About Fred Wynn

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So far Fred Wynn has created 319 blog entries.

Mele, Dana

Mele, Dana

Dana Mele is the author of five YA books and graphic novels. Their books have been shortlisted for the ITW Thriller Award, are ALA Rainbow List Selections, and have been named by the NYPL as their Top 50 YA Books of the Year. Dana lives and writes in the Hudson Valley with their family and plays a lot of board games in their spare time.  www.danamele.com

Awards

Finalist for ITW Thriller Award, JLG Selection, NYPL’s Top 50 YA Books of the Year Selection, ALA Rainbow List Selection, Shortlisted for ALA Quick Picks For Reluctant Readers, Shortlisted for YALSA Best Books for Young Adults.

3 Fun Facts

1. When I was a child, I lived in Germany for a bit. My very best friend went off to boarding school but was so homesick she returned—she even gave me her uniform. That’s when I started reading boarding school books and my first book is set at one!
2. I have a Lord of the Rings tattoo in elvish that means the word “friend”—in the book that word is a secret password, and my friends and I use it as our own secret word to drop everything and be there for each other!
3. My first favorite book series was The Babysitters Club. I had every book in the series and my favorite character was Kristy.

Sterer, Gideon

Sterer, Gideon

Gideon Sterer is a New York Times bestselling author who grew up in the woods of upstate New York. Not too far away, his parents owned a wildlife discovery center where he would run around after-hours and let the animals out. Inspired by his father, Gideon sported a bowl-cut / mullet / rat-tail thing for a few too many years. Currently, he lives in Brooklyn and appreciates the spectrum of dogs. Other than dogs, he likes football, pierogies, portals, archery, and liminal places where worlds blend.  gideonsterer.com

Awards

NYT Bestseller / Indie Bestseller.

3 Fun Facts

1. I like Pierogis.
2. I like the Minnesota Vikings.
3. I like canoe camping.

Potter, Giselle

Potter, Giselle

Giselle Potter has illustrated thirty five children’s books. She has illustrated her own stories including, The Year I Didn’t Go to School, which she wrote and illustrated about her experiences of traveling with her parents’ puppet troupe in Italy when she was eight, as well as Tell Me What to Dream About, This Is My Dollhouse, Sister’s Wish and Before She Was my Grandmother. She has also illustrated stories by such authors as Toni Morrison, Mary Pope Osborne, Ursula Hegi, Mathea Harvey and Gertrude Stein.  Gisellepotter.com

Awards

ALA notables,Charlotte Zolotow Award, Parents’ Choice Gold Award, Marion Vannett Ridgeway award,Junior Library guild, CCBC choices, Children’s Favorite awards.

3 Fun Facts

1. Almost everyone in my family was or is an artist.
2. When I am not making children’s books I often paint family portraits.
3. I take long walks every day with my dog.

Stout, Shawn K.

Stout, Shawn K.

Shawn K. Stout is the author of many acclaimed books for young readers, including ANATOMY OF LOST THINGS and THE IMPOSSIBLE DESTINY OF CUTIE GRACKLE, which was a 2023 Bank Street College of Education Best Children’s Book of the Year and a 2023-2024 nominee for the New Hampshire Great Stone Face Children’s Book Award. Shawn has an MFA in Writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts and lives with her family in Maryland. www.shawnkstout.com

Awards

MAKING PLANS FOR NIGEL BINTY — starred reviews from Kirkus and Booklist; THE IMPOSSIBLE DESTINY OF CUTIE GRACKLE — 2023 Bank Street College of Education Best Children’s Book of the Year and a 2023-2024 nominee for the New Hampshire Great Stone Face Children’s Book Award.

3 Fun Facts

1. I have a menagerie of animals — 3 rescue dogs and 5 uppity chickens;
2. I have never been able to do a backward roll;
3. And I am distantly related (allegedly) to Maria von Trapp.

Kase, Lori Miller

Kase, Lori Miller

Lori Miller Kase is an award-winning journalist, short story writer, essayist and young adult author. A life-long reader, she’s wanted to be an author since elementary school. But she is a procrastinator, so she did a lot of other kinds of writing before she finally got around to penning her first book. The Accident, her debut novel, was the 2024 YA finalist for The Tassy Walden Awards for New Voices in Children’s Literature. The mother of two grown children, Lori writes from Connecticut, where she lives with her husband, a bossy dog named Joey, and an ever-expanding collection of books.  www.lorimillerkase.com

Awards

The Accident was the YA finalist for the 2024 Tassy Walden Awards for New Voices in Children’s Literature. I’ve also received several awards from the Connecticut Society of Professional Journalists for “Excellence in Journalism” and The Letter Review Prize for Short Fiction.

