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.