About Fred Wynn

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So far Fred Wynn has created 317 blog entries.

Kantorovitz, Sylvie

Kantorovitz, Sylvie

Sylvie Kantorovitz grew up in France and now lives in the beautiful Hudson Valley. She is the creator of a middle-grade graphic-novel about her young years in France: SYLVIE (ages 9-14) “Enchanting and witty.” (School Library Journal). She is the creator of two series, also in comics format: MONTI AND LEO (ages 7-9) “Monti and Leo’s friendship radiates warmth throughout.” (Kirkus) and PICKLE (ages 3-6) “expressive characters… silly charm… certain to delight.” (Booklist). She is also the illustrator of the bestseller, WHEELS ON THE BUS, A RAFFI SONG TO READ.  www.sylviekantorovitz.com

Awards

SYLVIE:  Bank Street Best Book of the Year, Junior Library Guild selection.
MONTI AND LEO: Junior Library Guild selection, ALA’s Best Graphic Novels for Children.
PICKLE: Junior Library Guild selection, Horn Book Summer Reading selection

3 Fun Facts

1. I’m easy to recognize: I have very short hair and a French accent
2. I love spirals! I manage to include 2 in my autograph
3. My favorite drink is carrot juice.

Ralli, Jessica

Ralli, Jessica

Jessica Ralli is the coordinator of early literacy programs at Brooklyn Public Library where she develops and manages creative initiatives for children 0-5. She has taught in schools, museums and libraries, and lives in Brooklyn with her partner and two children. Jessica is currently co-authoring the award-winning, critically-acclaimed First Conversations series published by RISE X Penguin Workshop. firstconversations.com

Awards

ALA Notable Book (2021), Notable Social Studies Book for Young People (2022), 2023 ALA RISE Booklist, Kirkus Best Book of the Year 2021, Bank Street Book Committee Best Book of the year 2022 & 2023 (more reviews and honors listed here: https://www.jessicaralli.com/childrens-books)

3 Fun Facts

1. I love eggs and often make TikTok videos devoted to them:)
2. I adore Hermit Crabs!
3. I grew up in a school (that my mom ran in our home).

Raff, Anna

Raff, Anna

Anna Raff is an award-winning illustrator of many books for children including PARTY ANIMALS, IF I WERE A KANGAROO, YOU MAKE ME SNEEZE! Her book THE DAY THE UNIVERSE EXPLODED MY HEAD was a Kirkus Best Book of the Year and New York Public Library Best Book. Anna is on the faculty of the School of Visual Arts in the MFA Illustration as Visual Essay Program and Illustration Summer Residency. She lives in New York City, where there are reportedly five rats per human resident.
 www.annaraff.com

Awards

Kirkus Best Book of the Year; NY Public Library Best Book; Starred Reviews from Publishers Weekly, Booklist; Society of Illustrators: Original Art

3 Fun Facts

1. I can juggle.
2. Orange is my favorite color.
3. I’m allergic to cats and dogs, but I LOVE them!

Tarpley, Natasha Anastasia

Tarpley, Natasha Anastasia

Natasha Anastasia Tarpley is an acclaimed author and children’s media creator. Her beloved, bestselling picture book, I Love My Hair! is a staple on national school and library reading lists. She is also the author of a new picture book series, Keyana Loves… Other titles include the award-winning picture book, The Me I Choose To Be, and the social-justice themed middle grade mystery, The Harlem Charade. Natasha is also the writer and Co-Creator of the award-winning children’s narrative podcast, Opal Watson: Private Eye, and is currently developing new children’s television and podcast series. https://natashatarpleywrites.com

Awards

My books have appeared on Bank Street, Kirkus, and multiple library “Best Book” lists; National Endowment for the Arts fellowship recipient; City of Chicago Esteemed Artist Awardee; We Need Diverse Books Mentor; Zürich James Joyce Foundation Research Fellowship, Zürich, Switzerland; Regional Finalist, White House Fellow Program; PEN Foundation Prize for Multicultural Literature

3 Fun Facts

1. I love to sing and take multiple dance breaks while I write
2. I run marathons
3. I love to travel and explore new places (I speak German and can only use it when I travel)

Larsen, Mylisa

Larsen, Mylisa

Mylisa Larsen has been telling stories for a long time. This has caused her to get gimlet-eyed looks from her parents, her siblings and, later, her own children when they felt that certain stories had been embellished beyond acceptable limits. She now writes children’s books where her talents for hyperbole are actually rewarded. She is the author of the picture books All Of Those Babies, How To Put Your Parents To Bed, If I Were A Kangaroo and Ho Ho Homework and the novels Playing Through The Turnaround and Quagmire Tiarello Couldn’t Be Better. She has lived in eight states and two countries and has loved things about all of them. Right now, she lives in upstate New York near one of the Finger Lakes where she loves the water and the trees and the old libraries. https://www.mylisalarsen.com/

Awards

Playing Through The Turnaround-starred reviews in Kirkus and Publishers Weekly
If I Were A Kangaroo-chosen by Raising Readers to be distributed to 11,000 kids in Maine
If I Were A Kangaroo-selected for Imagination Library selection in 2018 and 2019

3 Fun Facts

1. I grew up on a farm
2. I’ve lived in eight different states and in Brazil.
3. I have a dog named Sophie who is convinced that pirates are trying to break into the house at all hours.

