2025 HCBF Archives - Page 4 of 5 - Hudson Childrens Book Festival

LaRocca, Rajani

Rajani LaRocca was born in India, raised in Kentucky, and now lives in the Boston area, where she practices medicine and writes award-winning books for young readers, including the Newbery Honor winning middle grade novel in verse, Red, White, and Whole. She’s always been an omnivorous reader, and now she is an omnivorous writer of fiction and nonfiction, novels and picture books, prose and poetry. She finds inspiration in her family, her childhood, the natural world, math, science, and just about everywhere she looks. Learn more about Rajani and her books at www.RajaniLaRocca.com.

Awards
Newbery Honor, Walter Dean Myers Award, Massachusetts Book Award, New England Book Award, SCBWI Golden Kite Award, SCBWI Crystal Kite Award, Charlotte Zolotow Highly Commended Title, NCTE Notable Poetry Book, among many state lists and other awards

3 Fun Facts

1. I’m a practicing doctor
2. I love to cook and bake
3. I have a cute fluffy dog

Yuksel, M.O.

Yuksel, M.O

M.O. Yuksel is an award-winning author of several acclaimed picture books, including In My Mosque, One Wish: Fatima al-Fihri and the World’s Oldest University, Ramadan Kareem, Sami’s Special Gift: An Eid al-Adha Story, and The Prince of Stars: Ulugh Beg’s Quest to Map the Stars and Seasons. Her books, honored with accolades like the Orbis Pictus Honor, ALA Notable, Junior Library Guild Gold Standard, and TLA Topaz Nonfiction Gem Award, celebrate diversity and offer rich insights into Muslim traditions that inspire readers of all ages. www.moyuksel.com.

Awards

Her books have won several awards, including American Library Association Notable Book, a School Library Journal Best Book, and a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection, Cooperative Children’s Book Center Best Choice, Notable Books for a Global Society, Anna Dewdney Honor Book, English Association Nonfiction Picture Book Award, Texas Library Association Topaz Nonfiction Gem Award, and Virginia Readers’ Choice Award, National Council of Teachers of English Orbis Pictus Recommended Book, an American Library Association Rise Honoree, a Children’s Book Council Notable Social Studies Trade Book, Nerdy Book Club Award for Best Nonfiction Picture Book, and School Library Journal Best Nonfiction Book.

3 Fun Facts

1. She lived on three continents and crossed two multiple times in one day! (Hint-hint: Istanbul, Türkiye, the city that spans two continents).
2. She speaks three languages – English, Turkish, Uzbek, and understands several – Spanish, Azeri, Kazak, Kyrgyz, Turkmen, Uyghur.
3. If she had her way, she’d eat dessert first at every meal (but don’t tell her kids!).

Bobrick, Rick

I taught science at the Hudson Junior High School for over 30 years. I became a published author after I retired when I turned an old bedtime story into my first book, Bears Don’t Share. All three of my books were illustrated by my niece, Lauren Sullivan, in a memorable family collaboration. www.rickbobrick.com

Awards

Being accepted at the Hudson Children’s Book Festival as a visiting author for three consecutive years. Quite an honor for a first-time author, even though I had an in!

3 Fun Facts

1. I raise turkeys and chickens in the spring, summer, and fall.
2. My main passion is fly fishing for wild brown trout in the Catskill mountains.
3. I work with ski patrol in the winter.

Gopal, Jyoti Rajan

Gopal, Jyoti Rajan

Jyoti Rajan Gopal is an award-winning picture book author, mom and forever kindergarten teacher. Her books have received starred reviews in Kirkus Reviews, Publisher’s Weekly, School and Library Journal, Book List, and Book Page and are on the Bank Street, NYPL and SLJ Best Books lists. She is the recipient of the ALA 2024 Stonewall Honor Award.

