| Author and Featured Book | Featured Book Description | Biography & Honors |
|---|---|---|
| Tony Abbott tonyabbottbooks.com  | The Goofballs – Jeff, Brian, Mara and Kelly – discover strange happenings while they rehearse their annual talent show. They go undercover (and under the stage!) to solve the goofy mystery! | Tony Abbott has published over ninety books for readers ages 6 to 14, and over twelve million copies have been sold worldwide, translated into multiple languages. His works, including his series for middle-grade readers, have won recognition on selective state reading lists, and have won the Golden Kite and Edgar Awards as well. He teaches creative writing at Lesley University and frequently appears at conferences, book festivals and schools nationwide. He also maintains a literary blog at www.fridaybookreport.com. |
| Axel Avian axelavian.com  | When an ordinary kid learns he’s the heir to a secret agent dynasty, F.A.L.C.O.N puts him on a case to protect a famous rock group and find a missing journalist. Before he knows it, Colt Shore has gone from bodyguard to rock star to full-fledged agent when he learns that a human trafficking ring plans to kidnap a group of teenage girls. It will take more than his ingenuity and skills and a couple of cool gadgets to protect his new friends and rescue the captured girls before it’s too late. | Axel Avian grew up in an organization not unlike FALCON, in southwestern England. He has traveled the world for his work. |
| Artie Bennett artiebennett.com  | "Everyone poops -- yes, it's true -- from aardvarks to the humped zebu." In hilarious verses, with eye-popping illustrations, Poopendous! relates the many, often remarkable uses of poop throughout the world while paying homage to its prolific producers, from cats to bats to wombats! So pick up your pooper-scooper and come along for a riotously rib-tickling ride. | "Poopendous!" is Artie Bennett's "number two" picture book, following award-winning "The Butt Book." He and his wife live in Brooklyn, NY where he devotes much of his free time moving his car to satisfy the rigorous demands of alternate-side-of-the-street parking regulations. His books have been honored with a wide array of awards and citations. |
| Christine Brodien-Jones cbrodien-jones.com  | Eleven-year old Zoe Badger – imaginative, carefree and adventurous – lives a transient life, moving with her mother from one town to the next, except during summers when she stays with her granddad in Tenby, Wales. But when she and her cousin Ian discover a glass puzzle that’s been hidden away for decades, ancient forces are unleashed that threaten to change their safe-haven summer town in sinister ways. | Christine Brodien-Jones studied creative writing at Emerson College, Boston and has worked as a journalist, editor and teacher. She began writing children’s books in graduate school, drawn into the world of fantasy while reading to her two young sons. Her works of adventure have drawn praise from Kirkus, School Library Journal and Booklist, and she is sought after for her workshops. Ms. Brodien-Jones and her husband divide their time between Massachusetts and Maine, and can be found most winters in Buenos Aires. |
| Laurie Calkhoven lauriecalkhoven.com  | When the Nazis invade Paris, Michael, a French-American boy, wants to be part of the Resistance. Destroying German posters and refusing to hail Hitler leads to the dangerous job of guiding American airmen to safe houses and to delivering secret documents. But when an injured pilot needs to escape France, and the Gestapo comes knocking, will Michael be brave enough to complete his mission? School Library Journal said “the action is intense.” | Laurie Calkhoven has always loved reading and writing (arithmetic is another story). She’s especially interested in the intersection of big moments in American history with the lives of ordinary kids. That’s how the Boys of Wartime series was born. She also writes for American Girl’s Innerstar University series. Ms. Calkhoven grew up in New Milford, NJ, not far from Warwick, and now lives in New York City. Her books have appeared on numerous state reading lists, and she is currently a finalist for the 2013-2014 Mark Twain Readers Award. |
| Jennifer Castle jennifercastle.com  | Justine and four of her classmates struggle with friendship and self-identity while being filmed for a widely-acclaimed documentary film series that revisits their lives every five years. | Jennifer Castle worked as an advertising copywriter, a celebrity publicist’s assistant and as a struggling screenwriter before discovering the joys of writing fiction for young adults. She lives with her family in New York’s Hudson Valley. |
