About Fred Wynn

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So far Fred Wynn has created 304 blog entries.

McCully, Emily Arnold

McCully, Emily Arnold

I have been illustrating children’s books since 1967 and writing them since 1980. After college, I moved to NYC and worked on the fringes of advertising. My first children’s book came about by happy accident. I have also published adult novels and a Y/A biography of Ida M Tarbell, the Woman Who Challenged Big Business- and Won! www.emilyarnoldmccully.com

More biographies of Ada Byron Lovelace and 21 other important women are coming later this year.

3 Fun Facts

1. I wrote my first book at 3
2. I once acted in an Of-Broadway play
3. I eat weeds

Michelson, Richard

Michelson, Richard

RICHARD MICHELSON’s children’s books have been named among the Ten Best of the Year by The New York Times, Publishers Weekly, and The New Yorker; and among the Best Dozen of the Decade by Amazon.com. Michelson has received a National Jewish Book Award, and two Sydney Taylor Gold Medals from the Association of Jewish Libraries. Other credits include two Massachusetts Book Award Honors, three Skipping Stones Multicultural Book Awards, three Junior Library Guild Gold Medals, and an International Reading Association Teacher’s Choice Award. Michelson owns R. Michelson Galleries which represents many of the country’s premier illustrators.  www.RichardMichelson.com

Awards

National Jewish Book Award, Sydney Taylor Gold Medal, New York Times Ten Best Books of the Year, Publishers Weekly Ten Best Books of the Year, Amazon.com Best Dozen Books of the Decade.

3 Fun Facts

1. I founded R. Michelson Galleries which was the first fine art gallery in the country to feature children’s book illustrations.
2. I published 4 new books published in 2025, though one was sold 6 years ago, one 4 years ago, one 3 years ago, and one 2 years ago. .
3. When I was having dinner with my good friend Leonard Nimoy (who I wrote a picture book about) someone approached our table and asked for MY autograph.

Marchese, Allison Guertin

Marchese, Allison Guertin

Allison Marchese is a graduate of Fordham University in New York City with a degree in communications and creative writing. She spent much of her professional career in public relations. In her work as a writer, Allison has created plays, and written short fiction, feature articles, and essays on the people, places and events in her adopted home of Columbia County, NY where she has lived for 30 years. Allison says she has always been a writer at heart and has history in her genes. Her family on her father’s side has kept meticulous records of the family dating back to the early 1600s in Anjou, France. Her idea of writing local histories blossomed when she and her husband purchased a historic 1740s colonial home in the hamlet of Malden Bridge, NY. They have lived there for many yeas with their two cats and possibly several other previous inhabitants. The Hidden History of Columbia County, NY, is Allison’s first history book. She follows up with her newest local history book, Hudson Valley Curiosities which contains some of the region’s most suspenseful stories and features some of the most infamous people to step foot in the region.

3 Fun Facts

1. I love history and reading.
2. I ride horses
3. I have a metal detector

Manushkin, Fran

Manushkin, Fran

Fran Manushkin is the author of over 100 books, including the popular Katie Woo series, as well “Happy In Our Skin,” and the best-selling board books “Big Girl Panties” and “Big Boy Underpants.” She loves to meet her readers! www.franmanushkin.com

3 Fun Facts

1. I’ve written over 100 books.
2. I am always singing songs in my head.
3. I need chocolate every day!

Allen, Elanna

ELANNA_ALLEN

Allen, Elanna

Elanna Allen is the author most recently of Pet Dad and Poor Little Guy. She graduated from Brown University and studied animation and illustration at the Rhode Island School of Design. She has designed characters and directed animation for Disney Junior, Nick Jr, and PBS. She lives in New York City with her husband and two boys, and is currently learning to play the ukulele. elannaallen.com

3 Fun Facts

1. Elanna designed characters and directed animation for Disney
2. She lives in New York City with her husband and two boys
3. Elanna is learning to play the ukulele.

Williams, Ismee

Williams, Ismee

Williams, Ismee

Ismée Williams is a pediatric cardiologist who trained and practiced at Columbia University Medical Center in New York City for 15 years. She lives in New York with her husband and three daughters as well as a dog who is commonly mistaken for a muppet. Water in May is her first novel. www.ismeewilliams.com

3 Fun Facts

1. Ismee is a pediatric cardiologist and the book is based on her experience in the field.
2. Her mother is a Cuba immigrant and she was raised by her abuelos, which also informed Mari’s familial relationships in the book
3. Her labradoodle has a larger Instagram following than she does: https://www.instagram.com/redrowandoodle

Lehman, Barbara

Lehman, Barbara

Barbara Lehman was born in Chicago, attended Pratt Institute, and is now based in the Hudson Valley. Her illustrations have been in exhibitions at The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, The Art Institute of Chicago and the Central Children’s Room of the New York Public Library and she has shared her books with children at the Whitney Museum of American Art. Her New York Times bestseller THE RED BOOK was awarded a Caldecott Honor. www.barbaralehmanbooks.com

Awards
Some honors that my books have received: Caldecott Honor, New York Times Bestseller List, Premio Andersen [Italy], ALA Notable books, Junior Library Guild Selections, CCBC Best Books of the Year, Kirkus Best Children’s Books, New York Public Library 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing, Parent’s Choice Gold, Bank Street College of Education Best Children’s Books of the Year, The Horn Book Fanfare list.

