2025 HCBF Archives - Page 4 of 9 - Hudson Childrens Book Festival

Sanchez, Guido A.

Sanchez, Guido A.

Guido A. Sanchez is a writer, middle school principal, comic aficionado, and podcaster based in New York. He nurtures young people as they begin writing the myths of their own lives. After school, he co-hosts “Dear Watchers: The Omniversal Comic Book Podcast” and explores world-building and modern myths with his 30,000+ comic collection.

In 2015, he authored a girls’ puberty textbook still in use today. In 2023, his book Spider-Man: Web of Technology was released with Running Press. In 2024, he published Queer Mythology: Epic Legends from Around the World with the same publisher. http://www.GuidoASanchez.com

Awards

Submitted for awards
Many end of year lists from 2024 from newspapers, websites, podcasts, and book stores
Associated Press gift list

3 Fun Facts

1. I have over 35,000 comics & a comic book podcast.
2. I collect queer history ephemera.
3. My career started in LGBTQ & AIDS service organizations before transitioning into schools.

Reynoso-Morris, Alyssa

Alyssa Reynoso-Morris is a queer Afro-Latine/x Dominican and Puerto Rican award-winning storyteller. Her ability to weave compelling stories has opened many doors for her as an author and speaker. She is also a mother and community organizer. During the day, she works with community members, non-profit organizations, and government officials to make the world a better place. Then she puts her writer’s hat on to craft heartfelt stories about home, family, food, and the fun places she has been. Alyssa was born and raised in The Bronx, New York, and currently lives in Philadelphia, PA, with her family. She is the author of Plátanos Are Love & Los plátanos son amor (a NCTE Charlotte Huck Recommended Read); The Bronx Is My Home; Gloriana Presente: A First Day of School Book & Gloriana Presente: De la República Dominicana al Bronx; Bold, Brilliant and Latine; and Pieces of Home. She hopes you enjoy her stories. You can learn more about her at alyssaauthor.com

Awards

Plátanos Are Love – Recommended Literature List (2024), California’s Department of Education
Plátanos Are Love – KNEA Reading Circle List – Primary Title (2023), Kansas National Education Association
Plátanos Are Love – Charlotte Huck Recommended Read (2023), NCTE (National Council of Teachers of English)
Powerful Latina in Education (2023), Powerful Latina Awards – Presented by El Sol Latino Newspaper and Hispanic Media
Author of the Year Award (2023), Philadelphia Latin American Book Festival

3 Fun Facts

1. I’m bilingual. I speak English and Spanish.
2. I love to travel. I’ve lived in 4 different countries (USA, Dominican Republic, India and Tanzania).
3. I’m a mom of three. I have a 5 year old and 4 month old twins.

Probert, Tim

Tim Probert is an author and illustrator. He is the creator of Lightfall, an all ages fantasy adventure graphic novel series. He has illustrated the D&D Dungeon Academy series, as well as several other books. Tim was also an art director at the animation studio Nathan Love for ten years, working on all sorts of short form projects. He lives in upstate New York with his wife Jodi and their two cats. https://timprobert.com

Awards

Harvey Award Nominee – Best Book and Best Children’s Book
Kirkus Reviews ‘Best Book’ for Lightfall Book 1, all three books received starred reviews
Junior Library Guild Selection for all three Lightfall books
Nominated for the ‘Russ Manning Most Promising Newcomer Award’ at the 2023 Eisner Awards at San Diego Comic Con

3 Fun Facts

1. I live in a straw bale house with only a wood stove for heat
2. My favorite comic is ‘Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind’ by Hayao Miyazaki
3. My cats, Beau & Thor, are the inspiration for the characters Boisenberry & Snore in Lightfall

Blackall, Sophie

Sophie Blackall, AM is an award-winning illustrator of over 50 books for children, including the New York Times best-selling Ivy and Bean series, the 2016 Caldecott Medal winner, Finding Winnie and the 2019 Caldecott Medal winner, Hello Lighthouse, which she also wrote. She is the five-time recipient of The New York Times Best Illustrated Picture Book Award and has worked with UNICEF and Save the Children, UK on global health and literacy initiatives. Originally from Australia, she now splits her time between Brooklyn, New York, and the Catskill Mountains, where she and her husband run a retreat for the children’s book community called Milkwood Farm. www.sophieblackall.com

Awards

Caldecott Medal 2016
Caldecott Medal 2019
Five time recipient of New York Times Best-Illustrated children’s book award

3 Fun Facts

1. Sophie Blackall turned a dilapidated 19th century dairy farm into a retreat for the children’s book community, called Milkwood.
2. She collects vintage tiny furniture.
3. She still calls Australia home.

