Authors & Illustrators Attending the 2026  Book Festival

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.

Lauren Magaziner is the internationally bestselling author of The Incorruptibles series, the Case Closed series, The Mythics series, and three other stand-alone books for middle grade readers. Lauren grew up in New Hope, Pennsylvania. After receiving a B.A. in Creative Writing and Philosophy at Hamilton College, Lauren Magaziner worked on two delightful Scholastic magazines, where many of her coworkers didn’t believe her last name was real. She currently lives in Philadelphia, where she writes full time. www.laurenmagaziner.com.

Awards:

Lauren’s books are international bestsellers, are available in 12 languages, have been Junior Library Guild selections, have been on the Indie Next List, been an Amazon bestseller, earned starred reviews, been on state lists, and have been optioned for a TV movie with Nickelodeon.

3 Fun Facts

1. I usually work on four books at a time, all in different stages of the writing process. I love having a revolving door of projects.
2. I plot all my work on a giant whiteboard. For The Incorruptibles, I had to keep track of about 15 different character’s squads, backstories, and internal arcs.
3. The quickest manuscript I’ve ever written was The Mythics: Marina and the Kraken. It took me 11 days to complete the first draft.

Daniel J. Mahoney has been writing and illustrating books for young readers for over 25 years. He has written 6 picture books and has illustrated countless others. His latest picture books that he’s written and illustrated are We Don’t Eat Our Neighbors and My Cat is a Secret Agent. He grew up in Albany, NY and now resides on a cozy street in the country with his daughter Shay. Danieljmahoneyauthor.com

Awards

Bank Street Best Books and inclusion in the Society of Illustrators Original Art Show. 

3 Fun Facts

1. I’m a fully trained Radiologic Technologist.
2. I sing to the bugs in my house.
3. I can break dance.

Born and raised in Brooklyn, Torrey Maldonado is an acclaimed author and educator whose work impacts middle grade, young adult, and elementary school literature. He approaches thirty years teaching and has been celebrated by two NYC Chancellors as a top culturally responsive educator. Named “Best Books of the Year” by NPR, The Washington Post, Oprah, and The NY Times, Hands, What Lane?, Tight, and Secret Saturdays are inspired by his and his students’ lives. They’re praised for their authenticity about friendship, family, and choices. Torrey contributes to anthologies alongside celebrated authors. Children’s literature celebrates his 2025 debut picture-book, Just Right, and upcoming picture-books Little Artist and Uncle. Learn more at torreymaldonado.com

3 Fun Facts

1. In third grade, I got hooked to comics. By fourteen, I had 200 comics. Then came my cat, Snow White. Cute name: a Disney princess. She could’ve been a villain. She destroyed my collection—peeing and clawing my 200 down to 50. Do you know what it’s like to see your favorite superheroes smell like cat pee? Ever since, my dream superpower isn’t flying—it’s time-control because I’d pause pets mid-pee to save others from losing valuables to cat-chaos. Oh, I’d love super-speed too.

2. Scrabble! How does a word-game get my heart pumping like an athlete? I love Scrabble so much that it’ll be at my signing table. See if you can beat me. I enjoy losing as much as I do winning. New to the game? I’ll teach you or you can bring someone to tag-team against me.

3. As a tween, I spent a month taping my ears to my head with black electrical tape because I thought that would shrink them or something. Spoiler alert: it didn’t. The good news? People say my head finally grew into my ears. I guess my ears were ahead of their time?

Janae Marks is the New York Times bestselling author of the Zoe Washington series, A Soft Place to Land, and A Split Second. She has an MFA in Writing for Children from The New School, and lives in Connecticut with her family. Learn more at janaemarks.com.

Awards

New York Times Bestseller (On Air with Zoe Washington), Indie Bestseller (From the Desk of Zoe Washington + On Air with Zoe Washington), Starred trade reviews (From the Desk of Zoe Washington, A Soft Place to Land, A Split Second), Named a Best Book of the Year by Parents Magazine, Book Riot, Kirkus Reviews, Booklist, Chicago Public Library, the Boston Globe, the Bank Street College of Education (From the Desk of Zoe Washington), Junior Library Guild selections (From the Desk of Zoe Washington + On Air with Zoe Washington).

3 Fun Facts

1. My favorite color is purple.
2. I have a dog named Cookie.
3. I love the theater.

Ralph Masiello was born and raised in the state of Massachusetts where he lives with his daughters Alexa and Talia. A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design (BFA, Illustration, 1985), Ralph has illustrated for magazines, newspapers and books, created posters and prints, and shown his fine art paintings in galleries throughout the world. Beginning with The Icky Bug Alphabet Book in 1986, Ralph has has become internationally known for the children’s books he’s written and illustrated. Since 1987, he has visited over 3,300 schools all over the world, inspiring children with his life story, humor, and art. www.ralphmasiello.com

Awards

Society of Illustrators Award of Merit (2 times).

3 Fun Facts

1. I am an aggressive skier!
2. I like Lima beans.
3. I used to race motocross

Barbara McClintock is the award-winning illustrator and author of over 40 books for children. Her books have been translated into a dozen languages; one of her books is a best selling title in Japan.
Barbara is self-educated as an author/illustrator, learning by studying texts and artwork from picture books checked out of public libraries. Originally from New Jersey and North Dakota, she now resides in northeastern CT with her partner and their two overly-helpful cats. barbaramcclintockbooks.com

Awards

Barbara’s books have received five New York Times Best Illustrated Books awards, four ALA Notable Book citations, two Golden Kite Honor awards, a Horn Book/Boston Globe Honor award, a China Times award, a British Fantasy award, Best Book Selections in Time Magazine, Entertainment Weekly, The Wall Street Journal, Publisher’s Weekly, The New York Public Library, Bank Street Books, Kirkus Reviews, and many other awards, citations, starred reviews and recommended reading lists.

3 Fun Facts

1. I wanted to be a cat when I was little.
2. I’d still like to be a cat.
3. My cat Nick thinks he’s a dog, which I find very funny.

Kerry McQuaide is an author-illustrator in New York’s Hudson Valley. She studied in London at Chelsea School of Art and Design, graduated from Parsons School of Design. Her picture book, The Biggest, Highest Wave (a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection), was inspired by her first time surfing, where she was awed by the energy and force of the waves. And while she’s never ridden a wave as high as the one the girl in her story faces, she knows what it’s like to wipe out—in the water and in life—and get back up again. www.kerrymcquaide.com

Awards

THE BIGGEST HIGHEST WAVE was named a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection—an honor given to fewer than 3% of traditionally published children’s books each year!

3 Fun Facts

1. My book was inspired by my first surfing lesson.
2. I love summer, being in the water, and swimming. (But in winter I ice-skate instead!)
3. I draw almost everyday.

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.

Kayla Miller is the author and illustrator of the bestselling Click series of graphic novels as well as the co-author of it’s spin-off series, Besties. www.kayla-miller.com

Awards

Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection, Little Maverick Reading List Selection, One of Parents Magazine’s 30 Best Kids’ Books of 2019, One of Barnes & Noble’s Best Books of 2020, An Amazon Teachers’ Pick, One of A Mighty Girl’s Best Books of the Year 2019 and 2020, New York Times Bestseller, Publisher’s Weekly Bestseller, Indie Bestseller, USA Today Best Seller.

3 Fun Facts

1. I have three cats and a turtle.
2. I can read and write upside down.
3. I’m not a morning person, but breakfast is my favorite meal.