2026 HCBF Archives - Hudson Childrens Book Festival

Rhuday-Perkovich, Olugbemisola

Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich – Author – OP

Rhuday-Perkovich, Olugbemisola

Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich is the award-winning author of many books for young readers, including BCALA Best of the Best Operation Sisterhood; Kirkus Best of the Year It Doesn’t Take A Genius; Notable Book for Global Society 8th Grade Superzero; NCSS/CBC title Someday Is Now; Junior Library Guild selection You’re Breaking My Heart; NAACP Image Award nominee Two Naomis (co-authored with Audrey Vernick); CCBC Choices Title Saving Earth: Climate Change and the Fight for Our Future; and the award-winning Makeda Makes easy reader series. She lives with her family in New York City where she writes, makes things, and needs to get more sleep. olugbemisolabooks.com

Awards

Kirkus Best of the Year, BCALA Best of the Year, Bank Street Best of the Year, Chicago Public Library Best of the Year, School Library Journal Best of the Year, NAACP Image Award Nominee, Notable Book for a Global Society, Junior Library Guild Gold Standard.

3 Fun Facts

1. I love to make toys.
2. I once spent the day on Sesame Street.
3. My hoop earring got stuck to my sleeve when I met First Lady Michelle Obama.

Todd, Traci N.

Todd, Traci N.

Traci N. Todd is the award-winning author of Nina: A Story of Nina Simone ; Holding Her Own: The Exceptional Life of Jackie Ormes, and Make a Pretty Sound: A Story of Ella Jenkins.

She is also the editor of many successful books for children, including the New York Times-bestselling The ABCs of Black History. tracitodd.com

Awards

Nina: A Story of Nina Simone was a 2022 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honoree and 2022 NCTE Orbis Pictus Award Winner. Holding Her Own was a 2023 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honoree, a 2023 Sibert Honoree, and Bank Street College Best Children’s Book, Outstanding Merit.

3 Fun Facts

1. I played clarinet in the marching band all through high school and college.
2. “Clue” is one of my favorite movies, but I don’t like the board game.
3. Like Bluey, I enjoy singing random things around the house.

Schotter, Roni

Schotter, Roni

Roni Schotter is the award-winning author of 31 books for children, with a 32nd book coming in June, 2026. Well-known books of hers include NOTHING EVER HAPPENS ON 90TH STREET and THE BOY WHO LOVED WORDS. All of her books celebrate imagination & the power of words. www.ronischotter.com

Awards

National Jewish Book Award, Children’s Choice Platinum Award, Parents’ Choice Gold Award, Emmy Award for ABC After School Special adaptation of A Matter of Time, starred reviews in SLJ & Kirk’s, NCTE citations, etc.

3 Fun Facts

1. Favorite Flavors: Mocha, Cinnamon, Ginger.
2. Favorite Month: May, my birthday month.
3. Favorite Fun: Playing with my 2 Granddaughters.

McQuaide, Kerry

2026 Kerry McQuaide Author Bio Pic – Kerry McQuaide

McQuaide, Kerry

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.

Canino, Jeffrey

Canino, Jeffrey

Jeffrey Canino is a writer and educator working out of New York’s Hudson Valley. He is a coauthor of Besties: Work It Out, Besties: Find Their Groove, and Besties: Prank War. He earned his MA in English literature from the State University of New York at New Paltz. www.jeffreycanino.com

Awards

Texas Little Maverick; Junior Library Guild Gold State Selection.

3 Fun Facts

1. Collects rare books.
2. Has three cats.
3. Does many passable celebrity impressions.

Venable, Colleen A.F.

Venable, Colleen A.F.

Colleen AF (Ann Felicity) Venable is the author of many books for kids including adapting the classic Junie B. Jones series into graphic novels, and the indie bestselling Katie the Catsitter series. She’s been nominated for multiple Eisners, dozens of state awards, and was longlisted for a National Book Award for her YA graphic novel debut, Kiss Number 8. Colleen splits her time between an itty-bitty room in Brooklyn, New York, and a big 150 year old house in Western Massachusetts. colleenaf.com

Awards

National Book Award Longlist, Eisner Nomination, SLJ Best Book, PW Best Book, Kirkus Best Book, Bank Street Best Book.

3 Fun Facts

1. The AF stands for my middle names Ann Felicity, which I always use because I have a cousin my exact age with the same name!
2. When I’m not writing I work at animal rescues for bunnies, baby bats, and penguins!
3. I once had a job as a lumberjack and started a national holiday based on that: National Pancake Day!

Marks, Janae

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.

Lindstrom, Carole

Carole Lindstrom is the author of the New York Times bestselling and Caldecott Award-winning We Are Water Protectors. She is Anishinaabe/Métis and is a proud member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwe Indians. She was born and raised in Nebraska and currently makes her home in Maryland. carolelindstrom.com

Awards

Caldecott Award, Charlotte Huck Award, Jane Addams Children’s Book Award, Carter G. Woodson Award

3 Fun Facts

1. I have a cat with thumbs.
2. I loved stuffies and have a ton of them.
3. Sometimes I eat ice cream for lunch. 🙂

McClintock, Barbara

McClintock, Barbara

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.

Wedelich, Sam

Sam Wedelich lives in Nyack, NY with her family. Her newest picture book is A Quick Trip to the Store. She’s also the creator of the popular Real and Totally True Chicken Little series and the illustrator for Farting Fish by Alice Harman and Bearplane! by Deborah Underwood. She loves making fun and funny books for kids and their grown-ups. samwedelich.com

Awards

2025 CBC Children’s Favorite Award, 2023 Triple Crown Award Winner, Cybils award finalist, Indie Next List Pick, 2022 Washing Children’s Choice Award Nominee.

3 Fun Facts

1. I am also a musician and love to sing and play guitar.
2. I’m originally from Texas, YEE-HAW!
3. I’m terrible at playing chess, but feel pretty confident I could draw a chess board!