Bean, Cara

Bean, Cara

Cara Bean is an obsessive doodler, author, and art educator. Here I Am, I Am Me: An Illustrated Guide to Mental Health is her first book for adolescents. She is also the author of Draw 500 Faces and Features, and her work has been featured in Pen America Illustrated, The Women’s Review of Books, and Teaching Arts Magazine. Cara enjoys watching the beginning of complex ideas emerge from the simple act of doodling on paper. She provides interactive workshops on creativity with people of all ages and backgrounds in various public forums. Cara lives on the Southcoast of Massachusetts with her partner Matt and their dog Raisin. https://www.carabeancomics.com/

Awards

2018 Liminka Comics Center Resident, Oulu, Finland
2019 Cornish Center for Cartoon Studies Fellow, Cornish, New Hampshire, USA

3 Fun Facts

1. I love drawing squirrels.
2. It annoys me when erasers on pencils leave a mark on the paper instead of erasing.
3. I am always searching for the perfect green hoodie.

Lukoff, Kyle

Kyle Lukoff is the author of many books for young readers. His debut middle-grade novel, Too Bright To See, received a Newbery honor, the Stonewall award, and was a National Book Award finalist. His picture book When Aidan Became A Brother also won the Stonewall, and his book Call Me Max has been banned in schools across the country. He has forthcoming books about history, unicycles, breakups, and lots of other topics. While becoming a writer he worked as a bookseller for ten years, and then nine more years as a school librarian. kylelukoff.com

Awards

National Book Award finalist, Newbery honor, two Stonewall awards.

3 Fun Facts

1. I love climbing trees.
2. My kitchen is filled with foraged and/or fermented food experiments.
3. My bike is named Sheila and my car is named Carol.

Newman, Robin

Raised in New York and Paris, Robin Newman is a graduate of Bryn Mawr College and the City University of New York School of Law. She was a practicing attorney and legal editor, but prefers to write about witches, mice, pigs, and peacocks. Author of the award-winning Wilcox & Griswold Mystery Series and several picture books, she’s a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, National Writing Project’s Writers Council, Bank Street Writers Lab, PEN America (CYAB), and Read Alliance’s Advisory Council. She lives in New York with two spoiled Spaniels. For more information, please visit www.robinnewmanbooks.com.

Awards

THE CASE OF THE MISSING CARROT CAKE earned a starred review from Kirkus Reviews and was a 2015 Kirkus Reviews best-middle grade book. HILDIE BITTERPICKLES NEEDS HER SLEEP was an American Booksellers Association’s 2016 ABC Best Books for Young Readers. DON’T CALL ME FUZZYBUTT! was a 2022 IPPY Bronze medalist for picture books. WHO’S WRITING THIS STORY?! was a 2024 IPPY Silver medalist for picture books.

3 Fun Facts

1. I have an identical twin sister.
2. I have run three NYC marathons.
3. Rocky road is my favorite ice cream flavor (with coffee chip a very close second).

Rex, Michael

Rex, Michael

Michael Rex has been writing and illustrating children’s books since 1995. He is the creator of over 50 books, including the #1 Bestseller, and Halloween favorite “Goodnight Goon,” and its follow up “We’re Going on a Goon Hunt.” His picture books include “Eat Pete” and the popular “Facts vs. Opinions vs. Robots.” His current graphic novel series “Your Pal Fred” is about the nicest boy in the apocalypse, and in 2017 his Fangbone graphic novels were turned into an animated TV show. He loves traveling the country to visit schools and talk about his work with students of all ages, has a Master’s degree in Arts Education, and also taught high school art for three years in the Bronx. He lives with his wife, two sons and a dog in Leonia, NJ. https://www.instagram.com/fangbone_rex/?hl=en

Awards

Facts vs. Opinions vs. Robots was on 12 state reading lists.

3 Fun Facts

1. I like to stay up very, very late.
2. I can draw really, really fast.
3. I like to wear hats.

Kantorovitz, Sylvie

Kantorovitz, Sylvie

Sylvie Kantorovitz grew up in France and now lives in the beautiful Hudson Valley. She is the author-illustrator of SYLVIE, a middle-grade graphic-novel about her young years in France. SYLVIE (ages 9-14) has been called “enchanting and witty” (School Library Journal). She is the creator of two series, also in comics format: MONTI AND LEO (ages 7-9) and PICKLE (ages 3-6). She is also the illustrator of the bestseller, WHEELS ON THE BUS, A RAFFI SONG TO READ. www.sylviekantorovitz.com

Awards

SYLVIE is a Bank Street Best Book of the Year and a Junior Library Guild selection. MONTI AND LEO is a Junior Library Guild selection. A NEW CAR FOR PICKLE is a Junior Library Guild selection and a 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. I have learned a new word: knolling. I love the practice of knolling the treasures I bring back from nature walks.

Raff, Anna

AnnaRaff_photobySymonChow-HiRes-Anna-Raff

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!