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

Preller, James

Preller, James

James Preller lives in Delmar, NY, and has been publishing books for young readers for almost 40 years. His books are suitable for readers from PreK to Young Adult, and include series such as Jigsaw Jones and Scary Tales, as well as these individual titles: Bystander, Upstander, Blood Mountain, and Six Innings. His newest middle-grade title, Shaken (2024), centers around a 7th-grade soccer player, Kristy Barrett, who suffers from post-concussion syndrome. Preller enjoys visiting schools, hoping to inspire a love of reading and writing. www.jamespreller.com

Awards

James Preller has received many accolades over the years, including a YALSA, and ALA NOTABLE, and New York Public Library’s Best Books for Reading and Sharing, numerous State Awards and Junior Library Guild Selections.

3 Fun Facts

1. James Preller loves hiking.
2. James Preller loves baseball.
3. James Preller loves reading.

Mack, Jeff

Mack, Jeff

Jeff Mack is the award-winning author and illustrator of fifty books for young readers. His titles include Good News Bad News, Hush Little Polar Bear, Duck in the Fridge, and The Dog & Pony Show.

His recent series of picture book biographies include Art is Everywhere, Marcel’s Masterpiece, and Time To Make Art.

He has also illustrated James Howe’s Bunnicula and Friends, Eve Bunting’s Hurry Hurry, and The Cryptid Club series by TV writer/producer, Michael Brumm.

He travels widely to schools and libraries sharing his love of creating books with young readers.

Visit him at www.jeffmack.com.

Awards

2024 Junior Library Guild Selections: Dog Gets A Pet, We Are Up A Tree
2013 Texas 2×2: Frog & Fly, Good News Bad News, Cindy Moo
2014 Junior Library Guild Selections: Frog & Fly
2014 NYPL Best Books: AhHa!
2015 Colorado Bell Award: The Things I Can Do

3 Fun Facts

1. My favorite children’s book author/illustrator is William Steig.
2. I named Clueless McGee after my dog McGee.
3. Clueless McGee was originally going to be about a dog who wears pajamas and solves mysteries, but I didn’t want it to be like Scooby-Doo. So I turned the dog into a fifth-grade boy.

Craft, Jerry

Jerry Craft is the New York Times bestselling author and illustrator of the graphic novels New Kid, Class Act, and School Trip. New Kid is the only book in history to win the John Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children’s literature (2020); the Kirkus Prize for Young Readers’ Literature (2019), and the Coretta Scott King Author Award for the most outstanding work by an African American writer (2020). His newest book, J VS. K is coauthored by fellow Newbery winner Kwame Alexander. jerrycraft.com

