McClintock (Roaring Brook); as well as 30 nonfiction books for the school and library market. Kirsten lives near Los Angeles with her family. Find her online at kirstenwlarson.com and social media @kirstenwlarson.
Hope Lim
Hope Lim is the author of I Am a Bird, illustrated by Hyewon Yum (Candlewick 2021), My Tree, illustrated by Il Sung Na (Neal Porter Books/Holiday House, 2021), Mommy’s Hometown, illustrated by Jaime Kim (Candlewick Press, 2022), and an upcoming picture book, At the Window, illustrated by Qin Leng (Candlewick, 2025). She was born and raised in South Korea and now lives in San Francisco with her family and a dog named Bear. You can find Hope on Instagram @hopelim_sf, twitter @hope_lim or www.hopelim.com.
Jen Malia
An autistic mom of three autistic kids, Jen Malia is the author of the children’s chapter book series The Infinity Rainbow Club and the picture book Too Sticky! Sensory Issues with Autism. She is Associate Professor of English and Creative Writing Coordinator at Norfolk State University. She has written for or appeared on the New York Times, the Washington Post, New York Magazine, NPR, Parents, Glamour, Woman’s Day, and others. She has a Ph.D. in English from the University of Southern California. She is pursuing an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults at the Vermont College of Fine Arts. Originally from Pittsburgh, she currently lives with her family in Virginia Beach. You can find her on her website at JenMalia.com or on Twitter and Instagram @jenmaliabooks.
Lindsay H. Metcalf
Lindsay H. Metcalf is a journalist and award-winning author of nonfiction picture books: Beatrix Potter, Scientist (Albert Whitman, 2020), a Mighty Girl Best Book of 2020 and winner of the Young People’s Literature Award from the Friends of American Writers Chicago; Farmers Unite! Planting a Protest for Fair Prices (Calkins Creek, 2020), a Kansas Notable Book, NCSS/CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Book, and Junior Library Guild selection; and No Voice Too Small: Fourteen Young Americans Making History (Charlesbridge, 2020), a Kirkus and Chicago Public Library Best Book, Notable Social Studies Trade Book, and NCTE Notable Poetry Book. Two more nonfiction picture books are slated for release in 2023. Lindsay lives in Kansas with her husband, two sons, and a variety of pets. Reach her at lindsayhmetcalf.com and @lindsayhmetcalf on Twitter, Instagram, and Clubhouse.
Patricia Newman
Sibert Honor author Patricia Newman uses social and environmental injustice to empower her readers to seek connections to the real world and to use their imaginations to act on behalf of their communities. Patricia’s nonfiction titles have received multiple starred reviews, two Orbis Pictus Recommended Awards (NCTE), two Green Earth Book Awards, and several Eureka! Awards (CRA). All her nonfiction titles are Junior Library Guild Selections, and most have been included in the Bank Street College’s Best Books of the Year lists. Her newest title, A River’s Gifts: The Mighty Elwha River Reborn, is a Kirkus Best Picture Book of 2022 and an ALA Notable Book. To learn more, visit her website at patriciamnewman.com or connect with her on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook
Colleen Paeff
Award-winning author Colleen Paeff received a bachelor’s degree in set design for theater from California State University, Fullerton, before becoming a bookseller, preschool teacher, and newspaper columnist. (She never did become a set designer!) Eventually, she figured out how to combine books, kids, and writing into one career—as a children’s book author. Her debut picture book, THE GREAT STINK: HOW JOSEPH BAZALGETTE SOLVED LONDON’S POOP POLLUTION PROBLEM (illustrated by Nancy Carpenter), was named a 2022 Robert F. Sibert Informational Fiction Honor Book and won the 2022 Golden Kite Award for Nonfiction Text for Young Readers. Look for Colleen’s second book, RAINBOW TRUCK (co-written with Hina Abidi and illustrated by Saffa Khan) from Chronicle Books in August of 2023. Colleen lives in Los Angeles, CA, and Brooklyn, NY. Learn more about her at www.colleenpaeff.com or on Instagram and Twitter @ColleenPaeff.
Joana Pastro
Joana Pastro always wanted to be an artist of some sort. So, she became an architect. But once her first child was born, all the visits to the library and the countless story times made Joana start dreaming of becoming a children’s book author. After a lot of reading, writing and revising, her dream came true. She is the author of the picture books, Lillybelle, A Damsel Not in Distress, illustrated by Jhon Ortiz (Boyds Mills Press, 2020); Bisa’s Carnaval, illustrated by Carolina Coroa (Orchard Books, 2021); El Carnaval de mi Bisabuela (Orchard Books, 2022); and more yet to be announced. Originally from Brazil, Joana lives in Florida with her husband, her three extremely creative children, a rambunctious Morkie, and a needy Maltipoo. Visit her on Twitter @jopastro, Instagram @joanapastro or at www.joanapastro.com.