| Sheela Chari sheelachari.com  | Neela dreams of being a famous musician until her instrument goes missing. On an adventure that takes her from Harvard Square to Chennai, India, Neela sets out to find her lost instrument and discover what it means to be a true musician. | Sheela Chari is the author of Vanished, and appeared in October 2012 on the Today Show with Al Roker’s Book Club. Honored also as a 2012 Edgar Award Nominee and by the Asian/Pacific-American Library Association, Ms. Chari holds an MFA in creative writing from New York University. |
| Bryan Collier bryancollier.com  | In I, Too, Am America, Bryan Collier brings life and meaning to Langston Hughes’s iconic poem, “I, Too, Sing America.” | A native of Maryland now living in New York’s Hudson Valley, Bryan Collier is an honors graduate of Pratt Institute, a painter for thirty years and illustrator for thirteen – “with more to come.” He has been awarded the Coretta Scott King Illustrator award for three of his books, a Caldecott Honor for another, and sums up his philosophy saying “I believe that history is a chain and we’re all connected, and history is a train that we have no choice but to ride.” |
| Shana Corey shanacorey.com  | Juliette Gordon Low – “Daisy” to friends and family – was not like most girls of the Victorian era. Prim and proper? BOSH! Dainty and delicate? HOW BORING! Born into a family of pathfinders and pioneers, she too wanted to make a difference in the world. She founded the Girl Scouts, and one hundred years later, the Girl Scouts continue to have adventures, do good deeds and make a difference. | A native of North Carolina now living in Brooklyn, NY with her family, Shana Corey has a flair for finding the story in history and making it accessible to kids. In addition to her writing, she is also a children’s book editor at Random House Children’s Books, where she has the pleasure of reading and editing award-winning series, middle grade and young adult novels. Her books have been honored by Publisher’s Weekly, the American Library Association, the Junior Library Guild, Booklist and Parenting Magazine, among other publications and organizations. |
| Catherine DeCesare 31High.com  | Sometimes, My Dad and I is a simple and beautiful view of a boy’s relationship with his dad. A perfect read-to for fathers of infant, toddler and early elementary school-age children. Fathers and sons will want to read this book more than just…sometimes. | Catherine DeCesare holds a BFA from New York City's School of Visual Arts and has been painting and drawing for a lifetime. She lives in New York's Hudson Valley. |
| Ame Dyckman amedyckman.com  | When he follows his nose through the woods, Cub discovers a backyard tea party...with cookies! He is just about to dig in when the hostess of the tea party shows up. And she has several strong opinions on how Tea Party must be played. Cub tries to follow her rules...but just how much can one bear take, even for cookies? | Ame Dyckman LOVES picture books. Sometimes she'll put them down long enough to write one of her own! Her works have received starred reviews in Kirkus, Publisher's Weekly and Booklist and have also been honored by the New York Times, Amazon.com and the Please Touch Museum. Ms. Dyckman lives in Lawrenceville, NJ with her family, pets and books. |
| Dan Elish danelish.com  | Daphna Whispers, piano genius, attends the Blatt School for the Insanely Gifted in New York City. Will she and her two best friends figure out the mystery behind her mother’s strange disappearance? Is Ignatious Peabody Blatt himself, head of the school, responsible? | Dan Elish is the author of The School for the Insanely Gifted and many other books for young readers. He is also the script writer for the Broadway musical “13,” adapted from his book of the same name. Mr. Elish also won an International Young Adult Book Prize in 2004. He lives in New York City with his wife and children. |
| Matthew S. Field matthewsfieldauthor.com | Sometimes, My Dad and I is a simple and beautiful view of a boy’s relationship with his dad. A perfect read-to for fathers of infant, toddler and early elementary school-age children, it is delightfully illustrated by C. Pierson DeCesare. Fathers and sons will want to read this book more than just…sometimes. | A native of St. Louis, Missouri, Matthew S. Field is a versatile author whose credits include children’s literature, mainstream fiction, and non-fiction. He has been honored as the Times Herald-Record’s Best Author of 2011. A single father and entrepreneur, Mr. Field lives in New York’s Hudson Valley with his three children. Mr. Field's son, Wade, co-wrote "Sometimes, My Dad and I." |