Awards

Winner of the 2020 Newbery Medal,Winner of the 2020 Coretta Scott King Book Awards Author Award,#1 New York Times Bestseller, Winner of the 2019 Kirkus Prize for Young Readers’ Literature, Finalist for Audie Award – Middle Grade Book of the Year San Francisco Chronicle Bestseller, NEIBA, NAIBA, MPIBA, NCIBA, SCIBA and PNBA Bestseller, Indie Bestseller for Early & Middle Grade Readers, One of Publishers Weekly’s Best Middle Grade Books of 2019,New England Independent Booksellers Association Best Children’s Book of 2019, New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association 2019 Book of the Year for Middle Readers,Top 10 Spring 2019 Indie Next List Pick, Amazon Best Book of the Month, Ages 9-12, 2020 Eisner Award for Best Publication for Kids Nominee,2019 Harvey Award for Best Children’s Book, Nominee, One of Booklist’s 2019 Top 10 Diverse Fiction for Youth, One of Publishers Weekly’s Most Anticipated Children’s Books, Spring 2019, #1 Indie Comics & Graphic Works Bestseller, One of the Best Graphic Novels of 2019 – School Library Journal, One of the 5 Best Fiction Books of 2019 – Washington Post, One of the Best Graphic Novels of 2019 – Washington Post, 2020 Charlotte Huck Award for Outstanding Fiction for Children – Honor Book, 30 of the Most Influential Children’s Books of All Time – Bookriot.com,One of the Best Books of the Year – Time.com,Best Books of 2019 – New York Public Library, Best Fiction for Older Readers of 2019 – Chicago Public Library, 25 Best Children’s Books of 2019 – New York Times,Best Multicultural Children’s Books of 2019 – Center for the Study of Multicultural Children’s Literature,The Best New Gift Books for Kids – People, Kirkus – Best Middle Grade Graphic Novels of 2019, 100 Scope Notes Best Books of 2019, Shelf Awareness – Best Middle Grade Books of 2019, Today.com – Best Graphic Novels of 2019, 2022 Pacific Northwest Library Association Young Reader’s Choice, 2022 Grand Canyon Reader Award (Arizona),2022 Charlie May Simon Award (Arkansas), 2021 Nutmeg Book Award (Connecticut), 2020 Connecticut Book Awards (Connecticut), Sunshine State Young Readers Award 2020-2021 (Florida), 2021 Nene Award (Hawaii), 2021 Rebecca Caudill Young Reader’s Book Award (Illinois), 2021 Young Hoosier Book Award (Indiana), 2020-2021 Iowa Children’s Choice Award (Iowa), 2021-2022 Louisiana Readers’ Choice Awards (Louisiana), 2021 Maine Student Book Award (Maine), 2020 – 2021 Great Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan), 2021 Minnesota Youth Reading Award (Minnesota), 2019 – 2020 Great Stone Face Children’s Book Award (New Hampshire), 2022 North Carolina Children’s Book Award (North Carolina), 2021 Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Award (Pennsylvania),2020-2021 Volunteer State Book Award (Tennessee).

3 Fun Facts

1. I met Queen Elizabeth when I was a kid.
2. LeBron James’s SpringHill Company is producing a New Kid live action movie.
3. I went on a rollercoaster for the first time ever in 2025.

Mojica, Barbara Ann

Mojica, Barbara Ann

Barbara Ann Mojica, M.A. S.A.S., S.D.A is a historian and retired educator. Her education career spans more than forty years serving as a teacher, special educator, principal, and school district administrator. Now retired, she provides education strategies and tips for parents and teachers through guest podcasting, book reviewing, teaching videos, and personal appearances. Barbara writes monthly historical articles for the Columbia Insider under the banner “Passages.” Using the whimsical Little Miss History character to narrate her book series, Barbara hopes to educate, entertain and inspire children to learn about historical people and places.The author teaches critical thinking skills that will empower our youth to become the leaders of tomorrow. Little Miss History’s antics make reading nonfiction a fun-filled adventure for all ages. She firmly believes, “If you don’t know your history, you don’t know what you’re talking about.” http://www.littlemisshistory.com

Awards

The Little Miss HISTORY book series has garnered more than two dozen awards including B.R.A.G. Medallions, International Book Excellence Awards, Purple Dragonfly, International Readers’ Favorite Awards, Eric Hoffer, and Independent Author Network Book of the Year Awards.

3 Fun Facts

1. I have two sets of twin grandchildren!
2. I enjoy playing BoxBollen.
3. My favorite dessert is gelato.

Mojica, Victor Ramon

Mojica, Victor Ramon

Victor Ramon Mojica was born and raised in Manhattan, New York, but now lives in New York Capital Region. He is an illustrator, cartoonist, writer, and publisher with such works as the critically acclaimed comic book series “eugenus®, The Next Step in Human Evolution,” and Captain CROSSBONES® for LAUGHS, Volumes 1-4. www.eugenusSTUDIOS.com

Awards

BRAG Medallions

Fun Facts

1. Visited Europe (Italy) for the first time in 2024.
2. Never known a time I didn’t have a TV.
3. Been drawing since I was 5.