Kim Rogers
Kim Rogers writes books, short stories, and poems across all children’s literature age groups. Her debut picture book, Just Like Grandma, illustrated by Julie Flett, is slated for winter 2023; A Letter for Bob, illustrated by Jonathan Nelson, is planned for summer 2023; and I Am Osage: How Clarence Tinker became the first Native American General, illustrated by Bobby Von Martin, comes out in winter of 2024, all with HarperCollins/Heartdrum. She is a contributor to Ancestor Approved: Intertribal Stories for Kids (HarperCollins/Heartdrum, 2021). The cover, illustrated by Nicole Neidhardt, was inspired by Jessie, the protagonist in her short story, “Flying Together.” Her poem, “What is a Powwow” is also included. Kim is an enrolled member of Wichita and Affiliated Tribes and the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition. Much of her current writing highlights her Wichita heritage. She lives with her family on her tribe’s ancestral homelands in Oklahoma. She is represented by Tricia Lawrence at Erin Murphy Literary Agency. You can find Kim on her website at www.kimrogerswriter.com.
Candy Wellins
Candy Wellins is a lifelong writer and book lover. A former elementary school teacher, Candy has a BA in journalism and an M.Ed. in literacy education. She’s now a full-time mom to three wonderful children who keep her up-to-date and immersed in children’s literature. When she’s not reading, writing or mothering, Candy loves running, traveling and naps! Her debut picture book, Saturdays Are for Stella (illustrated by Charlie Eve Ryan, Page Street Kids) was named a Kirkus Best Picture Book of 2020. Publishers Weekly called her debut picture book biography, The Stars Beckoned: Edward White’s Amazing Walk in Space (illustrated by Courtney Dawson, Philomel), “an introduction to a space pioneer that’s ideal for the youngest readers.” Future titles include Mabel’s Topsy Turvy Homes (Beaming Books, 2022) and A Geoduck Is Not a Duck (Sasquatch, 2024). You can follow her at www.facebook.com/candywellins, on Instagram @candywellins and on Twitter @candy_wellins. Candy and her family live in Central Texas.
Mia Wenjen
Mia Wenjen is half Japanese & half Chinese American and married to a Korean American. This unusual ethnic combination made her seek out all kinds of Asian representation in children’s books for her three kids. She started a blog, PragmaticMom.com, to share her favorite books, and Multicultural Children’s Book Day to celebrate diverse KidLit. Her debut picture book, Sumo Joe (Lee and Low, 2019) was selected as a Bank Street College Best Children’s Book of the Year. She wrote Asian Pacific American Heroes for Scholastic (2020) and Changing the Game: Asian Pacific American Female Athletes as a Kickstarter pandemic project. Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World releases spring of 2023 through Barefoot Books. Postcards from Malcolm X: How Yuri Kochiyama Became a Civil Rights Activist (Red Comet Press) and Boxer Baby (Eifrig Publishing) releases in 2024. Follow her on Instagram or on Twitter @pragmaticmom.
Qing Zhuang
Qing Zhuang was born in a coastal province in China, where her mother lovingly nicknamed her “Strange Sea Creature”. She moved to the United States and grew up in New York City where she still resides. Qing specializes in watercolor illustrations but loves to experiment artistically all the time! She puts all her heart and a little humor in everything she does. Her first book HOW LONG IS FOREVER (written by Kelly Carey, CHARLESBRIDGE PUBLISHING) comes out in 2020. Her portfolio is on her website www.qingthings.com , her Instagram is @Qingthings
SOARING ‘20s ALUMNI
Kelly J. Baptist
Kelly J. Baptist won the 2017 Lee and Low New Voices Honor Award for The Electric Slide and Kai, which is her picture book debut. In the story, Kai struggles to find his own place (and groove!) in his dancing family. The book will be illustrated by Darnell Johnson and published by Lee and Low Books in the Spring of 2020. Kelly also writes middle grade, and has contributed to FLYING LESSONS AND OTHER STORIES (Yearling, 2017). Her middle-grade debut, ISAIAH DUNNE IS MY HERO will be published summer 2020 by Crown. When she’s not actually writing, Kelly is usually thinking about writing…and dreaming of palm trees while living in Southwest Michigan. She keeps beyond busy with five amazing children, who always give her plenty of story ideas and background noise to write to. You can follow her on twitter: @kellyiswrite or at www.kellyiswrite.com.
