Author Archives - Page 23 of 29 - Hudson Childrens Book Festival

Talbott, Hudson

Hudson Talbott is the author/illustrator of 27 books for young readers. His first book, “We’re Back”, was made into a feature length film by Steven Spielberg. His second book,”Into the Woods” was a collaboration w/ composer Stephen Sondheim, based on his Broadway musical. His book with author Jacqueline Woodson, “Show Way”, also became a musical, premiering at the Kennedy Center and now touring the country. His most recent book,”A Walk In the Words”, his memoir of how he overcame his dyslexia through art, won the ALA Schneider Award for books addressing learning challenges. www.hudsontalbott.com

Awards

“Show Way” – Newbury Honor Book, “Leonardo’s Horse” – ALA Notable, “A Walk In The Words” – ALA Schneider Family Award.

3 Fun Facts

1. I was in an elephant stampede in Africa while doing research for my book “Safari Journal”.
2. I was traveling with a jungle doctor in the Amazon Rainforest doing research for my book “Amazon Diary” when the motor on our dugout canoe lost power and we had to drift through headhunter territory.
3. I was on the original album cover of the Village People, creating the role of the cowboy.

Ferry, Beth

Beth Ferry is the author of numerous picture books for children including The Scarecrow, Swashby and the Sea, and the New York Times bestseller, Stick and Stone. She lives with her family by the beach in New Jersey where she finds inspiration in the salty air. In addition to writing picture books, Beth also writes graphic novels for emerging readers. You can learn more at bethferry.com.

Awards

NY Times Bestseller, Amazon Best Book of the Year

3 Fun Facts

1. I have a pet cactus named Henry
2. I only grow pumpkins in my garden
3. I have a bulldog named Chaucer who eats all the pumpkins I grow.

Hirsch, Jeff

Hirsch, Jeff

Jeff Hirsch is originally from Richmond Virginia and now lives in Beacon, NY. He wrote The Eleventh Plague, The Darkest Path and Black River Falls. His peanut butter chocolate chip cookies will renew your faith that there is something good and holy in this barbaric world. www.jeff-hirsch.com

Apple, Jon

Apple, Jon

Jon Apple is an artist and illustrator living in Bethlehem, Pa. He is versed in every method and medium imaginable. From greetings cards to editorial cartoons, from posters to portraiture, from fine art to PhotoShop. The eye’s the limit.

3 Fun Facts

1. I can write backwards and forwards simultaneously
2. I do impressions.
3. I can cross one eye at a time.

Wan, Joyce

Joyce Wan is the author and/or illustrator of books for young children such as You Are My Cupcake, Peek-a-boo Farm, and Sleepyheads. She designed her first greeting card when she was in first grade for a city-wide greeting card design contest. The design won first place and was subsequently sold through a major department store chain. Twenty years later, that design would inspire her to launch her own design studio where she produced her own greeting card line. This led her to children’s book publishing after meeting an art director at a trade show. She has since published over 30 books for children that have sold over 1 million copies worldwide. www.wanart.com

Awards
2015 Mills-Tannenbaum Award for Children’s Literacy from Reach Out and Read of Greater New York,  Society of Illustrators Original Art Show, 2020 Amelia Bloomer Book List presented by the American Library Association.

3 Fun Facts

1. I am a self-taught artist.
2. I am a night owl whose favorite time to work is between 12am-3am.
3. I have two pet birds.

Teitelbaum, Michael

Teitelbaum, Michael

MICHAEL TEITELBAUM has been a writer of children’s books for more than twenty years. His fiction work includes The Scary States of America, 50 short stories, one from each state, all about the paranormal, published by Delacorte. His non-fiction work includes Jackie Robinson: Champion for Equality, published by Sterling. His latest book is The Very Hungry Zombie: A Parody, done with artist extraordinaire Jon Apple, published by Skyhorse. www.facebook.com/TheVeryHungryZombie

3 Fun Facts

1. I have never eaten a brain….for lunch.
2. I’m not afraid of Zombies. I just…Ahhhhhhhhhh—
3. I have a big heart…just don’t tell the Very Hungry Zombie!

Calkhoven, Laurie

Calkhoven, Laurie

Laurie Calkhoven has never swallowed a frog, knocked over a rabbit hutch, or sung too loud in music class. She is the author of more than 50 books for young readers, including the G.I. Dogs series and You Should Meet Kids Who are Saving the Planet. www.lauriecalkhoven.com

Awards
– Beacon of Freedom Award
– Bank Street Best Books
– Northern Lights Book Award

3 Fun Facts

1. love to learn random presidential facts (like my character Roosevelt).
2. I have never swallowed a frog.
3. My birthday is the same day as Harry Potter’s!

Alexander, Heather

Alexander, Heather

Heather Alexander is the author of more than forty books for children. Her non-fiction titles include: Life On Earth lift-the-flap series, A Child’s Introduction to Natural History, Who is Hillary Clinton?, A Child’s Introduction to Greek Mythology, and A Child’s Introduction to Art, which received the Silver Medal Parent’s Choice Award. Her fiction titles include: The Amazing Stardust Friends series, Ever After High, and Wallace and Grace Take the Case (coming in May 2017). Before turning to writing, Heather edited over 100 children’s fiction series, including the bestselling Goosebumps. Heather lives in New Jersey with her husband and two daughters. www.heatheralexanderbooks.com

3 Fun Facts

1. Before I became an author, I was the editor of R.L. Sine’s Goosebumps and Fear Street series.
2. I love to read the obituaries!
3. My little white dog sleeps under my desk while I write.

Chandler, Matt

Chandler, Matt

Matt Chandler is an award-winning children’s book author from Buffalo, New York. He is a former newspaper editor, freelance magazine writer and the author of 22 books. He regularly visits elementary schools for author visits to share his experiences as a writer with students. He writes primarily non-fiction books including many titles on sports and four books about ghosts and haunted places! www.mattchandlerwriting.com

3 Fun Facts

1. I wrote my first book when I was six-years-old!
2. I once had a job dressing up as Clifford the Big Red Dog for bookstore events.
3. I am terrified of eating Zucchini . . . REALLY terrified.

Magaziner, Lauren

Lauren Magaziner Incorruptibles author photo – Lauren Magaziner

Magaziner, Lauren

Lauren Magaziner is the internationally bestselling author of Case Closed, The Mythics, the upcoming series The Incorruptibles (June 10, 2025), and three other stand-alone books for middle grade readers. Originally from New Hope, Pennsylvania, Lauren started writing novels when she was thirteen–and never stopped. A proud graduate of Hamilton College’s creative writing program, she wrote her debut children’s book while studying abroad in Scotland. Currently, Lauren lives in Philadelphia, where she writes full-time. www.laurenmagaziner.com.

Awards:

Lauren’s books are international bestsellers, available in 12 languages, have been Junior Library Guild picks, been on the Indie Next List, and been optioned for a TV movie with Nickelodeon.

3 Fun Facts

1. The idea for The Mythics came about because Lauren always wanted to know what her animal personality would be… but could never figure it out. After much deliberation, Lauren thinks her animal companion for life would either be a cat or a baby hippo.

2. Lauren plots her interactive pick-your-own-path Case Closed books with a massive whiteboard. She uses different colored markers to keep track of each different plot, the dead ends, and the puzzles. She does a week or two of plotting on the whiteboard before she starts writing a single word!

3. Lauren once stuck her face in a faerie river of eternal youth in Scotland. That was a decade ago, and she has not aged a day since then.