Author Archives - Page 12 of 32 - Hudson Childrens Book Festival

Bontigao, Lynnor

Lynnor Bontigao is the author-illustrator of SARI-SARI SUMMERS, a nostalgic love letter to the Philippines and grandmothers, and includes a bonus sweet recipe. She is also the illustrator of many other picture books such as MILES AHEAD by Minh Lê (Spring 2026),THE WORLD’S BEST CLASS PLANT(2025 Giverny Award for Best Children’s Science Picture Book) by Liz Garton Scanlon & Audrey Vernick, and SEASHELL KEY chapter book series by Lourdes Heuer. She loves heartfelt stories paired with humor especially where relationships, culture, and food are intertwined. Lynnor lives in New Jersey with her family and 1 tiny dog. www.lynnorbontigao.com

Awards

WORLD’S BEST CLASS PLANT(One of Kirkus’ Best Picture Books 2023, 2025 Giverny Award for Best Children’s Science Picture Book, Kirkus & PW Starred Reviews), SEASHELL KEY Book 1 (Parents Magazine Best Summer Read), AT THE END OF THE DAY (A Junior Library Gold Selection).

3 Fun Facts

1. I enjoy watching KDramas.
2. My hands are always cold.
3. I wanted to design shoes when I was a kid.

LaRocca, Rajani

Rajani LaRocca was born in India, raised in Kentucky, and now lives in the Boston area, where she practices medicine and writes award-winning books for young readers, including the Newbery Honor winning middle grade novel in verse, Red, White, and Whole. She’s always been an omnivorous reader, and now she is an omnivorous writer of fiction and nonfiction, novels and picture books, prose and poetry. She finds inspiration in her family, her childhood, the natural world, math, science, and just about everywhere she looks. Learn more about Rajani and her books at www.RajaniLaRocca.com.

Awards
Newbery Honor, Walter Dean Myers Award, Massachusetts Book Award, New England Book Award, SCBWI Golden Kite Award, SCBWI Crystal Kite Award, Charlotte Zolotow Highly Commended Title, NCTE Notable Poetry Book, among many state lists and other awards

3 Fun Facts

1. I’m a practicing doctor
2. I love to cook and bake
3. I have a cute fluffy dog

Hagan, Ellen

Hagan, Ellen

Ellen Hagan is a writer, performer, and educator. She is the author of Don’t Call Me a Hurricane and Reckless, Glorious, Girl and the coauthor with Renée Watson of Watch Us Rise. Her poetry collections include Blooming Fiascoes, Hemisphere, and Crowned. Her work can be found in ESPN Magazine, She Walks in Beauty, and Southern Sin. Raised in Kentucky, she now lives in New York City with her family. www.ellenhagan.com • @ellenhagan

Awards

Ellen is the recipient of the 2020 New York Foundation for the Arts fellowing in poetry, the 2013 NoMAA Creative Arts Grant and received grants from the Kentucky Foundation for Women and the Kentucky Governor’s School for the Arts.

Ireland, Meredith

Meredith-Ireland-credit-Leila-Evans—Ariana-Abad

Ireland, Meredith

Meredith Ireland was born in Korea and adopted by a New York librarian. Her love of books started early and, although she pursued both pre-med at Rollins College and law at the University of Miami, stories were her fate. She currently resides with her two children, and Bob, a carnival goldfish who’s likely a person. She writes children’s books, some of which you may like. She is the author of the YA novels The Jasmine Project, a JLG Gold Standard Selection, and Everyone Hates Kelsie Miller. She is also a contributor to You Are Here, a middle grade anthology, and When We Became Ours, a young adult anthology. https://meredithireland.wordpress.com/

Awards
The Jasmine Project – JLG Gold Standard Selection

3 Fun Facts

Gutman, Dan

Gutman, Dan

Dan Gutman was born in a log cabin in Illinois and used to write by candlelight with a piece of chalk on a shovel. Oh, wait. That was Abraham Lincoln. Actually, Dan has written 175 books for beginning readers (“Rappy the Raptor”), young readers (“My Weird School”), and advanced readers (“The Genius Files”, “Flashback Four”). Dan lives in New York City. You can visit his web site (www.dangutman.com) and follow him on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. www.dangutman.com

Awards
A few state book awards. More importantly, My Weird School has sold 35 million copies. So who cares about awards, right?

