Author Archives - Page 28 of 32 - Hudson Childrens Book Festival

LaReau, Kara

Photo on 6-26-24 at 3.23 PM – Kara LaReau

LaReau, Kara

Kara LaReau is the author of the award-winning chapter book series The Infamous Ratsos, illustrated by Matt Myers; middle-grade trilogies The Unintentional Adventures of the Bland Sisters, illustrated by Jen Hill, and the ZomBert Chronicles, illustrated by Ryan Andrews; the chapter book series WITCHYCAKES, illustrated by Ariane Moreira; and many picture books. Kara lives in Providence, Rhode Island with her husband and daughter and their cats. www.karalareau.com

Awards

I received a Theodore Seuss Geisel Honor for my book The Infamous Ratsos, and the book has also been a winner or finalist for multiple state book awards.

3 Fun Facts

1. I have a cat named Lulu who likes to sleep on my head.
2. When I’m stressed out, baking helps to calm me down.
3. My favorite color is the deep blue green of the ocean.

Czajak, Paul

Czajak, Paul

Writing was never Paul’s thing. In fact written on the top of his college writing paper, in bold red, was “F get a tutor”. So Paul went into science. Though his love for writing creative stories never went away and after having kids ideas for stories flooded his brain. When one of those ideas became a book his writing career was born! With books like Monster Needs A Costume, Trees Make Perfect Pets, The Book Tree and his newest tile, The Peculiar Haunted House to be released August 2024, look for Paul to keep doing what he loves, writing stories for awesome readers! www.paulczajak.com

Awards

“The Book Tree” is the Winner of Premio Canpoy-Ada

3 Fun Facts

1. I’m a chemist.
2. I am currently learning how to forge metal.
3. My family owns a Newfoundland named Seamus who is 130lb!

Stemple, Heidi E.Y.

Stemple, Heidi E.Y.

Heidi E.Y. Stemple didn’t want to be a writer when she grew up. In fact, after she graduated from college, she became a probation officer. It wasn’t until she was 28 that she joined the family business, publishing her first short story in a book called Famous Writers and Their Kids Write Spooky Stories. The famous writer is her mom, Jane Yolen. Since then, she has published 50 books.

Heidi lives and writes on an old farm in Massachusetts that she shares with wild animals and birds. Once a year she counts owls for the Audubon Christmas Bird Count. heidieystemple.com

Awards

Golden Kite Honor, NSTA Best STEM, NSTA Outstanding Science, Northern Lights Book Award, Massachusetts State Book Award (and honor), Riverby Award, and more.

3 Fun Facts

1. I am the daughter of author Jane Yolen
2. My 50th book will publish in January 2027
3. In my best year calling and counting owls for the Audubon XMas Bird Count I called down 67 owls (cue sixxxxx-sevvvvvvvvennnnnn!)

Yolen, Jane

Yolen, Jane

Jane Yolen, often called “the Hans Christian Andersen of America,” celebrated her 365^th published book in 2018. She is now up to somewhere in the 430 range, with her eye on 500. Her works, which range from very young rhymed picture books to novels for adults and every genre in between. She lives in Massachusetts in the winter and Scotland in the summer. She writes every day. www.janeyolen.com

Awards

Two Nebulas, a World Fantasy Award, the Caldecott, the Golden Kite, three Mythopoeic awards, two Christopher Medals, the Jewish Book Award, the Kerlan Award, the Sophie Brodie Medal, MA Book Honors, and the Catholic Library’s Regina Medal, as well as six honorary doctorates.

3 Fun Facts

1. All three of her children and two of her grands have published books.
2. In 1963, her first picture book (though not her first book) SEE THIS LITTLE LINE was published. This year, her book SEE THIS LITTLE DOT was published.
3. One of her awards set her good coat on fire.

Calonita, Jen

Calonita, Jen

It’s no secret how Jen Calonita knows the inside scoop on Hollywood. A former entertainment editor at a teen magazine, Jen started out her career chronicling backstage life at concerts with Justin Timberlake and interviewing Zac Efron on film sets. It was her work in the entertainment world that inspired her first series, Secrets of My Hollywood Life. The six-book series is about a teen starlet named Kaitlin Burke who grows weary of the fame game, but loves being an actress and it’s been published in nine countries.

Fans have loved getting to know spunky Gilly and the enchanted reform school she attends run by Cinderella’s formerly wicked stepmother in Flunked and the sequel, Charmed. The third book in the Fairy Tale Reform School series, Tricked, will be released March 2017. www.jencalonitaonline.com

3 Fun Facts

1. If I met a genie and could wish for something fun, I’d love to be a Disney princess for the day at Disney World. My personal favorites: Anna or Belle (after all, Belle loves to read!)
2. I am now an avid runner who has completed three half marathons, but I didn’t start running till I was 40!
3. If I could live anywhere, it would be on the ocean. I love the water! I sometimes wonder if I was meant to be a mermaid.

