Jackie Azúa Kramer earned her MA in Counseling in Education. Her books have been translated into fifteen languages. She has received starred reviews in Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books and Canadian Children’s Book Centre. Winner of Japan’s Kembuchi Bronze Picture Book Award. Twice the recipient of Bank Street College Best Children’s Book; Chicago Public Library “Best of the Best Books”; Canadian Children’s Book Centre “Best Books”. A Junior Library Guild Selection and Parent’s Magazine Book Pick. Jackie strives to write books that meet children where they are and reflect what children see in the mirror and out of their windows. https://www.jackieazuakramer.com/

Awards
Junior Library Guild, Gold Standard Selection. 2 time Bank Street College Best Children’s Book of the Year. SCBWI Crystal Kite Award. Silver Medal-Parent’s Choice Award. Japan’s 31st Bronze Kembuchi Picture Book Award.

3 Fun Facts

1. I speak Spanish fluently
2. I’ve travelled to four continents
3. Worked as an actor.

Sylvie Kantorovitz was born in Casablanca, Morocco, and grew up in France. Sylvie has illustrated many picture books, including the bestseller, Wheels on the Bus, a Raffi Song to Read. Her latest book is Sylvie, a middle-grade graphic-novel about her young years in France. Sylvie has been called “enchanting and witty” (School Library Journal), “a delightful graphic-novel memoir of artistic coming-of-age for children ages 8-14.” (Wall Street Journal). https://sylviekantorovitz.com/

Sylvie is a Bank Street Best Book of the Year and a Junior Library Guild selection.

3 Fun Facts

1. I have painted a large street mural in Albany.
2. No matter how long I have lived in the US, my French accent is here to stay.
3. I have two imaginary animal friends.

Leslie Kimmelman is the author of many popular and prize-winning picture books for children, including the new Bat and Sloth series; Write On, Irving Berlin; Here Come the Helpers!; and The Ghouls’ Guide of Good Grammar. For almost twenty-five years, she was an editor at Sesame Workshop, where she was one of the creators of Julia, who is autistic. She lives in Westchester County, New York, with her family. www.lesliekimmelman.net

• We’re Amazing, 1, 2, 3 (the book which introduced the character of Julia and the entire autism initiative at Sesame Workshop) received a prestigious 2017
  Smithsonian American Ingenuity Award.
• Write On, Irving Berlin!: Charlotte Award picture book winner from the New York State Reading Association
• Everybody Says Shalom: A Sydney Taylor Honor Book (from the Association of Jewish Libraries). Five other titles were named Sydney Taylor Notable Books.
• Hot Dog! Eleanor Roosevelt Throws a Picnic: Eureka Honor Book (California Reading Assoc.); NCSS-CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Book
• Many more starred reviews, CELI finalists, Bank Street Best Children’s Books of the Year

3 Fun Facts

1. I love to swim and get some of my best writing ideas in the pool. I might have been a fish in my last life.
2. I cook a mean homemade pizza. Not to mention making my own ice cream. Yum!
3. I have read books just about anywhere you can think of—the bathtub is one of my favorites! I once broke my ankle by tripping over a curb, as I read a book, licked an ice cream cone, and walked down the sidewalk, all at the same time. Don’t try this at home!

David A. Kelly is the author of the Ballpark Mysteries and MVP sports series from Random House. The Ballpark Mysteries chapter books features cousins Kate and Mike, who solve mysteries at different major league ballparks. Mr. Kelly is also the author of the early reader, Babe Ruth and the Baseball Curse and the picture book Miracle Mud: Lena Blackburne and Secret Mud that Changed Baseball. He has written about travel and technology for the New York Times, the Boston Globe, and many other publications. He can be found at www.davidakellybooks.com.

MVP series chosen as “Best Books of 2016” by Chicago Public Library
Miracle Mud is a Maryland Blue Crab Award Winner
The Wrigley Riddle (Ballpark Mysteries #6) was selected as one of Amazon.com’s Best Books of 2013

3 Fun Facts

1. I once met home run king Hank Aaron.
2. I get to go to baseball parks and watch games as part of my job!
3. I was a terrible baseball player!

Alan has written 50+ highly acclaimed books for young readers, including Take Me Out of the Bathtub and Other Silly Dilly Songs. Alan is the co-author with the Today show’s Dylan Dreyer of Misty the Cloud (a New York Times bestseller) and its sequel, Friends Through Rain or Shine. Alan’s other titles include Got Your Nose! and Really Stupid Stories for Really Smart Kids.

Alan is a six-time Emmy-nominated writer for series including The Rosie O’Donnell Show, Pinkalicious and Peterrific, various Nickelodeon shows and network specials. He has also created theme park shows, trading card sets, TV commercials and hundreds of other special projects for kids and their parents. www.alankatzbooks.com

Awards
Utah Children’s Poetry Book Award Winner
North Carolina Children’s Book Award Winner
Colorado Children’s Picture Book of the Year Winner

3 Fun Facts

1. Alan’s favorite food is cantaloupe
2. Alan used to host a game show on XM Kids Place Live
3. Most nights, Alan sleeps in a bright orange t-shirt