Author Archives - Page 9 of 25 - Hudson Childrens Book Festival

Viau, Nancy

NANCY VIAU is the author of the following picture books: Pruett and Soo, Today Is a Beach Day!, First Snow, City Street Beat, Storm Song, Look What I Can Do! and Splish, Splash! First to Last (Forthcoming 2023). She is also the author of several middle-grade novels, including Samantha Hansen Has Rocks In Her Head, Something Is Bugging Samantha Hansen,Just One Thing! and Beauty and Bernice. A former teacher and librarian, and forever a kid-at-heart, Viau loves to visit schools, libraries, and bookstores across the U.S. to present assembly programs and writing workshops. Connect with Nancy on Twitter or Instagram: @NancyViau1 or on: NancyViau.com.

Awards
2019 IPPY/Independent Publisher Book Silver Award Winner
2018 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Finalist
2016 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Gold Award Winner

3 Fun Facts

1. I hiked up an active volcano in Guatemala and hiked down in TOTAL DARKNESS.
2. I once tried to break into the principal’s van—he had the EXACT same one and I thought it was mine!
3. My dreams are like adventure movies and if a dream is boring or I’m scared, I can change it immediately.

Young, Brigit

Brigit Young is the author of the middle grade novels Worth a Thousand Words, The Prettiest, and Bright. The Prettiest was featured on Seventeen Magazine’s 50 Books for Teens That You Won’t Be Able to Put Down and NBC News’ 9 Books to Help Young Girls Build a Positive Image. Brigit has also published poetry in multiple literary journals including The Common, 2 River View, and Burrow Press. She lives with her family in New Jersey where she gardens, plays pretend with her toddler, and teaches creative writing workshops to kids. brigityoung.com

Awards/Honors
– Bank Street Best Books
– Starred reviews
– Chicago Public Library Best Books
– Italy’s Andersen Award Best Book for 12-14 year olds
– Junior Library Guild selection

3 Fun Facts

1. I have a crested gecko named June Dolly (her middle name is in honor of Dolly Parton).
2. I met my husband when we acted together in a short kissing scene on a soap opera!
3. When I was a kid I was obsessed with orcas and did school reports on them pretty much every year. I wanted to be an orca trainer or researcher, and to this day I dream of seeing one in the wild!

Miller, Kayla

Miller, Kayla

Kayla Miller is the author and illustrator of the New York Times bestselling Click graphic novel series and co-author of its spin-off series Besties. www.kayla-miller.com

Awards

New York Times Bestseller, Indie Bestseller, USA Today Bestseller, A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection, Little Maverick Reading List Selection.

3 Fun Facts

1. I have a pet turtle named Galahad. Her favorite food is bananas.
2. I didn’t always want to be a cartoonist. Growing up, I wanted to be a paranormal investigator.
3. I can read text when it’s upside down almost as easily as when it’s right side up, which came in handy while working on group projects or sharing books in school.

Parra, John

Parra, John

John Parra is an award-winning artist, illustrator, author, and educator, best known for his, Latino themed, children’s picture books and commercial works. He regularly speaks as a visiting artist at schools and literary conferences across the country, advocating art and reading education. John currently lives with his wife in Queens, New York. To learn more visit: https://www.johnparraart.com/

Awards

Three American Library Association’s Pura Belpré Honors, Two Golden Kite Awards from SCBWI, two Christopher’s Awards, a 2023 Américas Award, and a New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Book of the Year award.

3 Fun Facts

1. I have a dog named Luna
2. I like to play guitar
3. My favorite color is GREEN!

Jackson, Tiffany D.

Tiffany D. Jackson is the author of critically acclaimed YA novels including the Coretta Scott King — John Steptoe New Talent Award-winning Monday’s Not Coming, the NAACP Image Award-nominated Allegedly, and her ode to 90’s hip-hop Let Me Hear A Rhyme. www.writeinbk.com

CSK John Steptoe for New Talent
Walter Dean Myers Honor

3 Fun Facts

1. I’m obsessed with horror movies
2. Love cookie dough
3. I don’t do clowns.

Venkatraman, Padma

Venkatraman, Padma

Padma Venkatraman is the author of BORN BEHIND BARS (Nancy Paulsen Books, Penguin Random House) as well as THE BRIDGE HOME, A TIME TO DANCE, ISLAND’S END and CLIMBING THE STAIRS. Her novels have been shortlisted for over 20 state awards, received over 20 starred reviews, appeared on numerous best book lists, such as the ALA Notable, NYPL Best Book, Kirkus Best Book, Booklist editor’s Choice and Junior Library Guild selection. Her poetry has been published in Poetry magazine and elsewhere. When she’s not writing, she loves speaking to others about her love for books and her passion for diversity, equity and inclusion and has presented keynote addresses, conducted writing workshops and attended festivals and conferences around the world. Arrange for a visit via https://theauthorvillage.com/presenters/padma-venkatraman/; follow her on twitter (@padmatv); (@venkatraman.padma) on fb and ig.
www.padmavenkatraman.com

Awards
Padma Venkatraman is the winner of a WNDB Walter Dean Myers Award, SCBWI Golden Kite Award, three South Asia Book Awards, 2 Nerdies, 2 Julia Ward Howe awards and many more.

