Author Archives - Page 2 of 29 - Hudson Childrens Book Festival

Teis, Kyra

Teis, Kyra

Kyra Teis is a children’s book author and illustrator and a creator of joyful adventures. With her signature colorful digital collages, Kyra invites kids into a world where imagination knows no bounds. Her playful style and vivid illustrations spark creativity and wonder, making her books beloved by little readers and big dreamers alike. She lives and works in Niskayuna, NY, and can be seen most weekends cheering on the sidelines of her daughter’s soccer games. www.kyrateis.com

Awards

Sometimes When I’m Worried (2023), Kirkus Star. Sometimes When I’m Bored (2022), Kirkus Star and Kirkus Best Indie Books of 2022. Klezmer! (2021), Kirkus Star.

3 Fun Facts

1. I love to sew.
2. I enjoy improv.
3. I am the person who eats the licorice jellybeans.

Hwang, Sarah

Hwang, Sarah

Sarah Hwang is a Korean-American picture book author and Illustrator. She received her BFA in illustration at the Maryland Institute College of Arts. Sarah loves to sprinkle a bit of her quirk and humor in everything she creates. As a storyteller, she focuses on creating fun stories that are relatable for readers of all ages. Sarah made her author-illustrator debut with her much loved picture book, Toasty. sarah-hwang.com

Awards

Starred Review by School Library Journal

3 Fun Facts

1. I am a huge foodie- I love eating and drawing food.
2. My two favorite animals are dogs and penguins.
3. I draw mostly everything everything from memory (My illustrations are focused on capturing essence or feelings of things).

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!

Poblocki, Dan

Dan Poblocki is the author of twenty-four mystery, horror, and adventure novels for young people. He is the co-author with Neil Patrick Harris of the #1 New York Times bestselling series The Magic Misfits (writing under the pen-name Alec Azam). He’s also the author of Tales to Keep You Up at Night, More Tales to Keep You Up at Night, the Shadow House series and many more. His books have been Junior Library Guild selections, have made the American Library Association’s Best Fiction for Young Adults list, and have been honored with many state reading awards. https://www.danpoblocki.com/

Awards

Texas Bluebonnet Master List, Texas Lonestar Master List, ALA Best Books for Young Adults, Junior Library Guild Selection, Kentucky Bluegrass Award, Iowa Children’s Choice Award, SSYRA List.

3 Fun Facts

1. I grew up in a possibly haunted house in New Jersey.
2. I am related to 19th century vampire hunters in Poland.
3. My thumbs are double-jointed.

Stokes, Mason

YA debut author Mason Stokes is a professor of English at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York, where he teaches African American literature and queer fiction. In addition to his scholarly writing, Stokes is the author of the adult novel Saving Julian and the personal essay “Namesake,” which was selected by Jonathan Franzen for inclusion in the 2016 edition of Best American Essays. masonstokes.com

Awards

Starred review of ALL THE TRUTH in Publishers Weekly; Positive reviews in Kirkus, Booklist, School Library Journal, Forward Reviews, and Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books; author interview on WAMC’s The Roundtable

3 Fun Facts

1. I used to be a drummer.
2. I spent most of my adult life telling myself I would never write a novel.
3. According to my partner, I mispronounce any word beginning with “wh.”

Karas, G. Brian

Karas, G. Brian

G. Brian Karas is an artist and author best known for his work in children’s picture book illustration. His work has received numerous awards, including honors from the American Library Association, the New York Times and starred reviews from major publications. He lives in the Hudson Valley of New York where he enjoys working in his studio, being outdoors and spending time with his family. gbriankaras.com

Awards

New York Times Best Illustrated, Boston Globe/Horn Book Honor,ALA Notable Book,Please Touch Museum Annual Book Award, Louisiana Young Readers’ Choice Award

3 Fun Facts

1. I like to cook (and eat!) all kinds of food but my favorites are pizza and donuts.
2. I like to dance though I’m a terrible dancer.
3. I like scary movies.

