Author Archives - Page 21 of 30 - Hudson Childrens Book Festival

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.

Olien, Jessica

Olien, Jessica

Jessica is the author and illustrator of four books for Balzer+Bray/Harpercollins including RIGHT NOW, ADRIFT: AN ODD COUPLE of POLAR BEARS, THE BLOBFISH BOOK and SHARK DETECTIVE. Jessica’s cartoons have been published in the New Yorker and the New York Observer and Conde Nast Traveler and her writing for adults has been published in Slate, the Atlantic, McSweeney’s and many others. www.jessicaolien.com

3 Fun Facts

1. When I’m stressed I look at pictures of Corgis.
2. My favorite fruit is pomegranate.
3. I used to live in Egypt.

McDonough, Yona Zeldis

McDonough, Yona Zeldis

Yona Zeldis McDonough is the author of 28 books for children, including several in the highly popular WHO WAS…? series. She has also published seven novels for adults as well as articles, essays and short fiction. She lives in Brooklyn, NY with her husband, photographer Paul McDonough.

3 Fun Facts

1. I love Pomeranians and I’ve had as many as three at once.
2. My husband built a doll house for me. It inspired one of my books (The Doll House Magic) and it has pride of place in our living room.
3. I like to memorize poetry an know over sixty poems by heart.

Ventresca, Yvonne

Ventresca, Yvonne

Yvonne Ventresca is the award-winning author of two young adult suspense novels: Black Flowers, White Lies (a psychological thriller) and Pandemic (about teens surviving a deadly illness that strikes our contemporary world). Her latest fiction, The Third Ghost, was selected as the title story for the middle grade adventure anthology, Voyagers: The Third Ghost. Yvonne’s other work includes two nonfiction books and several additional short stories selected for anthologies. You can learn more at YvonneVentresca.com, where she also features resources for teen writers.

3 Fun Facts

1. I’m a Yondan (fourth degree) Black Belt in Isshinryu Karate.
2. Purple pens are my favorite for editing my stories.
3. My family rescued a “schneagle” —a part-Beagle, part-Schnauzer dog named Luna.

Castle, Jennifer

Castle, Jennifer

Jennifer Castle grew up writing stories in her head on long school bus rides and was constantly looking for ways to turn her ideas into reality. Eventually, one of her “big ideas” became a published novel, and since then she has written twelve books for kids and teens, including Butterfly Wishes series, Together at Midnight, and Famous Friends. Jennifer lives in New Paltz with her husband, two daughters, and two striped cats, who also work part-time as her writing assistants. www.jennifercastle.com

3 Fun Facts

1. Blaire Wilson, American Girl’s Girl of the Year 2019, and I share two things in common: we both live in the Hudson Valley and we both have food sensitivities.
2. I’m a Ravenclaw.
3. My favorite book of all time is A SWIFTLY TILTING PLANET by Madeleine L’Engle.

Verde, Susan

Susan Verde is a #1 New York Times bestselling children’s book author. She is a former elementary educator, kid’s yoga and mindfulness teacher and mother of 3. Her books celebrate careful attention to ourselves and the world around us. They support the emotional lives of kids in a fun and engaging way. Her bestselling books include I Am Human and I Am Love from her I Am series with Peter H Reynolds, the latest of which is Who I Am. She has just released Are You Listening?, the second in the Sensing Your World Series illustrated by Juliana Perdomo. Find out more at www.susanverde.com

Awards

NY Times bestsellers list, Starred Kirkus reviews, library honors

3 Fun Facts

1. I love yoga.
2. I have a pet tarantula named cuddles.
3. My favorite flavor of ice cream is Heath Bar Crunch!

Biedrzycki, David

Biedrzycki, David

The moment his brother showed him how to draw a face when he was 4 years old David Biedrzycki has been hooked on drawing ever since. In his early years he created stories for his parents and friends. A commercial artist since 1980 his work has appeared in magazines, newspapers, book covers, billboards and even ice cream boxes. The supermarket is like a gallery of his work.

Now he has now returned to his first love of picture book storytelling. He has illustrated close to 30 books including self-authored and award winning Ace Lacewing, Bug Detective series, Me and My Dragon series and his newest series Breaking News Bear Alert, a Junior Library Guild Selection and winner of book the Illinois Monarch Picture Book Award and the Georgia State Picture Book Award. David travels the world extensively to over 100 schools a year sharing his digital book making process with aspiring young writers, illustrators and readers. www.davidbiedrzycki.com

3 Fun Facts

1. I love to fish but I leave it up to my son to take fish off the hook. I hate touching slimy fish.
2. I have not used paints and brushes in almost 20 years. I do all my art digitally.
3. I met my wife of 36 years in kindergarten.

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”.

Preller, James

Preller, James

James Preller lives in Delmar, NY, and has been publishing books for young readers for almost 40 years. His books are suitable for readers from PreK to Young Adult, and include series such as Jigsaw Jones and Scary Tales, as well as these individual titles: Bystander, Upstander, Blood Mountain, and Six Innings. His newest middle-grade title, Shaken (2024), centers around a 7th-grade soccer player, Kristy Barrett, who suffers from post-concussion syndrome. Preller enjoys visiting schools, hoping to inspire a love of reading and writing. www.jamespreller.com

Awards

James Preller has received many accolades over the years, including a YALSA, and ALA NOTABLE, and New York Public Library’s Best Books for Reading and Sharing, numerous State Awards and Junior Library Guild Selections.

3 Fun Facts

1. James Preller loves hiking.
2. James Preller loves baseball.
3. James Preller loves reading.

Curato, Mike

Curato, Mike

Mike Curato is the author and illustrator of picture books including the award winning Little Elliot series and Where Is Bina Bear?, and Flamer, his debut young adult graphic novel, which was awarded the 2020 Lambda Literary Award and the 2021 Massachusetts Book Award. He also illustrated All the Way to Havana by Margarita Engle, Worm Loves Worm by J.J. Austrian, The Power of One by Trudy Ludwig, and What If… and The Sharey Godmother, both written by Samantha Berger. His new book, What Are You?, by Christian Trimmer, will be available for purchase at the festival before its release! www.mikecurato.com

Awards/Honors
2020 Lambda Literary Award for LGBTQ Young Adult (Flamer)
2021 Massachusetts Book Award for Middle Grade/Young Adult (Flamer)
2021 SCBWI Golden Kite Award Honor Illustrated Book for Older Readers (Flamer)
2014 Society of Illustrators Original Art Show Founder’s Award (Little Elliot, Big City)
2015 Ezra Jack Keats New Illustrator Honor (Little Elliot, Big City)

3 Fun Facts

1. Mike loves singing karaoke
2. He has a very cute dog named Leia
3. Mike was born and raised in the Hudson Valley