2026 HCBF Archives - Page 4 of 5 - Hudson Childrens Book Festival

Parra, John

John Parra is an award-winning, best-selling artist, illustrator, author, and educator, widely recognized for his award-winning, Latino themed children’s picture books and commercial artwork. Passionate about art and literacy, he frequently speaks as a visiting author/artist at schools and literary conferences across the country. John currently resides in Queens, New York. https://www.johnparraart.com/

Awards

NYTimes/NYPL, Best Illustrated Children’s Books of the Year Award, Pura Belpre Honor Award, Golden Kite Award, Christophers Award, Tomás Rivera Mexican American Children’s Book Award, Américas Award.

3 Fun Facts

1. I used to play guitar in bands growing up.
2. My favorite holiday celebration is Dia de Muertos and Halloween.
3. My favorite baseball team is the Dodgers.

Groenink, Chuck

Groenink, Chuck

Chuck Groenink is an illustrator and more recently an author of picture books. He has worked with publishers in the US and Europe on over two dozen children’s books since 2010. He strives to make books that reflect his curiosity about the world we live in. www.chuckgroenink.com

Awards

Recipient of the Fiep Westendorp prize in the Netherlands. My most recent books have been awarded Junior Library Guild gold selections, and my book Full Moon Pups is a Dolly Parton Imagination Library selection.

3 Fun Facts

1. Despite my very American first name, I am in fact, from the Netherlands.
2. I almost always put one of my cats in any book I work on.
3. I can hypnotize a chicken.

Shapiro, Esmé

Shapiro, Esmé

Esmé Shapiro is an acclaimed author and illustrator of books for children. Her previous picture books include Ooko, a finalist for a Governor General’s Literary Award; Alma and the Beast; Carol and the Pickle-Toad; My Self, Your Self; and Roy Is Not a Dog, co-created with her husband, Daniel Newell Kaufman. She also illustrated Yak and Dove by Kyo Maclear; Eliza: The Story of Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton by Margaret McNamara; and A Garden of Creatures by Sheila Heti. Esmé lives in a castle in the Hudson Valley with her husband and their two princes. She will never say no to a slice of three-year-old cake. www.esmeshapiroillustration.com

Awards

Finalist for a Governor General’s Literary Award (Ooko). Exhibited with The Society of Illustrators. My Self, Your Self named one of the Best Children’s Books of the Year 2023 by The Bank Street College of Education.

1. I have eight ducks that like to eat spaghetti.
2. I am as tall as a shoebill stork!
3. If I were an animal, I would be a buffalo with a hat.

Michelson, Richard

photo by Doug Anderson – Richard Michelson

Michelson, Richard

RICHARD MICHELSON’s children’s books have been named among the Ten Best of the Year by The New York Times, Publishers Weekly, and The New Yorker; and among the Best Dozen of the Decade by Amazon.com. Michelson has received a National Jewish Book Award, and two Sydney Taylor Gold Medals from the Association of Jewish Libraries. Other credits include two Massachusetts Book Award Honors, three Skipping Stones Multicultural Book Awards, three Junior Library Guild Gold Medals, and an International Reading Association Teacher’s Choice Award. Michelson owns R. Michelson Galleries which represents many of the country’s premier illustrators. www.RichardMichelson.com

Awards

National Jewish Book Award, Sydney Taylor Gold Medal, New York Times Ten Best Books of the Year, Publishers Weekly Ten Best Books of the Year, Amazon.com Best Dozen Books of the Decade.

3 Fun Facts

1. I founded R. Michelson Galleries which was the first fine art gallery in the country to feature children’s book illustrations.
2. I published 4 new books published in 2025, though one was sold 6 years ago, one 4 years ago, one 3 years ago, and one 2 years ago. .
3. When I was having dinner with my good friend Leonard Nimoy (who I wrote a picture book about) someone approached our table and asked for MY autograph.

Funk, Josh

Josh Funk is a software engineer and the author of books like the Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast series, How to Code a Sandcastle, Dear Unicorn, Dear Dragon, My Pet Feet, the It’s Not a Fairy Tale series, Lost in the Library, and more. His books have sold more than half a million copies worldwide and been translated into a dozen languages. He has presented (and virtually presented) at over 950 schools and libraries in the last decade since his first book was released. For more about Josh, visit joshfunkbooks.com and on social media at @joshfunkbooks.