Sell, Chad

Sell, Chad

Chad Sell is an author and cartoonist originally from central Wisconsin. His children’s books include The Cardboard Kingdom, Doodleville, and The Stupendous Switcheroo. Chad lives in Connecticut. www.chadsellcomics.com

Awards

2020 Maine Student Book Award
2020 Nēnē Award for Best Graphic Novel
2019 Dwayne McDuffie Award for Kids’ Comics

3 Fun Facts

1. I love video games!
2. I’m weirdly good at croquet.
3. I love cats.

Freedman, Deborah

Freedman, Deborah

Deborah Freedman was an architect once-upon-a-time, but now she prefers building worlds in picturebooks. She is the author and illustrator of 11 of them, featuring protagonists that include an earthworm searching for its purpose in life, a house that dreams of its origins, and a bird that is proud of being a dinosaur. Her stories have been translated into ten different languages, adopted in classrooms across the country, and honored with many starred reviews and awards. She daydreams and makes books in her colorful home in Connecticut.  https://www.deborahfreedman.net

Awards

Multiple starred reviews, from Kirkus, Booklist, SLJ, PW, and others, National Book Festival featured Youth Title for CT, Junior Library Guild gold standard selections, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library selection.

3 Fun Facts

1. My first, favorite books were by my aunt, Mary Ann Hoberman.
2. We have books in every room of our house.
3. If you are in CT and see a license plate that says “KIDLIT”— that’s me!

Cummins, Lucy Ruth

Cummins, Lucy Ruth

Lucy Ruth Cummins is an author, illustrator, and art director of children’s books. Her author-illustrated books include “Stumpkin,” “Vampenguin,” and “Our Pool.” She is also the illustrator of “Truman,” written by Jean Reidy, and the author of “Sleepy Sheepy,” illustrated by Pete Oswald, among others. She lives with her little family in Brooklyn, New York.

Awards

Governor General’s Award shortlist, Publisher’s Weekly Best Book, New York Times best book, NPR best book, Irma Black Honor book.

3 Fun Facts

1. I am the youngest of six children
2. I have met the president
3. I prefer pie to cake.

Baker, Jennifer

Baker, Jennifer

Jennifer Baker is a publishing professional of 20 years, the creator/host of the Minorities in Publishing podcast, and a faculty member of the MFA program in Creative Nonfiction at Bay Path University and a writing consultant at Baruch College. Jennifer is also the editor of the short story anthology Everyday People: The Color of Life (Atria Books, 2018) and the author of the YA novel Forgive Me Not (Nancy Paulsen Books, 2023). Her fiction, nonfiction, and criticism has appeared in various print and online publications. Her website is: jennifernbaker.com.

Awards

Jennifer Baker’s essay “What We Aren’t (or the Ongoing Divide)” was listed as a Notable Essay in The Best American Essays 2018. She received a 2017 NYSCA/NYFA Fellowship and a Queens Council on the Arts New Work Grant for Nonfiction Literature. In 2019, she was named Publishers Weekly Superstar for her contributions to inclusion and representation in publishing. Forgive Me Not was listed by New York Public Library as a “Best Books for Teens 2023,” included on the Texas Library Association’s 2024 TAYSHAS Reading List, and Electric Literature’s “Best Novels of 2023.”

3 Fun Facts

1. Jennifer is an amateur baker who has won local competitions.
2. Jennifer is an active cyclist and a big fan of NYC’s new bike lanes.
3. Jennifer’s biggest goal is to travel to every country in Asia and eat all the things!

Bontigao, Lynnor

Bontigao, Lynnor

Lynnor Bontigao is the author-illustrator of SARI-SARI SUMMERS, a nostalgic love letter to the Philippines and grandmothers, and includes a bonus sweet recipe. She is also the illustrator of many other picture books such as MILES AHEAD by Minh Lê (Spring 2026),THE WORLD’S BEST CLASS PLANT(2025 Giverny Award for Best Children’s Science Picture Book) by Liz Garton Scanlon & Audrey Vernick, and SEASHELL KEY chapter book series by Lourdes Heuer. She loves heartfelt stories paired with humor especially where relationships, culture, and food are intertwined. Lynnor lives in New Jersey with her family and 1 tiny dog. www.lynnorbontigao.com

Awards

WORLD’S BEST CLASS PLANT(One of Kirkus’ Best Picture Books 2023, 2025 Giverny Award for Best Children’s Science Picture Book, Kirkus & PW Starred Reviews), SEASHELL KEY Book 1 (Parents Magazine Best Summer Read), AT THE END OF THE DAY (A Junior Library Gold Selection).

3 Fun Facts

1. I enjoy watching KDramas.
2. My hands are always cold.
3. I wanted to design shoes when I was a kid.

The Hudson Children’s Book Festival is a 501c3 charity.

Hudson Children’s Book Festival, Inc., established in 2009 in the historic City of Hudson, NY, strives to create, nurture and sustain a culture of literacy in partnership with our community and schools in Hudson and the surrounding areas. The mission is to foster a love of reading by connecting children with world-class authors and illustrators at the annual free festival and special school and community events. Since 2024, Hudson Children’s Book Festival is a 501(c)3 charity. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

 

This free, public event fosters a love of reading as families meet and greet world-class creators of books for children of all ages

Copyright 2026 Hudson Children's Book Festival

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