| Alison Formento alisonashleyformento.com  | Mr. Tate’s class helps clean up a local beach and listens to the sea as it tells them all about the wildlife that make it their home. One whale, two giant sea turtles, three marlins…and more. Of course, the class discovers that “this sea counts!” The book explores the environmental impact and importance of the seas, and how crucial it is to keep them healthy. | Alison Ashley Formento is the author of multi-award-winning nature picture books, and has also written for several national publications including The New York Times, The Writer and Parenting. She regularly appears at schools, libraries, bookstores, conferences and festivals, and donates a portion of her book proceeds to AmericanForests.org. Ms. Formento is hard at work (and play) on her next picture book and on an upcoming young adult novel, Twigs, (Merit Press) edited by Jacquelyn Mitchard. |
Gretchen Gibbs | Maggie Bradstreet is a curious girl of thirteen with a mind of her own, which can get her into trouble in Puritan New England. She wants to prove to her brother’s friend Job that she is no longer a child, but when witches are discovered in their community of Andover, Massachusetts, her world turns upside down. Maggie’s diary tells of excitement turned into horror as more and more people are accused of witchcraft and her best friend’s mother is jailed. She tries to save her friends and ultimately must save herself. | Gretchen Gibbs grew up in a small town not far from Andover, Massachusetts where her book takes place. When she discovered that her ancestors played a major role in the witch trials in Andover, she had to write the story. She created the diary of a real girl, her ancestor Maggie Bradstreet. Ms. Gibbs lives in the lower Hudson Valley of New York and has practiced as a psychologist for many years. She blogs at zestoforange.com. |
| K.L. Going klgoing.com  | Troy Billings is seventeen, 296 pounds, friendless, utterly miserable, and about to step off a New York subway platform in front of an oncoming train. Until he meets Curt MacCrae, an emaciated, semi-homeless, high school dropout guitar genius, the stuff of which Lower East Side punk rock legends are made. Soon, Curt’s recruited Troy as his new drummer—even though Troy can’t play the drums. | K.L. Going is the award-winning author of multiple books for kids and teens. Fat Kid Rules the World, her first book and a Michael L. Printz Honor Book, was recently made into a movie which premiered to rave reviews at the SXSW Film Festival. Her books have been published around the world, and her works have been honored as Junior Library Guild selections, ALA Best Books, Scholastic Book Club choices, and received State Book and Rip Van Winkle Awards. At the Warwick Children’s Book Festival, Ms. Going will be presenting a workshop on the process of writing, editing and publishing a book. |
| Robbin Gourley robbingourley.com  | The childhood story of Edna Lewis growing up on a farm in southern Virginia traces the celebration of home-grown food throughout the seasons. | Robbin Gourley is an author/illustrator of books for adults and children as well as an art director/designer in children’s publishing. Her next book, Talking Guitar: the Story of Young Doc Watson will be released by Clarion books in the spring of 2014. Ms. Gourley and her husband have two adult children, and they all try to be together in Brooklyn whenever possible. |
| Chris Grabenstein chrisgrabenstein.com  | Kyle Keeley is the class clown, popular with most kids (if not with the teachers) and an ardent fan of all games: board games, word games and particularly video games. His hero, Luigi Lemoncello, the most notorious and creative game maker in the world, just so happens to be the genius behind the building of the new town library. In this cross between Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and A Night in the Museum, Agatha Award-winner Grabenstein uses rib-tickling humor to create the perfect tale for his quirky characters. | Chris Grabenstein is the co-author, with James Patterson, of I Funny: A Middle School Story, a #1 New York Times Bestseller, and is also a playwright and screenwriter. Winner of two Anthony and three Agatha Awards, Mr. Grabenstein wrote for Jim Henson’s Muppets and co-wrote the CBS-TV movie The Christmas Gift starring John Denver. He lives in New York City with his wife, three cats and a rescue dog named Fred, who starred on Broadway in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. |
| Kit Grindstaff kitgrindstaff.com  | Fiery-headed Jemma is the family misfit at Agromond Castle, and hates the sinister Mist shrouding the land. On the eve of her thirteenth birthday, she makes a shocking discovery: she is not who she thinks she is, and the Agromonds have terrifying plans for her. In mortal danger, she flees from the castle. With her trusted friend, Digby, and her two telepathic golden rats, Jenna faces enemies both human and supernatural. | Ms. Grindstaff grew up in the rolling countryside of England. After a brush with pop stardom (under her maiden name, Hain) she moved to New York and embarked on her career as a pop song writer. Kit now lives with her husband in the rolling countryside of Pennsylvania. The Flame in the Mist is her first novel. |
