B Archives - Page 2 of 3 - Hudson Childrens Book Festival

Bontigao, Lynnor

Lynnor Bontigao is the author-illustrator of SARI-SARI SUMMERS, a nostalgic love letter to the Philippines and grandmothers, and includes a bonus sweet recipe. She is also the illustrator of many other picture books such as MILES AHEAD by Minh Lê (Spring 2026),THE WORLD’S BEST CLASS PLANT(2025 Giverny Award for Best Children’s Science Picture Book) by Liz Garton Scanlon & Audrey Vernick, and SEASHELL KEY chapter book series by Lourdes Heuer. She loves heartfelt stories paired with humor especially where relationships, culture, and food are intertwined. Lynnor lives in New Jersey with her family and 1 tiny dog. www.lynnorbontigao.com

Awards

WORLD’S BEST CLASS PLANT(One of Kirkus’ Best Picture Books 2023, 2025 Giverny Award for Best Children’s Science Picture Book, Kirkus & PW Starred Reviews), SEASHELL KEY Book 1 (Parents Magazine Best Summer Read), AT THE END OF THE DAY (A Junior Library Gold Selection).

3 Fun Facts

1. I enjoy watching KDramas.
2. My hands are always cold.
3. I wanted to design shoes when I was a kid.

Blue, Ranier & Lyriq

Lyriq Blue and Ranier Blue are a daddy daughter duo out of Upstate NY who decided to create “The Light In Me” as a way to help kids like Lyriq with their self-esteem. blyriqmusic.com/tlim

Awards
Featured at the Catskill “Books and Breakfast“ event in January 2023
Interviewed by Stephanie Rivas live on WTEN News 10 in January 2023

3 Fun Facts

1. Lyriq is a performer who’s stage name is a play on her real name.
2. Ranier is a self taught producer who makes music with Lyriq
3. Lyriq loves converse and Air Force one sneakers.

Balkan, Gabrielle

Have the itchy symptoms of poison ivy ever made you feel blerg? Ever wondered what happens when an Argentinosaurus drops a Number Two? Curious about what the cauldron ingredient “eye of newt” really is? If so, you and the fact-lover Gabrielle Balkan have GOT to talk. Gabe writes award-winning illustrated non-fiction that delights readers ages 0-10 with curious facts about dinosaurs, medicine, witches, the USA, and lots more. When she’s not puzzling over how to explain complex topics to readers, Gabe loves visiting classrooms and brainstorming with kids. Visit her at www.gabriellebalkan.com and @gabriellebalkan.

Awards

Everyone has something to say about *What a Map Can Do*! It is an addition to Curriculum Associates’ Core ELA K-6 Program, an ALA Notable Book, part of the Library of Congress National Book Festival Great Reads Youth List, and a Chicago Public Library Best Book.

3 Fun Facts

1. I once sat on a cactus, by mistake.
2. I have licked a dino coprolite on a dare.
3. I love reading choose-your-own-path books…and want to try writing one some day.

Bolling, Valerie

Valerie Bolling is an author/educator from Connecticut who is passionate about creating stories in which all children can feel seen, heard, valued, and validated. She’s the author of eight books for children, including LET’S DANCE! (SCBWI Crystal Kite Award winner); TOGETHER WE SWIM (2023 Kirkus Prize Finalist); I SEE COLOR (Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection); and a Scholastic Acorn early reader series, RAINBOW DAYS. Sharing her books with children and inspiring them to write their own stories brings Valerie immense joy! valeriebolling.com

Awards

SCBWI Crystal Kite Award, Kirkus Prize Finalist, Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection.

3 Fun Facts

1. I started writing poems (rhyming sentences) in first grade.
2. I’ve traveled to five of the seven continents.
3. I’m allergic to peanuts, cats, and nail polish.

Bobrick, Rick

I taught science at the Hudson Junior High School for over 30 years. I became a published author after I retired when I turned an old bedtime story into my first book, Bears Don’t Share. All three of my books were illustrated by my niece, Lauren Sullivan, in a memorable family collaboration. www.rickbobrick.com

Awards

Being accepted at the Hudson Children’s Book Festival as a visiting author for three consecutive years. Quite an honor for a first-time author, even though I had an in!

3 Fun Facts

1. I raise turkeys and chickens in the spring, summer, and fall.
2. My main passion is fly fishing for wild brown trout in the Catskill mountains.
3. I work with ski patrol in the winter.