Gregory Barrington
Gregory Barrington is an author/illustrator living in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains with his family. His debut picture book COW BOY IS NOT A COWBOY (HarperCollins) is released October 20, 2020. His next book GOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE KNOCKS (HarperCollins) is scheduled for a fall 2022 release. You can find him on Twitter at @barringtontales and at his website gregorybarrington.com
Mary Wagley Copp
Mary Wagley Copp dove into writing for children after a career in nonprofit management consulting and documentary filmmaking. Her debut picture book was inspired by her production of a film about refugee resettlement. WHEREVER I GO is illustrated by Munir Mohammed, published by Atheneum (S&S) and due Spring 2020. She and her husband have 3 grown children and live on an organic farm in Westport, MA., where she walks in the woods with her rescue puppy, collects eggs from her hens and weaves baskets. You can follow her at www.facebook.com/marywagleycopp, on Instagram @marywcopp and on twitter @Maryfkwc.
Noa Denmon
Noa Denmon is a graduate of the University of the Arts with a Bachelors in Illustration and a Masters in Art Education. Fresh out of college, Noa is eager to never put her pencil down. Written by Zetta Elliott, Noa’s debut picture book, “A Place Inside of Me” is an intelligent and poetic look at the emotional depth of a child of color. The book will be published by Farrar, Straus and Giraux Books in Spring of 2020. The fabulously talented Zetta Elliot can be found at www.zettaelliott.com and you can see more of Noa’s work on www.noadenmon.com or find her on instagram @noadenmon.
John Herzog
John Herzog is an illustrator and educator. He has created work for Scholastic, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Little, Brown and Company, Highlights for Children, DreamWorks TV, and Hasbro. He also teaches illustration at Ringling College of Art and Design. John is a member of the National Cartoonists Society and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, where he received the 2018 SCBWI Magazine Merit Award. He lives in Florida with his family. John is represented by Kayla Cichello at Upstart Crow Literary.
Shelley Johannes
Shelley Johannes is the author-illustrator of MORE THAN SUNNY and the acclaimed chapter book series BEATRICE ZINKER, UPSIDE DOWN THINKER. Her second picture book, THIS JOY!, releases in October 2022. A former architectural designer, Shelley now makes books from her childhood home in Michigan. While her arms stretch only sixty-four inches wide, her joy reaches far beyond her fingertips. Follow her online at shelleyjohannes.com and @shelleyjohannes on Instagram.
Rob Justus
Rob Justus chopped his way out of a career in market research and slammed into the publishing ring with his jammin’ debut book, KID COACH! Wrestling words and art as the Screaming Scribbler, Rob has wrangled many big guys, bad guys and bald guys with his signature move: THE DOUBLE-DARE DOODLE DEVASTATOR! Rob trains to be a true champion in Ottawa, Canada. He’s rep’d by Molly O’Neill at Root Literary. You can check him out at www.robjustus.com or on Instagram @robjustus
Keith Marantz
Keith Marantz loves writing for children. His ever-flowing inspiration comes from his own three. They serve as his idea-proving grounds and are also his toughest critics. Keith loves visual humor but, sadly, can't draw his way out of a paper bag. Keith lives in Orange County, California.
Larissa Marantz
Larissa Marantz worked as a character designer on Nickelodeon’s “Rugrats” and “Rocket Power”. She illustrated several books for Nickelodeon as well, including Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Wild Thornberrys. When she’s not illustrating, Larissa enjoys teaching figure drawing to animation students at Laguna College of Art and Design. She also runs her own company, OC Art Studios, through which she teaches art to elementary through high-school age students. Larissa lives in Orange County, California. You can find her online at
http://www.larissamarantz.com
, @LarissaMarantz (Twitter) and @larissadrawsstuff (Instagram).
Saira Mir
Saira Mir is a physician and children's book writer with a passion for female empowerment and reclaiming the American-Muslim identity. Part of fostering the next generation's identity requires reclaiming the Muslim-American narrative. She turned to writing to contribute to representation and uplift vulnerable Muslim youth, with a focus on female empowerment.