| Alissa Grosso alissagrosso.com  | Barbara can't wait to leave the small, stifling town of Shallow Pond, but the appearance of fellow orphan Zach Faraday, and the shocking family secret she uncovers, change everything. | Alissa is a New Jersey native whose young adult novels include Ferocity Summer (2012) and Popular (2011). Shallow Pond is her third novel. A magna cum laude graduate of Rutgers, Alissa now lives in a small Pennsylvania town just across a bridge from New Jersey. She has worked as a newspaper editor, children's librarian and a tavern wench (complete with Colonial-style costume!) |
| Melissa Guion melissaguion.com  | One day a penguin sees a most unusual sight: a hat floating in icy water. Even more unusual? Out of the hat pops a baby penguin. Not just one … or even two. But a third, and a fourth, and on and on! At first, the mama penguin is happy for the company. Until she realizes that taking care of a family is hard work, and what she could really use is a moment alone! | Author/illustrator Melissa Guion lives in Brooklyn, NY. Baby Penguins Everywhere! is her first book. She is currently coaxing the baby penguins into a second book. Baby Penguins Everywhere! has been honored for its illustrations and featured in both the New York Times Book Review and on Amazon.com. |
| Amy Ignatow abramsbooks.com/popularitypapers/  | Love is in the air! Julie and Roland are an official "couple," which means...well, they're not exactly sure what, except that it makes Papa Dad extremely anxious. Meanwhile, Lydia's mom announces that she's marrying Coach Eric (the soccer coach from England) and Lydia and her sister Melody are not happy about it. With the wedding date looming, the girls will have to figure out how to accept the inevitability of change - and that even if the change isn't what you thought you wanted, it can still end up all right, as long as you have good friends at your side. | Amy Ignatow is a cartoonist and author of the Popularity Papers series of scrapbook-style illustrated novels. She is a graduate of Moore College of Art and Design and lives with her husband, Mark, their daughter Anya, and their cat, Mathilda, who is mostly very terrible. |
| G. Brian Karas gbriankaras.com  | Neville begins with a boy sent by his mother out into their new neighborhood to "take a little walk down the block." He’s not at all happy about the situation, but comes up with a brilliant idea that soon has all the neighborhood children rallied around him. | G. Brian Karas is the prolific and versatile illustrator and writer of many children's books including Atlantic (an ALA Notable Book), Saving Sweetness by Diane Stanley, and the Boston Globe/Horn Book Honor title, Home on the Bayou. The New York Times describes his work as "...depicted in a childlike style that belies the sophistication of the drawings. Exquisite and moving in its subtlety." He lives in New York's Hudson Valley with his family. |
| Bob Krech bobkrech.com  | Andrea’s life is pretty terrific: she has great friends, likes school, and is the leading scorer on her soccer team. Then her parents announce that the family is moving to Scotland for a year. In Scotland, Andrea will have to survive living with her principal, a haunted castle, the notorious Tough Girls Football Club and her first crush. Even so, Scotland might be okay if Andrea could control what she fears the most – her stuttering. | A native of New Jersey and dual-major graduate of Rutgers College, Bob Krech has been a teacher, administrator, supervisor, curriculum specialist, editor and writer in the U.S., Scotland and Saudi Arabia. Mr. Krech has written many books and articles for teachers and parents, primarily on elementary mathematics instruction. Recipient of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching, Mr. Krech has been honored with an ALA Best Book award, with the James Cook Teen Book Award and with the IRA/CBC Children’s Choice Award. |
| London Ladd londonladd.com  | Oprah: the Little Speaker is a story about the very young years of Oprah Winfrey’s life. Raised on a little farm in Kosciusko, Mississippi, Oprah lived with her grandmother, Hattie Mae. Though born in poverty, Oprah had big dreams and didn’t let her circumstances stop her from reaching for her dreams. Oprah’s story is a fine example of overcoming obstacles to succeed. | London Ladd started drawing in his late teens and cites among his artistic influences N.C. Wyeth, John Singer Sargent, Dean Cornwell, Frank Duveneck and Greg Manchess. He has also studied with renowned illustrators to learn many aspects of drawing, painting and design. Mr. Ladd holds a BFA in Illustration from Syracuse University and his work has been honored with a Parent’s Choice Award for Historical Fiction and an ALA Carnegie Medal of Excellence in Children’s Video. He can always be found with a sketchbook and paints at hand, constantly improving his craft. |
