Truong

Vivian Truong is a British-Born Chinese artist from London. She is the illustrator behind various books and graphic novels including the bestselling middle grade series: City of Dragons: The Awakening Storm, Cooking with Monsters, I Am Fun Size and So Are You!, The Day the Teachers Disappeared, and her latest book, Buddha Jumps Over the […]
Griffith

Evan Griffith is the author of the middle-grade novels Manatee Summer and The Strange Wonders of Roots and the picture book biographies Secrets of the Sea: The Story of Jeanne Power, Revolutionary Marine Scientist and Wild at Heart: The Story of Olaus and Mardy Murie, Defenders of Nature. His books have received multiple starred reviews, […]
Hayden

Chaz Hayden is a YA author and disability awareness advocate. His works include the 2024 release of Diet Soda Club and his 2022 debut novel The First Thing About You. He focuses on contemporary themes, highlighting the experiences of disabled characters. The First Thing About You tells the story of Harris, a high school student […]
Shannon Smith

Nikki Shannon Smith is an educator, presenter, and the award-winning author of over 20 published and forthcoming books, ranging from board books to young adult novels. She is the author of the Azaleah Lane chapter book series (Capstone) as well as the board book series Brown Baby Parade (PRH/Crown). Nikki’s work includes two Little Golden […]
Toalson

R.L. (Rachel) Toalson is the award-winning author of the middle grade books THE COLORS OF THE RAIN, a middle grade historical novel-in-verse (little bee, 2018) that won the 2020 Arnold Adoff Poetry Honor award for New Voices; THE WOODS, a middle grade magical realism book (little bee, 2019) that was named to the ILA’s Children’s […]
Mendez

Jasminne Mendez is a Pura Belpré Honor award author and best-selling Dominican-American poet, educator, translator, and playwright of several books for children and adults. Born and raised all over the country due to her father’s military service, She is the daughter of immigrants and considers herself an Afro-Latina of The South since she was raised […]
Mora

Oge Mora is a collage artist and storyteller. Her picture book, Thank You, Omu!, was a Caldecott Honor, Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Award winner, and Ezra Jack Keats Book Award recipient. Her second book, Saturday won the 2020 Boston Globe—Horn Book Picture Book Award. Oge’s artwork has been applauded by The Washington Post, […]
Lloyd

Natalie Lloyd is the New York Times Bestselling Author of novels for young readers. Her first novel, A Snicker of Magic (2014), was an ALA Notable Book, a New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice, a top 10 Kids Indie Next Pick and an NPR, iBooks and Parents Magazine best book of the year for […]
Horton

Writer and activist Michelle Horton is the author of Dear Sister: A Memoir of Secrets, Survival, and Unbreakable Bonds. The book details the events surrounding a high-profile case in New York State and centers on two sisters: Nikki Addimando, incarcerated for killing her longtime abuser; and Michelle, who is left in the devastating fall-out to raise […]
Stone Leahy

Elisa Stone Leahy is a queer, Peruvian-American children’s author who lives with her husband and kids in Columbus, Ohio. She likes writing about characters with complicated identities because her own identity has plenty of layers. Elisa was born in Ica, Peru, to American parents and lived there most of her life. She left Peru to […]