NoNieqa Ramos
Raised in the Boogie Down Bronx, NoNieqa Ramos is an educator, literary activist, and writer of picture books and young adult literature. She writes to amplify marginalized voices and to reclaim the lost history, mythology and poetry of the Latinx community. THE DISTURBED GIRL'S DICTIONARY was selected as the New York Public Library's Best Books 2018, YALSA's Best Books 2019, and earned an In the Margins Book Award. Her 2nd novel THE TRUTH IS comes out September 2019. Her picture book BEAUTY WOKE debuts fall 2021. YOUR MAMA releases spring 2021. She believes Halloween is a lifestyle, not a holiday. She lives with her soulmate and her two beauties in Virginia. Find out more about her at at lasmusas.com and nonieqaramos.com.
Anna Crowley Redding
Anna Crowley Redding is the award-winning author of such children’s books as Courage Like Kate: The True Story of a Girl Lighthouse Keeper, Chowder Rules!, The Gravity Tree, Rescuing the Declaration of Independence, Google It, Elon Musk: A Mission to Save the World, and Black Hole Chasers. Her first career was as an Emmy-award winning investigative television reporter, anchor, and journalist. The recipient of multiple Edward R. Murrow awards and recognized by the Associated Press for her reporting, Crowley Redding now focuses her stealthy detective skills on digging up great stories for young readers. Anna’s books have been recognized by NSTA as best STEM books, the NYPL named Black Hole Chasers as Best Book. Kirkus recognized The Gravity Tree as a Best Book of 2021, and several of Anna’s works have been deemed a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection. Her work is translated in multiple languages. When not writing, she is spending time with her husband and five kids in snowy, beautiful Maine. You can visit her online at AnnaCrowleyRedding.com and on Instagram @annacrowleyredding.
Julie Rowan-Zoch
Author, illustrator, bookseller, and activist Julie Rowan-Zoch grew up collecting freckles and chasing hermit crabs in New York, and spent years slicing rich breads in Germany before waking up to 300 days of blue Colorado skies. If she doesn’t answer the door, look in the garden! She is the illustrator of Not All Sheep Are Boring!, written by Bobby Moynihan (G.P. Putnam’s, 2022), Louis, written by Tom Lichtenheld (Clarion, 2020), and the author-illustrator of I’m a Hare, So There! (Clarion, 2021). Julie is on Twitter @JulieRowanZoch, Instagram @jzroch, and her website.
Christina Soontornvat
Christina Soontornvat spent most of her childhood behind the counter of her parents’ Thai restaurant with her nose stuck in a book. She is an engineer, a STEM educator, and the aunt of ten rascally nieces and nephews. They are the inspiration for her debut picture book, THE BLUNDERS, illustrated by Colin Jack (Candlewick, Spring 2020), a hilarious tale about counting (and forgetting to count!). Learn more about Christina and her other books for young readers at www.soontornvat.com. Connect with her on social media at @soontornvat.
Sam Wedelich
Sam Wedelich never learned how to sit still! Following her curiosity has led to window display jobs, calligraphy, baking, learning accordion, and now: picture book author/illustrator. Sam brings her quippy humor to the page with a retelling of a classic: CHICKEN LITTLE: THE REAL AND TOTALLY TRUE TALE, out in May 2020 from Scholastic Press with CHICKEN LITTLE AND THE BIG BAD WOLF coming in 2021. Sam lives in the Bronx with her family and too many houseplants. She's represented by Molly O'Neill at Root Literary. Find her online at samwedelich.com and on Instagram @samwedelich
Jasmyn Wright
Jasmyn Wright is the founder of the Push Through Organization and a former elementary school teacher. She began her teaching career at a Title 1 school in Memphis, Tennessee, as a member of Teach for America. She has also taught at charter schools in Wilmington, Delaware, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Visit the Push Through Organization at wepushthrough.org.
M.O. Yuksel
M.O. Yuksel is the award-winning author of picture books, In My Mosque, illustrated by Hatem Aly (HarperCollins, 2021), and One Wish: Fatima al-Fihri and the World’s Oldest University, illustrated by Mariam Quraishi (HarperCollins, 2022). Her books have been recognized as an American Library Association Notable Book, a School Library Journal Best Book and Best Nonfiction Book, Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection, NCTE Orbis Pictus Recommended Book, and CCBC Choices Book, among other honors. Her upcoming books include Ramadan Kareem, illustrated by Hatem Aly (HarperCollins, 2024), Sami’s Special Gift: An Eid Al-Adha Story, illustrated by Huseyin Sonmezay (Charlesbridge, 2024), and Prince Of Stars: The Story of Ulugh Beg, illustrated by Zelma Firdauzia (HarperCollins, 2024). Visit her online at www.moyuksel.com, Twitter @mo_yuksel, and Instagram @moyuksel.author.
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