| Emmy Laybourne emmylaybourne.com  | In this sequel to Monument 14, a group of survivors has split in two. Most of the kids are making a desperate run on their school bus for the Denver airport. Not all of the kids were willing to get on the bus, though, and the world outside is filled with dangerous chemicals that turn people into monsters. Left behind, the remaining kids try to rebuild the community they lost. | Emmy Laybourne is a screenwriter, lyricist and actress who has acted in movies, television and improv, including Chicago City Limits. She lives in Chestnut Ridge, NY with her husband and their two children. |
| Ann Haywood Leal annhaywoodleal.com  | Esther Page has been trying to keep things together for as long as she can remember. Her mama has always gotten Esther and her younger sister, Ruth, caught up in her outrageous ideas. But Mama’s notions are getting wilder, and too many people are asking questions about what’s going on at home. It seems to Esther that the only person who can help is Ezekiel – the father she can barely remember. So Esther and Ruth take off to track him down. | Ann Haywood Leal comes from a long line of musicians, artists and teachers. Since she’s never been able to carry a tune, she was always given plenty of writing supplies and allowed to use the sharp scissors. Eventually, she put those writing supplies to good use, writing her two novels while also teaching at an elementary school. Ms. Leal lives in Connecticut with her husband and one of her two daughters. Her books have been featured on several state book lists as well as on the Chicago Public Library’s “Best of the Best” list. |
| Sharon Linnea sharonlinnea.com  | The fascinating - and little-known - story of Hawaii's Princess Ka'iulani and her courageous fight for Hawaiian independence. Using many newly-translated journals and letters, Sharon Linnea introduces young readers to the most beloved figure in Hawaiian history, and one of America's most overlooked heroines. | Sharon Linnea has written two award-winning biographies for young adults - about Princess Ka'iulani and about Raoul Wallenberg - and she often speaks to school groups about them. Sharon also writes thrillers and mysteries for adults; her Eden thriller series has sold more than half a million copies. Ms. Linnea's works have been honored by the Bank Street College, the National Council for the Social Studies, the Children's Book Council and the New York Public Library, among other distinguished organizations. |
| Maryann Macdonald maryannmacdonald.com  | Odette lives in the beautiful city of Paris during an ugly time, when the city is occupied by the Nazis. When her father joins the French army and her mother joins the Resistance, Odette is sent to the country to “hide in plain sight.” Forced to lie and to keep secrets in order to survive, Odette begins to lose touch with who she really is. When she returns to Paris at the end of the war, she struggles to find her true identity. | Maryann Macdonald has written over twenty five books for children. She lived in Europe for many years, where she discovered the touching story of Odette Meyers’s childhood in her memoir “Doors to Madame Marie.” Ms. Macdonald lives in New York City, where she serves the International Board on Books for Young People as its representative to the United Nations. ReadKiddoRead, James Patterson’s book club, selected her book The Pink Party as a “best illustrated book.” |
| Carolyn MacCullough carolynmaccullough.com  | Seventeen year old Tamsin Greene comes from a long line of witches, but her magic never showed up. When a handsome young professor at her boarding school mistakes her for her very Talented sister, Tamsin agrees to find a long-lost family heirloom for him. The search – and the stranger – will prove to be more sinister than they first appeared, ultimately sending Tamsin on a treasure hunt through time that will unlock the secret of her true identity, unearth the sins of her family and unleash a power so vengeful that it could destroy them all. | Carolyn MacCullough is an author with five young adult novels published by Roaring Brook Press and Clarion/Houghton Mifflin. Once a Witch and its sequel, Always a Witch, were both Junior Literary Guild selections. She has taught creative writing for NYU, The New School and Gotham Writers and lives in New York with her family. |
| Stan Mack stanmack.com  | Taxes, the Tea Party and Those Revolting Rebels is an entertaining, irreverent and yet serious way to learn of the before, during and after of the American Revolution. Here are pedestal-free Founding Fathers, insensitive aristocrats, heroic and squabbling citizens, progressing from mob action through full-fledged revolution to a raucous and messy Constitutional debate. Using narrative, lively cartoons and dialogue balloons, Mack offers a peoples’-eye view of the colonists’ contentious – and courageous – reach for justice and freedom. | Stan Mack pioneered a documentary style of comics with his weekly series “Stan Mack’s Real Life Funnies,” which ran in The Village Voice for twenty years. He’s also created a comic strip series for the New York Times, Ad Week Magazine, Esquire and other publications. A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, Mr. Mack is a former art director of the New York Times Sunday Magazine. |
