Pizza
Andy J. Pizza is a New York Times Bestselling author-illustrator of many books for children and adults such as Invisible Things and A Pizza with Everything On It. Pizza is also the creator of the popular podcast “Creative Pep Talk” which Vanity Fair says “is every bit as bright and effervescent as its title would […]
Couch
Robbie Couch is a Los Angeles-based young-adult author who is originally from Michigan. His books range from speculative to contemporary fiction, focus on queer characters and themes, and have all been published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. If I See You Again Tomorrow, his New York Times bestselling third novel, has received […]
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 […]
Chan
Michelle Jing Chan is a queer Chinese American author-illustrator who grew up in Colorado and now lives in the Pacific Northwest. Although her education is in engineering and economics, her heart has always been in storytelling. Ever since she could hold a pencil, Michelle has been scribbling her daydreams to life. Now she spends her […]
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 […]
Sawyerr
Hannah V. Sawyerr is a Sierra Leonean-American writer with a passion for people and storytelling. For Hannah’s literary and community involvement, she was recognized as the 2016 Youth Poet Laureate of Baltimore. Her spoken word poetry has been featured on the British Broadcasting Channel’s (BBC) “World Have Your Say” program, as well as the National […]
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 […]
Bowen Cohen
Emily Bowen Cohen creates comics that explore intersectional identity. She is Jewish and a member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. She uses personal experience to tell stories that examine contemporary American and Jewish culture. Emily grew up in rural Oklahoma. Her father was the Chief of Staff at their tribal hospital and her mother is […]
Abed
Omar Abed writes children’s books, poetry, and computer code. While studying computer engineering in college, Omar turned to spoken-word poetry as a creative outlet for self-expression. His passion for rhyme and rhythm set him on an unplanned path to writing picture books. He self-published his first book, You, Me, and a Tree, in order to […]