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”.

Bildner, Phil

Phil Bildner is the New York Times bestselling author of numerous books for kids. His latest book is the 2021 NCTE Charlotte Huck Award Honor-winning middle grade novel, A High Five for Glenn Burke. He is the author of many children’s picture books including the Margaret Wise Brown Prize winning Marvelous Cornelius, the Texas Bluebonnet Award winning Shoeless Joe & Black Betsy, Martina & Chrissie, Twenty-One Elephants, and The Soccer Fence. Phil is also the author of A Whole New Ballgame, Rookie of the Year, Tournament of Champions, and Most Valuable Players in the critically acclaimed middle grade Rip & Red series. www.philbildner.com

New York Times Bestseller (Sluggers series)
Margaret Wise Brown Prize (Marvelous Cornelius)
Texas Bluebonnet Award (Shoeless Joe & Black Betsy)

3 Fun Facts

1. I’ve been to the World Series, the Super Bowl, and the NBA Finals.
2. I’ve been bitten by a lion.
3. I have a pitbull rescue dog named Katniss. We call her Kat. So I have a dog named Kat.

Bloom, Suzanne

My books have taken me around the world: from Iowa to Ireland, from Texas to Italy, from Pennsylvania to the Pearl River Delta in China.

I grew up in Fresh Meadows NY, graduated from Cooper Union, made my way to Buffalo and from there to our home-made house on a scrubby hillside in upstate NY. For years my husband and I made wooden toys, until an idea for a book seeped through the sawdust.

All my studies, all my jobs (except for racking clothes at Macy’s) all my grands (3) have led to the making of twenty two friend-filled books. www.suzannebloom.com

Awards:
A Splendid Friend, indeed
– Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor
– ALA Notable
– PA One Book for Every Young Child
– Texas 2×2
A Mighty Fine Time Machine
– Texas 2×2
Alone Together
– Bank Street College of Education, Best Children’s Books of the Year
The Bus for Us
– PA One book for Every Young Child Bunny Braves The Day
Bunny Braves the Day
– Bank Street College of Education, Best Children’s Books of the Year

3 Fun Facts

1. My friends, family, dogs and cats all show up in my books along with my imaginary friends.
2. I am left-handed but use scissors right-handed.
3. My favorite color can be found on many of my book covers.

Bennett, Artie

Bennett, Artie

Artie Bennett is delighted to share The Tenth Man: A Miracle of Jewish Faith and Friendship in New Orleans, his moving, new nonfiction picture book, with young readers. It’s a book brimming with heart and humor. He is also the author of the classic kids’ book The Butt Book, The True Story of Zippy Chippy: The Little Horse That Couldn’t, which won the Magnolia Book Award, given by the children of Mississippi, Poopendous!, Peter Panda Melts Down!, Belches, Burps, and Farts—Oh My!, and What’s Afoot! Your Complete, Offbeat Guide to Feet. He lives in Brooklyn, New York, where he spends his time moving his car to satisfy the stringent demands of alternate-side-of-the-street parking. http://www.artiebennett.com/

Awards

The True Story of Zippy Chippy: The Little Horse That Couldn’t,The Magnolia Book Award (Mississippi),A CCBC Choice,A Horse Lover’s Guide to Staying Inside Children’s Book from America’s Best Racing, A Picture-Book Biography You Need to Know About Citation from Imagination Soup,
A Gift Guide Great Book for the Book Lover in Your Life from The Bookworm Sez.

The Butt Book, Reuben Award Winner for Book Illustration, Best Feel-Good Children’s Book (HuffPost), A New York State Assembly/NYPL Suggested Reading Title, A Starred Review from the Horn Book Guide.

Belches, Burps and Farts—Oh My! A World Science Festival Selection, A Kentucky Bluegrass Award Nominee for Informational Text. A Pragmatic Mom Best Nonfiction Book for Kids, A HuffPost (One of) 26 Entertaining and Educational Books for Back-to-School Season.

Poopendous! A Bright Horizons Notable Book in the Humorous Books for Children Category, A Book Vine for Children Growing Green Book.

3 Fun Facts

1. I’ve always been a good speller and was proud as a boy that I could spell “pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis,” the biggest word around! I would amaze my friends with my prowess.
2. I played Little League baseball and taught myself to switch-hit in emulation of my boyhood idol, Mickey Mantle.
3. I swim every weekday and get some of my best book ideas while doing my laps.