| Jean Mammato heartspringspress.org  | A non-fiction paperback book full of interesting facts on dinosaurs, geared toward children ages 6-11, which comes alive with Jean Mammato’s precise, accurate, vivid illustrations. Proceeds from the sale of Dinosaur Seasons benefit families served by the Schoharie County Child Development Council, which founded Heart Springs Press in order to support the Council’s commitment to providing quality services to area children and families. | Jean Mammato grew up in Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY and studied Graphic Design at The College of Saint Rose in Albany, NY. A graduate of Empire State College, Ms. Mammato has worked as a graphic artist and her artwork can be found in various locations in her upstate New York community. She works as a manager at a non-profit child and family service organization and has two children, Caitlin and Malcolm. |
| Meghan McCarthy Meghan-McCarthy.com  | In the 1930s, most girls were happy playing with dolls. But one girl, Betty Skelton, liked playing with airplanes, watching them fly around outside, and even flying airplanes herself! Betty rode motorcycles, raced cars, jumped out of planes, and flew jets, helicopters, gliders, and blimps. And by the time she was an adult, Betty was known in the press as the “First Lady of Firsts!” This vibrantly illustrated picture book biography reveals the exciting life of a brave pioneer who followed her dreams and showed the world that women can do anything! | Meghan was born sometime in the late 1970s. Ah, the '70s. In the elementary school years she played baseball, ran cross country, started a rock band, organized a haunted house, beat all the boys at dodgeball, and painted some pretty pictures. In the high school years she played softball, basketball, joined the not-so-cool art club, painted really big photorealism paintings, and failed every math class she took. Then Meghan went to RISD where she was exposed to all sorts of crazy artsy people who didn't shower and used such words as "composition," "color," and "apropos." After graduation Meghan moved to New York where she is having a grand time meeting interesting people and going to parties. She also takes her work very seriously, and can't think of anything she'd rather do than children's books -- although she is ashamed that her spelling has not improved one bit. |
| Florence Minor minorart.com  | This spirited collection of poems and big, bold, endearing illustrations celebrates the varied and playful personalities of the eight species of bears in their natural habitats. Even the most beloved of childhood icons – the teddy bear – gets a nod! Fun facts about each of the eight species will enlighten and entertain children, their families and educators alike. | After leaving New York City and a successful career as a film editor for ABC News, Ms. Minor now writes books for children and handles all aspects of her husband Wendell’s studio. She feels very fortunate to have her books illustrated by Wendell. In addition to Pennsylvania’s “One Book, Every Young Child” selection, Ms. Minor’s work has been honored as a Scholastic Book Club selection. She and Wendell live in rural Connecticut with their cats Sophie and Cinder. |
| Wendell Minor minorart.com  | Every year, giant pumpkin contests take place at fairs across the country – the 2012 record-holder weighed over a ton! The latest craze is to carve the most enormous pumpkins into racing boats. But what’s next? Why not think really big? Imagine larger-than-life pumpkins decorating some of America’s favorite places – as high as our tallest lighthouse and roller coaster, as immense as the Capitol dome, Mount Rushmore, the Brooklyn Bridge and even the Grand Canyon! | Wendell Minor is an internationally-known illustrator and author of over fifty award-winning children’s books. He has collaborated with, among others, Jean Craighead George, Robert Burleigh, astronaut Buzz Aldrin, and Mary Higgins Clark. In November 2013, the Norman Rockwell Museum will host “Wendell Minor’s America,” featuring 25 years of his children’s book art. The recipient of honorary doctorates from two major universities, Mr. Minor has received honors and recognition from organizations including the ALA, the International Reading Association, Parent’s Choice Foundation, the Smithsonian Institute and Publisher’s Weekly. |