3 Fun Facts

1. I learned to ride a unicycle in childhood.
2. I also learned to juggle.
3. No, I did not run away to the circus….

Sales, Leila

Sales, Leila

Leila Sales is the author of six young adult and middle grade novels, including This Song Will Save Your Life, Once Was a Time, and, most recently, If You Don’t Have Anything Nice to Say. Leila grew up outside of Boston, Massachusetts, and graduated with a degree in psychology from the University of Chicago. Her hobbies include riding her bike, eating chocolate, and sleeping. Leila lives in Brooklyn, New York, and works in children’s book publishing. Follow her @LeilaSalesBooks or at leilasales.com.

3 Fun Facts

1.I type using only two fingers.
2. I did gymnastics for eight years.
3. I can recite the names of every student in my high school class in alphabetical order.

Janowitz, Jessie

Janowitz, Jessie

Jessie Janowitz is the author of the middle grade novels, The Doughnut Fix, the sequel The Doughnut King, and All the Ways to Go. She lives in New York City with her family.  www.jessiejanowitz.com

Awards

Both Doughnut books were JLG Selections and Bank Street Best Children’s Books of the Year. The Doughnut Fix is on seven state lists, a Cybils Finalist, the winner of the Mississippi Children’s Choice Award, and is an Amazon Teacher’s Pick.

3 Fun Facts

1. I love popcorn.
2. My dog’s favorite thing is to hit ping pong balls with his nose.
3. I spent a year inside a high school in France.

Funk, Josh

Funk, Josh

Josh Funk is a software engineer and the author of books like the Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast series, How to Code a Sandcastle, Dear Unicorn, Dear Dragon, My Pet Feet, the ​It’s Not a Fairy Tale series, Lost in the Library, and more. His books have sold more than half a million copies worldwide and been translated into a dozen languages. He has presented (and virtually presented) at over 950 schools and libraries in the last decade since his first book was released. For more about Josh, visit joshfunkbooks.com and on social media at @joshfunkbooks.

Awards

A Celebration of You, 2026 *Starred Review* from School Library Journal.​
My Pet Feet, 2024-25 Sunshine State Young Readers Award Jr. Title, 2024-25 Young Hoosier Picture Book Award Nominee, 2023 Massachusetts Book Award Must-Read Picture Book, 2023 Official March Book Madness Picture Book Bracket Champion, 2023 Funniest Book for Kids Andie Award Winner (via Anderson’s Bookshops), 2022 Kids’ Indie Next List Selection (Sep/Oct),2022 August Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance (SIBA) Read This Next! Title.​
Dear Unicorn, 2023 Kids’ Indie Next List Selection (Sep/Oct).
Dear Dragon, 2018-19 Missouri Association of School Librarians (MASL) Show Me Readers Award Nominee, 2018-19 Indiana Library Federation (ILF) Young Hoosier Book Award Nominee, 2017-18 Maine Chickadee Award Nominee, 2017 Bank Street Best Children’s Books of the Year, 2017 International Literacy Association (ILA) Teacher’s Choice Reading List, 2017 SCBWI New England Crystal Kite Finalist, 2016 *Starred Review* from Kirkus, 2016 Nerdy Book Club Award.
Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast, 2016 SCBWI New England Crystal Kite Finalist, 2016 Barnes & Noble National Storytime Selection on 1/2/16,
2015 Nerdy Book Club Award.
The Case of the Stinky Stench, 2017 Summer Indie Kids’ Next List Selection, 2017 Goodreads Choice Awards Best Picture Book of the Year Semifinalist.
Mission Defrostable, 2018 Fall Indie Kids’ Next List Selection.
Short & Sweet, 2020 Fall Indie Kids’ Next List Selection, 2020 *Starred Review* from School Library Journal.
The Great Caper Caper, 2022 Kids’ Indie Next List Selection (Nov/Dec).
Attack of the Scones, 2024 Kids’ Indie Next List Selection (Sep/Oct).
Whodonut? A Holiday Mystery, 2025 #1 Kids’ Indie Next List Selection (Sep/Oct).
​How to Code a Sandcastle​, 2019 ALSC El día de los niños / El día de los libros Selection, 2019 International Literacy Association (ILA) Teacher’s Choice Reading List, 2018 Smithsonian Ten Best Children’s Books, 2018 Summer Indie Kids’ Next List Selection.
It’s Not the Three Little Pigs, 2025 Indiana Library Federation (ILF) Upper Elementary Read Aloud List.
It’s Not Little Red Riding Hood, 2022-23 Missouri Association of School Librarians (MASL) Show Me Readers Award Nominee,2022 Iris Award Shortlist,
2021 Kids’ Book Choice Award Nominee for Favorite Early Reader Series, 2021 Kids’ Book Choice Award Nominee for Best Picture Book Duo.
It’s Not Hansel and Gretel, 2020-21 Michigan Great Lakes Great Books Grades 2-3 Honor Winner,2020 International Literacy Association (ILA) Children’s Choice Reading List.2020 Wisconsin State Reading Association (WSRA) Picture This Recommendation List, 2019 Goodreads Choice Awards Best Picture Book of the Year Semifinalist.
It’s Not Jack and the Beanstalk, 2018 Wisconsin State Reading Association (WSRA) Picture This Recommendation List.
Lost in the Library: A Story of Patience and Fortitude, 2020 Mississippi Magnolia State Award Short List, 2020 Wisconsin Golden Archer Award Nominee.

3 Fun Facts

1. I once pet-sit for an elephant.
2. I’ve been to outer space.
3. I lie a lot.

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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