3 Fun Facts

1. I’m left handed.
2. I’m partly color blind.
3. I love watermelon and ShopRite bran flakes.

Blue, Ranier & Lyriq

Lyriq Blue and Ranier Blue are a daddy daughter duo out of Upstate NY who decided to create “The Light In Me” as a way to help kids like Lyriq with their self-esteem. blyriqmusic.com/tlim

Awards
Featured at the Catskill “Books and Breakfast“ event in January 2023
Interviewed by Stephanie Rivas live on WTEN News 10 in January 2023

3 Fun Facts

1. Lyriq is a performer who’s stage name is a play on her real name.
2. Ranier is a self taught producer who makes music with Lyriq
3. Lyriq loves converse and Air Force one sneakers.

Rosswood, Eric

Eric Rosswood is a multi-award-winning author whose broad body of work centers around family, authenticity, diversity, hope, and strength. His best selling parenting books focus on the LGBTQ+ journey to parenthood and have helped couples around the world start their own families. His latest picture book, STRONG, featuring the world’s first and only openly gay professional strongman, won a 2023 Stonewall Honor from the American Library Association. www.EricRosswood.com

Awards
Stonewall Honor Book (2013)
WINNER – Best Parenting/Family/Relationships book – IAN Book of the Year Awards (2017)
WINNER – Best Parenting book – Readers’ Favorite Book Awards (2017)
WINNER – Best LGBTQ Non-Fiction book – International Best Book Awards (2017)
AWARD-WINNING FINALIST International Book Awards (2017)

3 Fun Facts

1. Once participated in a giant pillow fight flash mob with hundreds of other people.
2. Climbed to the top of Mount Fuji.
3. Stayed the night in a hotel made out of ice. Even the bed was made out of ice!

Balkan, Gabrielle

Have the itchy symptoms of poison ivy ever made you feel blerg? Ever wondered what happens when an Argentinosaurus drops a Number Two? Curious about what the cauldron ingredient “eye of newt” really is? If so, you and the fact-lover Gabrielle Balkan have GOT to talk. Gabe writes award-winning illustrated non-fiction that delights readers ages 0-10 with curious facts about dinosaurs, medicine, witches, the USA, and lots more. When she’s not puzzling over how to explain complex topics to readers, Gabe loves visiting classrooms and brainstorming with kids. Visit her at www.gabriellebalkan.com and @gabriellebalkan.

Awards

Everyone has something to say about *What a Map Can Do*! It is an addition to Curriculum Associates’ Core ELA K-6 Program, an ALA Notable Book, part of the Library of Congress National Book Festival Great Reads Youth List, and a Chicago Public Library Best Book.

3 Fun Facts

1. I once sat on a cactus, by mistake.
2. I have licked a dino coprolite on a dare.
3. I love reading choose-your-own-path books…and want to try writing one some day.

Kramer, Jackie Azúa

Kramer, Jackie Azúa

Jackie Azúa Kramer- Many lives ago I was born into a Puerto Rican and Ecuadorian loving family. Together we travelled to far away places.Now I’m an author, and wile away my time writing children’s picture books. What ties these all together are my dreams and imagination. Most of the time you’ll find me reading, watching old movies, globe trekking and whenever possible sharing laughter & food with my family. jackieazuakramer.com/

Awards

Bank Street College Best Children’s Books of the Year; Junior Library Gold Selection; Best Books Canadian Children’s Book Centre; Chicago Public Library-Best of the Best Books; Winner of Japan’s 31st Bronze Kembuchi Picture Book Award; Winner of 2021 SCBWI Crystal Kite Award; Silver Medal-Parents’ Choice Awards.

3 Fun Facts

1. I swam with dolphins.
2. I speak Spanish fluently.
3. I once worked as an actor.

Ford, JR & Vanessa

JR (he/him) and Vanessa (she/her) Ford are nationally-respected advocates for LGBTQ+ rights and specifically transgender youth. Their advocacy has been featured in the New York Times, Newsweek, The Boston Globe, NPR’s All Things Considered and Good Morning America. They are members of the Human Rights Campaign’s Parents for Transgender Equality Council and authors of the award-winning book, Calvin (Penguin, 2021). Vanessa is also the co-author of the upcoming book “Educate, Affirm, Include and Interrupt: Creating Spaces Where Transgender Students Thrive ( Jossey-Bass 2024). They live with their two children, one of whom is trans, in the Boston Massachusetts area. www.jrandvanessaford.com

Awards

2022 Lambda Literary “Lammy” Award for Best Children’s /Middle Grade Book

3 Fun Facts

1. Vanessa loves public speaking
2. JR is a podcast connoisseur
3. JR and Vanessa met in 2005 and it was “love at first sight”.