Harper, Janelle

Janelle Harper is a Bronx native who proudly carries her New York accent wherever she goes. As a product and resident of the Bronx, her artistic work is inspired by city life and the diverse experiences of the African Diaspora. Janelle comes from a long line of educators and has spent nearly two decades teaching dance in New York City public schools. As a children’s author, Janelle is passionate about representation. She hopes to create stories that make children fall more in love with themselves. She is drawn to stories that are lyrical, multigenerational, or showcase non-traditional storytelling structures. https://www.janelleharperauthor.com

Awards

My Block Looks Like has received starred reviews from Horn Book, Kirkus Reviews, Publishers Weekly and a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection. 2024 AAMBC (African Americans on the Move Book Club) Literary Award nominee for Children Book of the Year. 2024 Black KidLit Award for Best Read Aloud Runner Up.

3 Fun Facts

1. Unicorns are my favorite animal.
2. I’ve traveled to five continents. Australia and Antarctica are on my bucket list.
3. I don’t know how to ride a bike.

Gholson, AJ

Gholson, AJ

We are the parents of 3 energetic, entertaining and emotional children. The inspiration for the books comes from them. We watch the struggles our children deal with and remember those same challenges. We try to think of tools that have helped us in life and demonstrate them to our children. nylahversus.com

Fun Facts

1. Anthony also writes and directs short films.
2. Nylah is the name of our only daughter

Davila, A.M.

Davila, A.M.

A.M. Davila writes post-apocalyptic and dystopian fiction for both a YA and adult audience. When not writing, she teaches Social Studies to high school students in New York. The worlds she creates are at once both fantastical and eerily plausible. Her characters may seem familiar because, as a teacher and observer of humanity, Davila creates characters based on life. Each could be someone you know. Davila resides with her husband, two daughters, and lap dog in the Hudson Valley and enjoys traveling and enjoying the outdoors when she can. www.amdavila.com

3 Fun Facts

1. I was inspired to write this book while stuck in a torrential downpour outside of a church on my way to work.
2. One of the characters is inspired by a former student.
3. The dog is inspired by my neighbor’s dog and we now consider him to be famous!

Chen, Sylvia

Chen, Sylvia

Born and raised in Queens, New York, Sylvia Chen has also lived and worked in Boston, San Francisco, Seattle, Paris, and Tokyo, and now resides in Essex County, New Jersey. As an Asian American children’s book author, she recently celebrated her debut picture book TRICKY CHOPSTICKS (illustrated by Fanny Liem and published by Atheneum/Simon & Schuster) and is excited about her forthcoming picture book SPARKLES FOR SUNNY: A Lunar New Year Story (illustrated by Thai My Phuong and published by Flamingo Books/Penguin Random House). Sylvia loves crafting picture books that spark kids’ interest in STEAM and creative thinking. https://www.sylviaichen.com/

Awards

Recently recognized for the 2025 Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People (Kindergarten to Fifth Grade category) Award, by the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) and the Children’s Book Council (CBC). Recommended for social studies use in classrooms. To see more about this award, visit: https://www.cbcbooks.org/awards-and-book-lists/notable-social-studies/. Also selected as a top 10 nominee for the 2025-2026 Chickadee Award (The Maine Children’s Choice Picture Book Award). Final selection tbd; more info at: https://sites.google.com/site/thechickadeeaward/sneak-peek

Link for Kirkus Review: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/sylvia-chen/tricky-chopsticks/

Also, as a fun fact: In my elementary school years, I was the recipient of the Ezra Jack Keats Bookmaking Competition Memorial Award in 1988 and 1990.

3 Fun Facts

1. I love all types of food.
2. I like to eat fried chicken with chopsticks.
3. At my most recent school visit, students challenged me to use chopsticks with my non-dominant hand in one challenge, and behind my back in another challenge!