Awards

A Celebration of You, 2026 *Starred Review* from School Library Journal.
My Pet Feet, 2024-25 Sunshine State Young Readers Award Jr. Title, 2024-25 Young Hoosier Picture Book Award Nominee, 2023 Massachusetts Book Award Must-Read Picture Book, 2023 Official March Book Madness Picture Book Bracket Champion, 2023 Funniest Book for Kids Andie Award Winner (via Anderson’s Bookshops), 2022 Kids’ Indie Next List Selection (Sep/Oct),2022 August Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance (SIBA) Read This Next! Title.
Dear Unicorn, 2023 Kids’ Indie Next List Selection (Sep/Oct).
Dear Dragon, 2018-19 Missouri Association of School Librarians (MASL) Show Me Readers Award Nominee, 2018-19 Indiana Library Federation (ILF) Young Hoosier Book Award Nominee, 2017-18 Maine Chickadee Award Nominee, 2017 Bank Street Best Children’s Books of the Year, 2017 International Literacy Association (ILA) Teacher’s Choice Reading List, 2017 SCBWI New England Crystal Kite Finalist, 2016 *Starred Review* from Kirkus, 2016 Nerdy Book Club Award.
Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast, 2016 SCBWI New England Crystal Kite Finalist, 2016 Barnes & Noble National Storytime Selection on 1/2/16,
2015 Nerdy Book Club Award.
The Case of the Stinky Stench, 2017 Summer Indie Kids’ Next List Selection, 2017 Goodreads Choice Awards Best Picture Book of the Year Semifinalist.
Mission Defrostable, 2018 Fall Indie Kids’ Next List Selection.
Short & Sweet, 2020 Fall Indie Kids’ Next List Selection, 2020 *Starred Review* from School Library Journal.
The Great Caper Caper, 2022 Kids’ Indie Next List Selection (Nov/Dec).
Attack of the Scones, 2024 Kids’ Indie Next List Selection (Sep/Oct).
Whodonut? A Holiday Mystery, 2025 #1 Kids’ Indie Next List Selection (Sep/Oct).
How to Code a Sandcastle, 2019 ALSC El día de los niños / El día de los libros Selection, 2019 International Literacy Association (ILA) Teacher’s Choice Reading List, 2018 Smithsonian Ten Best Children’s Books, 2018 Summer Indie Kids’ Next List Selection.
It’s Not the Three Little Pigs, 2025 Indiana Library Federation (ILF) Upper Elementary Read Aloud List.
It’s Not Little Red Riding Hood, 2022-23 Missouri Association of School Librarians (MASL) Show Me Readers Award Nominee,2022 Iris Award Shortlist,
2021 Kids’ Book Choice Award Nominee for Favorite Early Reader Series, 2021 Kids’ Book Choice Award Nominee for Best Picture Book Duo.
It’s Not Hansel and Gretel, 2020-21 Michigan Great Lakes Great Books Grades 2-3 Honor Winner,2020 International Literacy Association (ILA) Children’s Choice Reading List.2020 Wisconsin State Reading Association (WSRA) Picture This Recommendation List, 2019 Goodreads Choice Awards Best Picture Book of the Year Semifinalist.
It’s Not Jack and the Beanstalk, 2018 Wisconsin State Reading Association (WSRA) Picture This Recommendation List.
Lost in the Library: A Story of Patience and Fortitude, 2020 Mississippi Magnolia State Award Short List, 2020 Wisconsin Golden Archer Award Nominee.

3 Fun Facts

1. I once pet-sit for an elephant.
2. I’ve been to outer space.
3. I lie a lot.

Stewart, Melissa

Stewart, Melissa

Melissa Stewart has written more than 200 science books for children. Her work has been translated into more than a dozen languages and garnered such awards as the Sibert Honor, AAAS/Subaru Prize for Excellence in Science Books, eighteen NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students, two Green Earth Book Awards, and three ALA Notables. Melissa is a popular presenter at schools and libraries, and her highly-regarded website features a rich array of nonfiction reading and writing resources. www.melissa-stewart.com

Awards

Sibert Honor, AAAS/Subaru Prize for Excellence in Science Books, eighteen NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students, two Green Earth Book Awards, and three ALA Notables.