Castaldo, Nancy

Castaldo, Nancy

Award-winning STEM author Nancy Castaldo has written dozens of books about our planet from the Hudson Valley. While the research and photography for her books have taken her worldwide, from the Galapagos to Russia, her new releases focus on the Hudson River — picture book WHALES IN THE CITY and middle-grade RIVERKEEPER.
Nancy loves sharing her adventures with her readers. She believes that we all have the ability to make a difference and always instills that theme in her books. She strives to inform, empower, and inspire her readers. www.nancycastaldo.com

Awards

Her books have earned many awards and accolades, including the Green Earth Book Award, two Crystal Kite awards, NSTA Best STEM Book, Eureka Silver Honors, and many Junior Library Guild Gold Selections. Nancy is also the recipient of the NYS Outdoor Education Association’s Art and Literary Award for the body of her work.

3 Fun Facts

1. Nancy loves all animals – no favorites!
2. If I could only eat one thing on a desert island, it would be pizza. Of course, the toppings would vary.
3. I’ve always lived in the Hudson Valley, not far from the Hudson River.

McAnulty, Stacy

McAnulty, Stacy

Stacy McAnulty is an award-winning children’s book author, who used to be a mechanical engineer, and who dreams of someday being a dog therapist, a correspondent for The Daily Show, an astronaut, and a Green Bay Packer coach. She’s written over 30 books, including the middle-grade novel, The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl, and the popular Our Universe picture book series. Her debut middle-grade nonfiction, Save the People! Halting Human Extinction was favorably reviewed in the New York Times. Most of her books include a STEM angle or an adorable dog—some have both. Originally from upstate NY, she now lives in Kernersville, NC. www.stacymcanulty.com

Awards
– Indie Bestseller The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl
– Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Honor Recipient for Excellent Ed
– 2019 Mathical Prize Winners for The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl
– The 2021-2022 Vermont Golden Dome Book Award Winner for Millionaires for the Month

3 Fun Facts

1. I believe intelligent life exists beyond Earth, but I’d really like to know for sure!
2. I studied mechanical engineering in college and then worked designing first-class airline seats. (Yet, I’ve never sat in a first-class airline seat.)
3. Local roots! Both my parents were born and raised in Hudson, and we adopted my first dog, Mandy, from the Columbia-Greene Humane Society.

Formento, Alison Ashley

Formento, Alison Ashley

Alison Ashley Formento is the author of the new chapter book One Alien & Four Furry Tails Tales and award-winning nature picture books This Tree Counts!, This Tree, 1, 2, 3, These Bees Count!, These Seas Count!, and These Rocks Count! Her young adult novel Twigs was featured in Publisher’s Weekly as a notable new release for teen readers. Alison has written for several national publications including The New York Times, The Writer , and Parenting. She loves visiting schools and libraries and donates a portion of book proceeds to AmericanForests.org. www.alisonashleyformento.com

3 Fun Facts

1. I love to tap dance.
2. I love burnt brownies, but I don’t like ice cream.
3. I met Nelson Mandela when he first visited America after being released from prison. He was so kind and it’s something I’ll never forget.

Dee, Barbara

Dee, Barbara

Barbara Dee is the award-winning author of fifteen middle grade novels which have been named to many best-of lists, including the Washington Post’s Best Children’s Books, ALA Notable Children’s Books, ALA Rise: A Feminist Book Project List, School Library Journal’s Best Middle Grade Books, and the ALA Rainbow List Top Ten. Her books have earned several starred reviews and have appeared on numerous state awards lists as well. A former teacher and lawyer, Barbara is a co-founder of the Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival. Nothing to See Here, her first book with Scholastic, will publish October 20, 2026. www.BarbaraDeeBooks.com.

Awards

2024 recipient of the Rip Van Winkle Award, given by the School Library Media Specialists of Southeastern New York, for “outstanding contribution to the world of children’s literature”, 2024 NCTE National Day of Writing Featured Author, Winner of New Jersey’s Garden State Book Award (Grades 6-8) (Violets Are Blue), ALA Notable Book (Maybe He Just Likes You), ALA Rise: A Feminist Book Project List (Maybe He Just Likes You), ALA Rainbow List Top Ten (Star-Crossed), Washington Post‘s Best Children’s Books of the Year (Maybe He Just Likes You), School Library Journal’s Best Books of the Year (Haven Jacobs Saves the Planet and Violets Are Blue), Bank Street Best Children’s Books (multiple books), Junior Library Guild (multiple books)

3 Fun Facts

1. My rescue dog Junie was named after Junie B. Jones.
2. My cat Saffy was named after the title character in Saffy’s Angel by Hilary McKay.
3. I’m a diehard Yankees fan.

Walton, K.M.

Walton, K.M.

K.M. Walton is the award-winning author of Cracked, Empty, and Ultimatum. She recently adapted her debut contemporary YA novel, Cracked, into a full-length play. She edited and contributed to her music-focused YA anthology, Behind the Song. K.M. co-authored Teaching Numeracy: 9 Critical Habits to Ignite Mathematical Thinking for mathematics teachers K – 8. She graduated from West Chester University and taught middle school language arts. She’s so passionate about acceptance that she gives school presentations—middle school through university level—titled: “The Power of Human Kindness.” K.M. lives in PA with her husband, two sons, and cat. Visit kmwalton.com or Instagram: @kmwalton.

3 Fun Facts

1. I recently started painting abstract art, and I’m up to 86 pieces!
2. Napoleon Dynamite is my all-time favorite movie. Gosh.
3. I recently adapted my debut novel CRACKED into a full-length play.