3 Fun Facts

1. I once had an article on the front page of The New York Times
2. My first publication was a poem called “I Saw a Whale,” featured in my elementary school newsletter when I was eight.
3. I had a brief stint as a keyboardist in a band called Suburbia

Beatrice, Jenna

Beatrice, Jenna

Jenna Beatrice is a children’s author, lawyer, and mom. She began her legal career as a lawyer for children before becoming a litigator and a trustee of a children’s advocacy center. As an author, Jenna now shares the joy of reading with young children. Jenna lives in New Jersey with her husband and two young sons.  jennabeatrice.com

Awards

Children’s Book Council’s 2024 Favorites Award (Children’s List), Shortlisted: Mrs. Laura Bush’s 2023 Summer Reading List,Shortlisted: 2024 Redbud Read-Aloud Book Award Masterlist, Featured in The Washington Post.

3 Fun Facts

Jenna Loves:
1. Hiking
2. Baking
3. Baseball (Go Yankees!)

Ruths,Mitali Banerjee

Ruths,Mitali Banerjee

Mitali Banerjee Ruths was born in New York, grew up in Texas, and now lives in Montreal. She is the award-winning author of The Party Diaries early chapter book series, The Inside Scouts early reader series, as well as picture books Archie Celebrates Diwali and Archie Celebrates an Indian Wedding. A proud desi kid at heart, Mitali draws inspiration from South Asian culture, writing the books she wanted to read growing up.
https://www.mitaliruths.com/en/books-pd

Awards

New York Public Library, Chicago Public Library, and the Canadian Children’s Book Center chose The Party Diaries as one of the Best Books of 2023; every book in the series has been a JLG gold selection; The Party Diaries was also named as a 2024 Sunshine State Young Readers Award (SSYRA Jr) in Florida.

3 Fun Facts

1. Mitali is Bengali American and grew up in Houston, Texas.
2. Her dog Tux is a bulldog poodle mix who has appeared in two of her books.
3. Mitali has done a lot of interesting jobs. She has worked as a babysitter, an ice cream seller, and even a medical doctor. Now, she’s an author!

Macias, Maryann Jacob

Macias, Maryann Jacob

Maryann Jacob Macias‘s second picture book, NISHA KNOWS BEST, recently published by Dial Books for Young Readers/Penguin Random House in February 2026, has received positive reviews from Booklist and Kirkus Reviews. Her debut picture book, TÉO’S TUTU, was named an Amazon Best Book of 2021 for 3-5 year olds; a 2022 Notable Social Studies Trade Book by the National Council for the Social Studies and Children’s Book Council; and a 2023 Rainbow List book by the American Library Association, and received positive reviews from School Library Journal, Horn Book, and Kirkus Reviews. www.maryannjacobmacias.com

Awards

TÉO’S TUTU was named an Amazon Best Book of 2021 for 3-5 year olds; a 2022 Notable Social Studies Trade Book by the National Council for the Social Studies and Children’s Book Council; and a 2023 Rainbow List book by the American Library Association.

3 Fun Facts

1. I color my hair blue-black (like Wonder Woman but it doesn’t quite show!).
2. I could live on mangoes (seriously, no other foods necessary).
3. I have a hard time remembering human names but I ALWAYS remember dog names.

Bingham, Winsome

Bingham, Winsome

Winsome Bingham is an author of books for teenies, toddlers, tweens, and teens. In her previous life, she was a teacher and freedom-protector in the U.S. Army. She is the author of the award-winning books, SOUL FOOD SUNDAY, THE WALK, MISSING MOMMA, LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL, and THE TABLE (co-written with Wiley Blevins).  www.binghamwrites.com

Awards

New York Times Best Book of the Year, Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor (SOUL FOOD SUNDAY) , International Literary Award, Award Medal National Book for a Global Society, NPR Book of the Day, Connecticut Book Award, Jane Addams Peace Prize Shortlist, too many to list.

3 Fun Facts

1, I fought in war.
2. I’ve visited 47 states.
3. I shook the hands of 3 U.S. Presidents.

Buckley, Michael

Buckley, Michael

Michael Buckley is the NY Times bestselling author of The Sisters Grimm series and N.E.R.D.S., as well as the National bestsellers Undertow, and The Weirdies. Executive producer and writer of Apple TV’s The Sisters Grimm animated series.  www.Michaelbuckleywrites.com

Awards

The Washington State Children’s Choice Award. The Hawaiian Children’s Choice Award. Several starred reviews. Audible best of 2025 and 2024.

3 Fun Facts

1. I used to sing in a punk rock band.
2. I have a TV show on Apple that stars my childhood crush.
3. I have a west highland terrier named Friday.

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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