| Michael Northrop michaelnorthrop.net  | Jimmer “JD” Dobbs is back in town after spending the summer “upstate.” No one believes his story about visiting his aunt, and it’s clear that he has something to hide. It’s also clear that his mom made a new friend while he was away – a rescued Rottweiler that JD renames Johnny Rotten. Both tough but damaged, JD and Johnny slowly learn to trust each other, but their newfound bond is threatened by a treacherous friend and one snap of Johnny’s powerful jaws. As JD’s secrets start to unravel, he suddenly has something much more to worry about: saving his dog. | A former senior editor at Sports Illustrated for Kids for eight years, Michael Northrop’s young adult and middle-grade novels have won acclaim from a wide variety of organizations, including the New York Public Library, American Library Association, and Publisher’s Weekly, and have been named to multiple recommended reading lists. |
| Ammi-Joan Paquette ajpaquette.com  | On a dark, spooky night, one little ghost goes slip-sliding down the hall all alone. Until suddenly he hears…WHAT IS THAT SOUND? Turn the page and find out… | Ammi-Joan (A.J.) Paquette is the author of several acclaimed novels and picture books. Tiptoe Guide to Tracking Fairies was included on ABC’s Best Books of 2009, and Ms. Paquette has also been a PEN-New England Susan P. Bloom Discovery Award Honoree. In addition to her writing, she is also a literary agent with Erin Murphy Literary Agency, representing children’s and young adult authors. Ms. Paquette lives outside Boston with her family and with her very tall “to-read” pile. |
| Susan Beth Pfeffer susanbethpfeffer.blogspot.com  | It’s been more than two years since Jon Evans and his family left Pennsylvania, hoping to find a safe place to live, yet Jon remains haunted by the deaths of those he loved. His prowess on a soccer field has guaranteed him a home in a well-protected enclave. But Jon is painfully aware that a missed goal, a careless word, even falling in love, can put his life, and the lives of his family, in jeopardy. Can Jon risk doing what is right in a world gone so terribly wrong? | New York Times bestselling author Susan Beth Pfeffer has written over seventy five books for children and teenagers. September 2013 marks the publication of The Shade of the Moon, the fourth in her highly-regarded Last Survivor series. Ms. Pfeffer’s works have been honored with numerous awards. |
| Kim Purcell kimpurcell.com  | A seventeen year-old orphan girl from Moldova comes to America in pursuit of her dreams and ends up as a modern-day slave. Instead of working as a nanny during the day and going to school at night, she is forced to work sixteen hours a day and is not allowed to leave the house, threatened by the prospect of being sold to a prostitution ring. Her dream becomes a nightmare, and she starts watching the neighbor boy, searching for a way out before it’s too late. | Kim Purcell is a novelist, journalist and teacher. Trafficked is both a 2013-2014 South Carolina Book Award Nominee and a 2013 Teen Choice Award Book of the Year nominee. When Ms. Purcell is not writing, she loves to play board games with her family, run with her dog and dance anywhere a good song is playing. |
| Carol Roth authorcarolroth.com  | When sleepy little kitty awakes from her nap, she can’t find her mommy. Her farm animal friends are happy to help. “Say moo!” says the calf. “Say oink,” says the piglet. “Say quack,” says the duckling. After all, that’s how they call their own mommies. Poor little kitty’s mom is nowhere to be found, until kitty tries one more thing. | A former kindergarten teacher, Carol Roth has had ten award-winning children’s books published and her next book, Five Little Ducklings Go to Bed, will be released in 2014. She lives in New Jersey. |
| Marisabina Russo marisabinarusso.com  | What was it like to grow up Jewish in Italy during World War II? Sit with a little girl as her grandmother tells the story of her childhood in Rome, of being separated from her father and of going into hiding in the mountains. Based on the experiences of the author’s own family, this is a moving story of bravery and kindness in the face of danger that is accessible and appropriate for young readers. | Marisabina Russo is the award-winning author/illustrator of over thirty picture books and young adult novels, which have been translated into French, Japanese, Korean, Chinese and Hebrew. Among the many awards she has received are the International Reading Association Award; Parent’s Choice Foundation Gold Award; Bank Street Books of the Year (multiple times); ALA Notable Books and the Washington Irving Award. |
