Author Archives - Hudson Childrens Book Festival

Weyent, Christopher

Weyent, Christopher

Christopher Weyent-A cartoonist for The New Yorker and the Boston Globe, Chris’ award-winning work has been published worldwide in newspapers, magazines, books and in numerous national advertising campaigns. His cartoons are in permanent collection at The Morgan Library & Museum in New York City and in the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C. The National Cartoonist Society honored Chris with the Silver Reuben Award 2021, 2022 and 2024.
The Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard selected Weyant to be a Nieman Fellow, the second cartoonist to receive that honor in Nieman Foundation’s eighty-five year history. He is the winner of the 2015 Theodor Seuss Geisel Award for his illustrated children’s book, You Are (Not) Small, written by his wife, Anna Kang, and published by Two Lions Press. In that series written by Kang, he has also illustrated That’s (Not) Mine, I Am (Not) Scared, We Are (Not) Friends, It Is (Not) Perfect & This Is (Not) Enough.
Chris has also illustrated Eraser, Marker (Two Lions), Can I Tell You A Secret?, Will You Help Me Fall Asleep? (HarperCollins) and My Pillow Keeps Moving! by Laura Gehl (Penguin) and Silly Boobies: A Love Story (Two Lions), by Ame Dyckman. His latest picture book, So-Hee & Lowy, written by Anna Kang, arrived on bookshelves in 2025. christopherweyant.com

Awards

Theodor Seuss Geisel Award (2015) – You Are (Not) Small, Christopher Award (2019) –Eraser, NJ Association of School Librarians-NJ Author/Artist of the Year (2022), National Cartoonist Society Silver Reuben Award – (2021, 2022, 2024)

3 Fun Facts

1. Chris once had a 6 foot pet python.
2. Chris hides the initials of his daughters in all of his book art.
3. He loves all things peanut butter and licorice, but never together.

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.

Kang, Anna

Kang, Anna

Anna Kang won the 2015 Theodor Seuss Geisel Award for her debut picture book, You Are (Not) Small and has since published five more books in that series, as well as Christopher Award winner Eraser, and several others. Her picture books have sold a half-million copies worldwide. Kang, along with her illustrator-husband, Christopher Weyant, was the 2022 NJASL Author-Illustrator of the Year. She received her M.F.A. from USC’s School of Cinematic Arts and has won several screenwriting awards and fellowships, including the Sundance Institute’s Screenwriters Lab and Film Independent Lab. Visit her at www.annakang.com.

Awards

Theodor Seuss Geisel Award, The Christopher Award, CBC Teacher Favorites List, CBC/ILA Children’s Choices Reading List, Goodreads Choice Awards Finalist, Wisconsin State Reading Assoc. Picture This List, Cooperative Children’s Book Center’s Best-of-the-Year List, CCBC Choices Best-of-the-Year List, Bank Street College of Education Best Books of the Year List, ALA Notable Children’s Book, Parents’ Choice Awards – Silver Honor, NPR Best Books of the Year List.

3 Fun Facts

1. I love pickles of all kinds from all cultures.
2. I love animals, especially dogs, alpacas, otters, elephants, and manatees.
3. My rescue dog, Auggie, looks like a sea otter.

Winterbottom, Julie

Winterbottom head shot 2 – Julie Winterbottom

Winterbottom, Julie

Julie Winterbottom writes books for kids about science and history and sillier subjects like pranks and farts. Her newest book is Magic in a Drop of Water, a picture book biography of pioneering ecologist Ruth Patrick. She is also the author of two humor books, Pranklopedia and What a Blast! and Frightlopedia. She is the former editor-in-chief of Nickelodeon Magazine and worked as an editor at Sesame Workshop and Scholastic. When she’s not writing, she loves exploring the shores of the Hudson River near her home in Beacon, New York. JulieWinterbottom.com

Awards

Many Educational Press Association Awards for editing and writing for children’s magazines published by Scholastic, Sesame Workshop, and Nickelodeon.

3 Fun Facts

1. I was a serious prankster as a kid.
2. I play the accordion in a Cajun band.
3. I love the smell of skunks.

Shah, Amar

Amar Shah is the author of the critically acclaimed Play the Game basketball trilogy and the upcoming graphic memoir Wish I Was a Baller (Scholastic). A multiple Emmy- winning writer and producer, Amar has held key roles at ESPN, Fox Sports, NFL Network, and the Orlando Magic. His work has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, the Orlando Sentinel, SLAM, and the Washington Post. www.amarshahwrites.com

Awards

Amazon Top New Release, SLJ said “Lovers of basketball, especially fellow athletes, will devour this novel.”

3 Fun Facts

1. I was on the cover of Sports Illustrated for Kids with Shaquille O’Neal as a kid.
2. I worked at ESPN as my first job.
3. I have two kids.

Eckler, Theresa

Theresa Eckler is a mom, wife, fourth grade teacher, videographer, and now published author! From starting her own educational company The Limitless Classroom where she shares her creative ideas for the classroom, to starting Limitless Publishing, Theresa aims to encourage those around here to reach for their dreams and find what makes them Limitless! www.thelimitlessclassroom.com

Awards

Founders Day PTA Award 2021

3 Fun Facts

1. I was born and raised in the state of Maine.
2. The illustrator of my book is a child I went to school with and met in the 3rd grade.
3. My illustrator and I created the entire book virtually over FaceTimes!

Rosenthal, Robin

Robin-Rosenthal-69 PhotoByJeffreyMosier_RR-med – Robin Rosenthal

Rosenthal, Robin

Robin Rosenthal is an author, illustrator, and art director. She has illustrated TWO DOGS ON A TRIKE and the Big Ideas for Little Philosophers and Big Ideas for Little Environmentalists series of board books. SWEET BABE! is her authorial debut. She grew up in Connecticut and now lives in Brooklyn, New York with her family. You can see more of her work at robinrosenthal.com.

Awards

TWO DOGS ON A TRIKE: 1. Kirkus Best Picture Books of 2020, 2. School Library Journal/Betsy Bird’s 2020 Math Books for Kids, 3. Starred Kirkus Review; BIG IDEAS FOR LITTLE PHILOSOPHERS: Featured in The New York Times 2020 Holiday Gift Guide. SWEET BABE! is receiving great advance reviews so far, you can read them here: https://www.robinrosenthal.com/sweet-babe

3 Fun Facts

1. I used to be the cook on a dude ranch. In a related fact, I broke my foot square-dancing.
2. I love to kayak and have kayaked in Alaska and Mexico and the NYC harbor…
3. What else… I am lactose intolerant but carry Lactaid pills with me everywhere because I LOVE. CHEESE.