2025 HCBF Archives - Page 8 of 9 - Hudson Childrens Book Festival

Dee, Barbara

Dee, Barbara

Barbara Dee is the award-winning author of fifteen middle grade novels published by Simon & Schuster, including Tear This Down, Unstuck, Haven Jacobs Saves the Planet, Violets Are Blue, My Life in the Fish Tank, Maybe He Just Likes You, Star-Crossed and Halfway Normal. Her books have been named to many best-of lists, including the Washington Post’s Best Children’s Books of the Year, the ALA Notable Children’s Books, the ALA Rise List, the ALA Rainbow List Top Ten, and SLJ’s Best Books of the Year. She lives in Chappaqua, NY. www.BarbaraDeeBooks.com.

Awards

Winner of the 2024 Rip Van Winkle Award from the School Library Media Specialists of Southeastern NY; Winner of New Jersey’s 2024 Garden State Book Award, Grades 6-8; Washington Post’s Best Children’s Books of the Year; ALA Notable Children’s Books; ALA Rainbow List Top Ten; School Library Journal Best Books of the Year: Bank Street Best Children’s Books of the Year

3 Fun Facts

1. I’m a diehard Yankees fan.
2. I’m obsessed with the band Radiohead.
3. When I write I have to eat a specific type of cookie. My local grocery store doesn’t always have them, so sometimes I have to order them online.

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.

Bennett, Artie

Bennett, Artie

Artie Bennett has always dreamed of being a published author. He’s the author of an inspiring, humorous biography of a hapless, though beloved, racehorse, THE TRUE STORY OF ZIPPY CHIPPY: THE LITTLE HORSE THAT COULDN’T. He’s also the author of several award-winning hilarious rhyming picture books: his classic THE BUTT BOOK, his “number two” picture book POOPENDOUS!, PETER PANDA MELTS DOWN!, the explosively funny BELCHES, BURPS, AND FARTS—OH MY!, and WHAT’S AFOOT! YOUR COMPLETE, OFFBEAT GUIDE TO FEET. He lives in Brooklyn, New York. HuffPost says: “It appears there is no topic Mr. Bennett can’t make funny and educational.” http://www.artiebennett.com/

Awards

The True Story of Zippy Chippy: The Little Horse That Couldn’t,The Magnolia Book Award (Mississippi),A CCBC Choice,A Horse Lover’s Guide to Staying Inside Children’s Book from America’s Best Racing, A Picture-Book Biography You Need to Know About Citation from Imagination Soup,
A Gift Guide Great Book for the Book Lover in Your Life from The Bookworm Sez.

The Butt Book, Reuben Award Winner for Book Illustration, Best Feel-Good Children’s Book (HuffPost), A New York State Assembly/NYPL Suggested Reading Title, A Starred Review from the Horn Book Guide.

Belches, Burps and Farts—Oh My! A World Science Festival Selection, A Kentucky Bluegrass Award Nominee for Informational Text. A Pragmatic Mom Best Nonfiction Book for Kids, A HuffPost (One of) 26 Entertaining and Educational Books for Back-to-School Season.

Poopendous! A Bright Horizons Notable Book in the Humorous Books for Children Category, A Book Vine for Children Growing Green Book.

3 Fun Facts

1. I’m a lifelong Yankee fan and even taught myself to switch-hit way back in Little League, in emulation of my idol, Mickey Mantle.
2. I’m the youngest person on record to have sold a crossword puzzle to the New York Times. I was just thirteen years old. It’s been downhill ever since.
3. I find a dime a day. Should a day go by without my finding a dime, I’ll find two the next day. I can’t explain it, but it all evens out in the end.

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.

Maldonado, Torrey

Torrey Maldonado, born and raised in Brooklyn’s Red Hook, approaches 30 years of teaching in NYC public schools. His fast-paced stories draw from his and his students’ lives. His popular Hands, Tight, and What Lane? are Junior Library Guild Gold Selections, won multiple awards, earned starred reviews, and are on “Best Book of the Year” and states’ lists. Hands is this year’s Global Read Aloud. His debut, Secret Saturdays, remains popular over a decade later. Oprah and the New York Times praised What Lane? as essential in showing friendship and allyship. Discover more at torreymaldonado.com or on social media @torreymaldonado

3 Fun Facts

1. By third grade, I was hooked on comic books. By fourteen, I had almost two hundred collectibles. I also had a cat named Snow White and she peed on and scratched my collection down to fifty comics. So I secretly wish I had the super power of pausing and redirecting pets to prevent them from damaging things we love.
2. I love Scrabble and word games. No one in a five mile radius can beat me in Scrabble OR no one in a five mile radius would enjoy losing as much as me in Scrabble. Stop by my table for a Scrabble match!
3. As a teen, for about a month, I taped my ears to my head with black electrical tape because I thought that would flatten my big ears. Did it work? Visit and let me know if my head has caught up with my ears.

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.

Rotner, Shelley

SHELLEY ROTNER is an award-winning author and photo-illustrator of over sixty children’s books. Her books are about inclusivity that help children navigate their world. LOVE IS A BIG FEELING, FAMILIES, SHADES OF PEOPLE, NATURE SPY GUIDE are recent titles. TRUE YOU-A GENDER JOURNEY and FINDING HOME-WORDS FROM KIDS SEEKING SANCTUARY were recent recipients of the Junior Literary Guild gold award.

Ms Rotner is also a noted free-lance photojournalist, whose work has appeared in Time Magazine, National Geographic’s World Magazine, Conde Nast Traveler, Food and Wine Magazine and GoNomad.

She has traveled extensively for UNICEF documenting programs about children and education. www.shelleyrotner.com

Awards

Junior Literary Guild Gold Award for FINDING HOME-Words From Kids Seeking Sanctuary and for TRUE YOU- A Gender Journey.

3 Fun Facts

1. I stand on my head everyday.
2. I eat ice cream every day.
3. I read every day

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.