3 Fun Facts

1. Before becoming an American, Dr. Venkatraman spent time under the ocean and in rainforests, served as chief scientist on oceanographic research vessels where she was the only BIPOC female.
2. Padma Venkatraman also worked previously as a teacher and diversity director.
3. She was born in India and moved abroad on her very own, at the age of 19.

Laiz, Jana

Jana Laiz is a writer with a purpose. The author of the triple award-winning novel, Weeping Under This Same Moon, Moonbeam Silver Medal Winner, The Twelfth Stone, Elephants of the Tsunami, “A Free Woman On God’s Earth, The True Story of Elizabeth “Mumbet” Freeman, The Slave Who Won Her Freedom, Thomas & Autumn, Simon Says ~ Tails Told By The Red Lion Inn Ambassador, Billy Budd in the Breadbox, The Story of Herman Melville & Eleanor, and Blanket of Stars, Jana believes that honoring diversity can change the world. She is the very first Writer-In-Residence at Herman Melville’s beloved Arrowhead. www.janalaiz.com

ForeWord review Gold Medal Winner
Moonbeam Children’s Book awards Silver medalist
International Reading Association Notable

3 Fun Facts

1. I have a Pitbull
2. I play the Irish penny whistle and the harp
3. I was the Jacks Champion in high school

Miller, Sharee

Miller, Sharee

Sharee Miller is the bestselling illustrator and author of Curlfriends: New in Town. She is best known for her acclaimed picture book Don’t Touch My Hair. Her other picturebooks include Princess Hair, and Michelle’s Garden: How the First Lady planted seeds of Change. Sharee is currently working on the graphic novel adaptation of One Crazy Summer by Rita Willams-Garcia. https://www.shareemiller.com/

Awards

Curlfriends: 2023 indie bestseller, Don’t touch my hair: ALA Children’s Notable Book

3 Fun Facts

1. I have 2 cats names pumpkin and spice
2. I love comics and anime
3. My favorite color is pink!

Dyckman, Ame

Ame Dyckman is the goofy l’il award-winning picture book/board book author of BOY + BOT; TEA PARTY RULES; WOLFIE THE BUNNY; HORRIBLE BEAR!; YOU DON’T WANT A UNICORN!; READ THE BOOK, LEMMINGS!; MISUNDERSTOOD SHARK; MISUNDERSTOOD SHARK: FRIENDS DON’T EAT FRIENDS; DANDY; the WEE BEASTIES board book series (HUGGY THE PYTHON HUGS TOO HARD; ROARY THE LION ROARS TOO LOUD; TOUCHY THE OCTOPUS TOUCHES EVERYTHING); and Ame’s latest picture book, THAT’S LIFE! Come by and say, “HI!” www.amedyckman.com

New York Times Bestseller
Amazon Best Book of the Month
Kids’ Indie Next List
Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Award
Junior Library Guild Selection
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Selection
Parents Magazine Best Fictional Picture Book
Bank Street College Best Children’s Book
Etc.

3 Fun Facts

1. I change my hair color more frequently than some people change their socks. (And don’t lend your shoes to those people. EW!)
2. When I was a kid, a moose chased me. So now I guess I’m “It.” I love chatting with readers but if THAT moose shows up at our Festival, I’m gonna hafta go chase it.
3. One year, I came in last place in our neighborhood’s BBQ Ribs Cook-Off and everybody laughed at me. So for the entire next year, I practiced cooking ribs like crazy. “What’s for breakfast?” “Ribs.” And that year, I won first place!
(This is the personality you’re dealing with here, folks!)

Albee, Sarah

Sarah Albee is the New York Times bestselling author of nonfiction books for kids. Her latest title is called Troublemakers in Trousers: Women and What They Wore to Get Things Done. Other popular titles include Fairy Tale Science; Accidental Archaeologists: True Stories of Unexpected Discoveries; North America: A Foldout Graphic History; Dog Days of History; Poison: Deadly Deeds, Perilous Professions, and Murderous Medicines; Bugged: How Insects Changed History; Poop Happened: A History of the World from the Bottom Up; and Alexander Hamilton: A Plan for America. She lives in Connecticut with her family. www.sarahalbeebooks.com

Awards
– Eureka! Gold and Silver medals
– Bank Street Best Books
– NCSS Best Books [National Council for Social Studies] – Nerdy Book Club awards
– Starred reviews
– Connecticut Book Award Winner

3 Fun Facts

1. Sarah wants kids to love history as much as she does. Many of her books are a mash-up of history and science.
2. Sarah once played semi-pro basketball in Cairo, Egypt.
3. Sarah’s first job was working at Sesame Street.