Jyoti writes stories – fiction and non-fiction – of identity, community and belonging, themes that speak to her heart and that reflect her multiple identities. https://www.jyotirajangopal.com/

Awards
ALA Stonewall Honor 2024 for Desert Queen

3 Fun Facts

1. I speak 5 languages.
2. I swam with whale sharks.
3. I love tiramisu.

Pullen, Mark David

Mark David Pullen is the author of the middle-grade series The Oasis Chronicles. His debut novel, The Oasis King, was released in February of 2023. Mark combines his love of science fiction and fantasy with action and adventure to create wholesome, fast-paced stories the entire family can enjoy together. Mark lives in Upstate New York with his wife, two children, and crazy old hound dog, Toby. www.theoasisking.com

Awards

PenCraft Literary Award Winner, NYS Book Festival Honorable Mention, Outstanding Creator Award- Winner

3 Fun Facts

1. Loves to cook.
2. Avid Outdoorsman.
3. 90s video games are the best!

Venkatraman, Padma

Padma Venkatraman is the author of The Bridge Home, Born Behind Bars, A Time to Dance, Island’s End and Climbing the Stairs. Her books have sold over ¼ million copies, received over 20 starred reviews, and won numerous awards: Walter Dean Myers Award, South Asia Book Award, Golden Kite, ALA Notable etc. Her poetry has been published in Poetry Magazine and nominated for a Pushcart Prize. An oceanographer by training, Padma loves teaching and sharing her love for reading and writing with others. Her latest novel, Safe Harbor, is about a girl who rescues a stranded seal in Rhode Island, where Padma lives with her family.
www.padmavenkatraman.com

Awards
Padma Venkatraman is the winner of a Walter Dean Myers Award for Outstanding Children’s Literature, Golden Kite, Crystal Kite, three South Asia Book Awards, two Paterson Prizes, Julia Ward Howe and Nerdy Book Awards; recipient of Malka Penn, Sakura Medal, Prix des Libraries, Storytelling World and Litterado honors, etc. Her novels have appeared on numerous best book lists (ALA Notable, Kirkus, Booklist Editor’s Choice, NYPL, Chicago Public Library, Bank Street, CSMCL and many more).

3 Fun Facts

1. I play Indian classical music, like Geetha, the protagonist of Safe Harbor.
2. I was the only BIPOC female in my incoming graduate oceanography class in the 1990’s.
3. I was inspired to write Safe Harbor by a seal I came across while strolling along the beautiful New England beach near my home.

Miller, Sharee

Miller, Sharee

Sharee Miller is an award-winning author and illustrator. Her debut graphic novel Curlfriends: New in Town won the SCBWI Golden Kite Award for Illustrated Book/Graphic Novel for Older Readers and was nominated for an NAACP award. She is the creator of many critically acclaimed picture books including Don’t Touch My Hair, Princess Hair, and Michelle’s Garden: How the First Lady planted seeds of Change. https://www.shareemiller.com/

Awards

Golden Kite award, NAACP award nominee, Kirkus starred reviews

3 Fun Facts

1. I have 2 cats names pumpkin and spice.
2. I was born in Greece.
3. My fave food is french fries.

Dadey, Debbie

Debbie Dadey is the author and co-author of 182 traditionally published children’s books, including the Adventures of the Bailey School Kids and Mermaid Tales series. She has lived in many places, looking for monsters and mermaids, and now resides in New Hampshire were she may have spotted the Abominable Snowman recently. debbiedadey.com

Awards

ABC Best Books for Children, Publishers Weekly Bestseller, Nerdy Best Comic Book of the Year, Educational Paperback Association’s Top 100 Children’s Authors, One of Scholastic’s Top Three Best-selling series of all time, Mighty Girls Booklist, and Starred Review School Library Journal.

3 Fun Facts

1. Met the Fonz.
2. Stood beside Alice Cooper and Mohammed Ali at different airports.
3. Fell out of an airplane on purpose to write a story.

Phelan, Matt

Phelan, Matt

Matt Phelan is an award-winning, New York Times-bestselling author/illustrator of picture books, middle grade novels, and graphic novels for young readers. Recent books include The Sheep, The Rooster, and The Duck, Leave It to Plum!, Knights VS Dinosaurs and its sequels, and the picture books Sweater Weather and Turtle Walk. He is also the illustrator of picture books by authors such as Linda Sue Park, Jeanne Birdsall, and Jane Yolen. Matt’s latest book is Big Changes for Plum, fifth book in the Plum series. www.mattphelan.com

Awards

Scott O’Dell Award, Carolyn Field Award, Jefferson Cup, five-time Eisner Award nominee

3 Fun Facts

1. Snoopy was my favorite thing to draw when I was a kid.
2. I play ukulele and other instruments with enthusiasm.
3. I have a dog, a cat, and a chicken. Also, a family of bunnies live under my studio.

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.