3 Fun Facts

1. I’ve watched hippos, elephants, and zebras trek across the African savanna while riding in a hot air balloon in Kenya.
2. I’ve swum with sea turtles and sea lions in the Galapagos Islands.
3. I walked within inches of a deadly fer-de-lance snake while exploring a tropical rain forest in Costa Rica.

Kimmelman, Leslie

Leslie Kimmelman is the author of more than 50 popular books for children, and was a longtime children’s book editor. At Sesame Workshop, she was one of the creators of Julia, an autistic character on the Street. She lives in Westchester County, NY. lesliekimmelman.com

Awards

Write On, Irving Berlin! won the Charlotte Award from the New York State Reading Association. Hot Dog! Eleanor Roosevelt Throws a Picnic won a Eureka Award from the California Reading Association. Everybody Says Shalom was a Sydney Taylor Honor Book; several others were Sydney Taylor Notable Books.

3 Fun Facts

1. I worked at Sesame Street for more than 25 years, and was on a first name basis with Elmo, Cookie Monster, Julia, and friends.
2. When I read the Anne of Green Gables books in fourth grade, I was such a fan that I officially changed my middle name from “Ann” to “Anne.”
3. If I weren’t a writer, I’d want to be a wildlife photographer.

Bruel, Nick

Nick Bruel is the creator of the NY Times Bestselling “Bad Kitty” series. He lives in Pleasantville, NY with his wife Carina, their son Caron, their dog Skyler, and their sometimes-good-sometimes-bad cats Rose and Noodles. nickbruel.com

Awards

2007 Buckaroo Book Award—Children’s (Winner)
2011 Beverly Cleary Children’s Choice Award (Winner)
2009 North Carolina Children’s Book Award—Picture Book (Winner)

3 Fun Facts

1. Nick’s favorite superhero is the original Captain Marvel/Shazam.
2. Nick’s favorite Pokemon is Jifflypuff.
3. Nick’s favorite TV show is “Bob’s Burgers”.

Masiello, Ralph

Masiello, Ralph

Ralph Masiello was born and raised in the state of Massachusetts where he lives with his daughters Alexa and Talia. A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design (BFA, Illustration, 1985), Ralph has illustrated for magazines, newspapers and books, created posters and prints, and shown his fine art paintings in galleries throughout the world. Beginning with The Icky Bug Alphabet Book in 1986, Ralph has has become internationally known for the children’s books he’s written and illustrated. Since 1987, he has visited over 3,300 schools all over the world, inspiring children with his life story, humor, and art. www.ralphmasiello.com

Awards

Society of Illustrators Award of Merit (2 times).

3 Fun Facts

1. I am an aggressive skier!
2. I like Lima beans.
3. I used to race motocross

Gehl, Laura

Gehl, Laura

Laura Gehl is the award-winning author of more than fifty books for kids, including board books, lift-the-flap books, picture books, and early readers. Her 2026 releases include Attack Bunnies, Puppies Know and Grow, Bunnies Know and Grow, Odd Bugs, and Becca and Bubbe’s Bucket List. Laura lives in Chevy Chase, Maryland with her husband and four kids. When she isn’t writing, she’s usually walking in the woods, eating ice cream, or reading—sometimes all three at the same time! You can visit Laura online at www.lauragehl.com.

Awards

Odd Birds was a Blueberry Honor Book, a Cybils Finalist, a Bank Street Best Children’s Books of the Year selection, and a Kirkus Best Books of the Year selection. Donut, My Pillow Keeps Moving, and Frog Can Hop were chosen as Junior Library Guild gold standard selections. Donut was also an Indie Next Selection and a Dolly Parton Imagination Library Selection. Apple and Magnolia received three starred reviews, was a Kirkus best book of the year, a Cybils Award Finalist, a Charter Oak Children’s Book Award nominee, and a White Ravens International Children’s and Youth Literature Selection. Baby Astronaut was A Mighty Girl Best Book of the Year. One Big Pair of Underwear was a Charlotte Zolotow Highly Commended Title, International Literacy Association Honor Book, and Booklist Books for Youth Editors’ Choice.

3 Fun Facts

1. My current favorite flavor of ice cream is Oreo Cheesecake (this changes frequently).
2. My family fosters cats and kittens. We have fostered nine cats so far.
3. The animal I am best at imitating is a lion; I am great at roaring!