| Kimberly Sabatini kimberlysabatini.com  | When Elliot finds herself dead for the third time, she knows she must have messed up, big-time. she doesn't remember how she landed in the afterlife again, but she knows this is her last chance to get things right. As she pieces together the secrets and mistakes of her past, Elliot must find a way to earn the forgiveness of the person she's hurt most, and to reveal the truth about herself to the two boys she loves...even if it means losing them both forever. | Kimberly Sabatini is a former Special Education teacher who is now a stay-at-home mom and a part-time dance instructor for 3- and 4-year olds. She lives in New York's Hudson Valley with her husband and three sons. |
| Naoko Stoop redknitcapgirl.com  | Red Knit Cap Girl lives with her animal friends in an enchanted forest. There is so much to see and do, but more than anything, Red Knit Cap Girl wishes she could talk to the Moon… | Raised in Tokyo, Japan, Naoko Stoop is a self-taught illustrator currently living and creating her art in Brooklyn, NY. She tries to “bring out the five year old in everyone” through her artwork. Red Knit Cap Girl was listed as one of the New York Times Best Illustrated Books of 2012. |
| Hudson Talbott hudsontalbott.com  | Ever wonder how cats learn to charm us and then take control of the household without us even knowing it? How they manage to get everything they want through their style, grace and “catitude”? The tricks of the trade are revealed here as Buddy, the resident feline know-it-all, shares his secrets of how to get the most out of your nine lives with three young kittens and with those of us who know and appreciate “purr therapy.” | Hudson Talbott has written and illustrated over twenty children’s books that have been made into films, musicals, and have won several awards, including a Newbury Honor. Mr. Talbott lives in New York and commutes between his loft in Manhattan and his farmhouse in the Hudson Valley, where he lives with his two cats Holly and Jasper. His newest book was created at their insistence. |
| Iza Trapani izatrapani.com  | Spiders are not the only creatures to scare Little Miss Muffet. Full of positional and directional words, this fun and engaging story is perfect for the preschool crowd and up to first grade. | Iza Trapani is an award-winning children’s book author and illustrator, with over twenty books to her credit. Her popular series of nursery rhyme extensions, including The Itsy Bitsy Spider, Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star and Baa Baa Black Sheep are widely used in schools and libraries internationally. Her works have received multiple awards including the Rip Van Winkle Award for contributions to children’s literature. |
| Nancy Viau nancyviau.com  | Slither like a snake! Leap like a frog! It's not easy to learn new things, especially when you're little. Look What I Can Do! celebrates how baby animals in the forest overcome challenges. | Nancy Viau is the author of two picture books and one novel for middle grades. Her stories, poems and activities appear in Highlights, Highlights High Five, Babybug, Ladybug and many other magazines. She also enjoys presenting workshops and assembly programs to elementary school students across the country. |
Muriel Harris Weinstein | Louis was brought up in the toughest, poorest part of New Orleans. It’s a wonder he didn’t become a pickpocket or worse. This is his journey, his struggle to do what he wanted, to become what he wanted. He had to overcome all kinds of difficulties, but he never complained. He loved life and loved music; they saved him. Today’s children will be amazed at a life they couldn’t imagine and be glad to discuss the decisions Louis made in order to support his family at a young age. | Muriel Harris Weinstein is a former elementary school teacher (who loved her work so much that she sang on her way to school every morning), and a former journalist and book reviewer. Instead of retiring, she became a psychotherapist, and began writing for children late in life. The book she co-authored with her husband, A World of Vocabulary, is still in print thirty five years after its original publication. Play, Louis, Play!, now released in paperback and in a Kindle edition, has won multiple awards and has been released in Japanese. |
Faith Wilkins | You think your school is bad? Eighth grader Lily Mason has enough hassles dealing with siblings, cranky teachers and the cute new guy in school. However, when she’s kidnapped and brought to the elite Wackerson (“Wacko”) Academy, it will take all her smarts and courage to outwit the school’s nefarious owner—even if it means teaming up with his infuriating and unnecessarily handsome son. | Faith Wilkins is a high school senior who resides in New York's Hudson Valley. Wacko Academy, penned in part at Albert Wisner Public Library, earned her the 2012 Moonbeam Children's Book Award Bronze Medal in the category of Best Book by a Youth Author under 18. Ms. Wilkins also appeared on CBS Sunday News to discuss Wacko Academy. She released a sequel, Wacko Academy: the Drones of Summer, in 2013. |
