Book Authors and Illustrators
Kathi Appelt
Kathi Appelt was born in the front seat of a Ford as her father drove wildly to the Army hospital at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. He arrived there just moments after she and her mother met each other for the first time. When the M.P.'s who were chasing him across the fort realized what was going on, they decided not to arrest him. Kathi still loves cars and has never been good at waiting. She grew up in Houston with two sisters, her mom and dad, and a host of relatives, including step-relatives. There were always pets in the household...Read more about Kathi Appelt
Rita Williams Garcia
Twice a National Book Award Finalist, Rita Williams-Garcia is the author of six distinguished novels for young adults: Blue Tights,Every Time a Rainbow Dies, Fast Talk on a Slow Track, Like Sisters on the Homefront, No Laughter Here, and Jumped. Like Sisters on the Homefront was named a Coretta Scott King Honor Book and a best book of the year by ALA Booklist, School Library Journal, The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, and Publishers Weekly. No Laughter Here and Jumped are among Rita’s ALA Best Books for Young Adults. Jumped and One Crazy Summer were both National Book...Read more about Rita Williams Garcia
Tracey Corderoy
I was born and grew up in industrial South Wales where factory chimneys outnumbered the sheep on the hills! When I was eighteen I moved to Bath where I trained to be a primary school teacher, graduating in 1987 with a First Class Honours Degree. When my eldest daughter was born, I decided to leave teaching to spend time at home being a mum and to try to improve my cooking skills (which are still not good!). More recently, I have supported children in primary schools where I have implemented literacy programmes and re-integrated children returning to school following periods...Read more about Tracey Corderoy
Sherri Duskey Rinker
Sherri Rinker lives near Chicago with her photographer husband and two energetic and inquisitive boys. She’s constantly inspired — and often exhausted! Sherri’s first picture book, Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site was inspired by her youngest son’s tireless (literally!) obsession with trucks. The book, released in May, 2011, has received critical acclaim, became an instant best seller (including hitting #1 on the NYT and spending over two years on the list), and has received numerous honors. Sherri’s second book, Steam Train, Dream Train, debuted at #1 on the NYT bestseller list, and her third book will be titled, Since There Was...Read more about Sherri Duskey Rinker
Chris Grabenstein
Chris Grabenstein is the co-author (with James Patterson) of the #1 New York Times Bestseller I FUNNY. Winner of two Anthony and three Agatha Awards, Chris writes fast-paced and fun page-turners for children and adults. He's also a playwright and screenwriter not to mention a former advertising executive and improvisational comedian. Sometimes he sleeps. Chris started writing a long, long time ago in this galaxy. He and his four brothers used to put on skits and puppet shows in the basement of their home in Buffalo, New York. Their mom and dad were the only paying customers. Admission was a...Read more about Chris Grabenstein
Melissa Sweet
Melissa Sweet has illustrated many award winning children’s books from board books to nonfiction and jacket covers. Her collages and paintings have appeared in the New York Times, Martha Stewart Living and for eeBoo Toys. She has written and illustrated Tupelo Rides the Rails andCarmine: A Little More Red, a New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Book. Balloons Over Broadway :The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy’s Parade, which garnered the 2012 Sibert Medal and the NCTE Orbis Pictus Award. Melissa illustrated A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams by Jen Bryant, a 2009 Caldecott Honor...Read more about Melissa Sweet
Liz Garton Scanlon
Who am I? The short answer is that I'm a mother, children's author and teacher, but there's more to it than that. I live in Austin, Texas, amidst hiking trails and old oaks, live music and Mexican food, and some of the best friends a gal could hope for. I spent my childhood in the Rocky Mountains and I spent my teenage years on a beautiful little lake in the Midwest. I write for kids because it gives me hope and makes me happy. I write for kids because I remember being a kid. I write for kids because they...Read more about Liz Garton Scanlon
Alison McGhee
Alison McGhee is a Pulitzer Prize nominee and a #1 New York Times bestselling author. She writes for all ages and in all forms, from poetry and stories to novels and picture books and essays, and her books are popular with critics and readers alike. Her novel Shadow Baby was a Today Show Book Club pick, and her picture book Someday was featured on NPR and has been translated into 24 languages. Several of her books have been Borders Original Voices selections, Booksense 76 picks, Children's Book of the Month club and Junior Literary Guild selections, ALA winners. She and...Read more about Alison McGhee
Dan Gutman
Dan Gutman was born in a log cabin in Illinois and used to write by candlelight with a piece of chalk on a shovel. Oh, wait a minute. That was Abraham Lincoln. Actually, Dan Gutman grew up in New Jersey and, for some reason, still lives there. When he was a young boy, Dan didn't like to read, and his books are most popular with reluctant readers today. You may be familiar with his My Weird School series, The Genius Files series, the baseball card adventure series, or some of his other books for young readers such as "The Kid...Read more about Dan Gutman
Nancy Shaw
Nancy Shaw grew up in Midland, Michigan as an avid reader—her family didn’t get a TV set until she was in third grade. Playing word games on family car trips got her into the rhyming habit. She went on to study English literature. Years later, after reading some picture books to her kids on a car trip, she started mulling over rhymes, which led to her best-selling book Sheep in a Jeep. Six more sheep adventures have followed. Raccoon Tune, which was selected for the Library of Michigan’s “Michigan Reads! One State, One Children’s Book” program, was inspired by the...Read more about Nancy Shaw