Cline-Ransome, Lesa

Cline-Ransome, Lesa

Lesa Cline-Ransome is the Newbery honor award-winning author of many critically acclaimed books for young readers including Before She was Harriet, Overground Railroad, Game Changers: The Story of Venus and Serena Williams and Fighting With Love: The Legacy of John Lewis. Her numerous honors include the Jane Addams Award, the Christopher Award, Kirkus, and SLJ Best Book of Year and three NAACP Image Award nominations. Her middle grade novel Finding Langston received the Coretta Scott King Author Honor and the Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction. One Big Open Sky is her first novel in verse and the recipient of the Coretta Scott King Author Honor and the Newbery Honor. https://www.lesaclineransome.com

Awards

Newbery Honor, Coretta Scott King Honor, ALA Notable, New York Times Best Book of 2024

3 Fun Facts

1. I have won several candlepin bowling tropies!
2. I named my children after famous Black Americans.
3. I rode a camel in the Sahara desert.

Ransome, James E.

Ransome, James E.

James E. Ransome has been honored with the 2023 Children’s Literature Legacy Award by the American Library Association in recognition of his exceptional contributions to Children’s Literature. With a career spanning over 33 years, James has illustrated more than 70 books. His passion for drawing begins in Rich Square, NC, and as a teenager, he moved to Bergenfield, NJ, before pursuing a BFA from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York.

Ransome’s remarkable talent has garnered him numerous accolades, including the prestigious Coretta Scott King Awards, ALA Notables, a Jane Addams Award, and NAACP Image awards. He resides in New York. jamesransome.com

Awards

5 Starred Reviews and 2025 Golden Kite Non Fiction Finalist

3 Fun Facts

1. I’m a big Football fan, team is the Miami Dolphins.
2. I love playing Chess
3. And watching movies.

Stolarz, Laurie Faria

Laurie Stolarz is the author of eighteen young adult novels, including the Dark House series, the Touch series, Project 17, and Bleed, as well as the bestselling Blue is for Nightmares series. With over a million books sold worldwide, Stolarz’s titles have been translated into thirty languages, developed into podcast series, and optioned for TV. Her most recent title is The Last Secret You’ll Ever Keep, a companion book to Jane Anonymous, which was named a 2020 Best Book by Kirkus and included on several state and award lists. Additionally, Stolarz is a producer and scriptwriter for Fictionz, a podcast company focused on creating narrative series based on fiction. www.lauriestolarz.com.

Awards

Awards (partial list):
For Jane Anonymous:
New England Book Award Finalist, 2021, Best Fiction Nominee, American Library Association, 2021, Texas Tayshas List, Texas Library Association, 2021, South Carolina Book Award Finalist, 2021, Missouri Gateway Award Finalist, 2022, Kirkus Reviews, Best Books of 2020, Silver Award in the category of Scripted Fiction, for the podcast script, by the Signal Awards.

For the Blue is for Nightmares series of books (which has sold 750K copies) Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers, 2005, American Library Assn., Blue is for Nightmares, Top Ten Teen Pick Nominee, 2004, American Library Assn., Blue is for Nightmares, Top Ten Teen Pick Nominee, 2004, American Library Association, White is for Magic, COVR Award Finalist, 2006, Silver is for Secrets,Quill Award Finalist, 2005, Silver is for Secrets, IPPY Award Finalist, 2005, Red is for Remembrance.

For the Touch series of books (which has sold 500K copies): Texas Tayshas List, Texas Library Association, 2010, Deadly Little Secret, Teens@Random, Favorite Book of 2009, Deadly Little Lies, Gold Star Award, TeensReadToo.com, 2009, Deadly Little Lies, Children’s Book Council, Teen Book of the Year Nominee, 2010, Deadly Little Lies.

For Welcome to the Dark House: Seattle Picks: Teen/Horror & Thrillers List, 2018, Popular Paperback, American Library Association, 2017

3 Fun Facts

1. I’m currently learning French.
2. I relax while watching reality TV.
3. I have a dog named Rumpelstiltskin.

Teague, Mark

Teague, Mark

Mark Teague is an author and illustrator of more than 60 children’s books. He lives with his family in the Hudson Valley.

Awards

Parents Choice, Christopher Medal