C Archives - Hudson Childrens Book Festival

Cliff, Cynthia

CynthiaCliff_LoRes_©AmandaGood – Cynthia Cliff

Cliff, Cynthia

Cynthia Cliff is an author and self-taught artist who grew up in rural Virginia surrounded by farms and woodlands. This upbringing provided her with a love of history, nature, and folklore—themes that find their way into her whimsical, folk-art inspired story-telling. She has a number of children’s book including A Day at the Museum, A Weekend Trip, The Wild Garden, and Pie for Breakfast. Her upcoming book Mary E. and the Apple Tree, published by Greenwillow Books, out in 2026, is about one girl’s experiences growing up on her family’s orchards and is inspired by her own families’ story. www.cynthiacliff.com

3 Fun Facts

1. I started drawing late in life.
2. I backpacked on the Appalachian Trail at 10 yrs old.
3. I can write upside down and backwards.

Colon, Justin

Colón, Justin

Justin Colón‘s debut picture book, The Quacken (S&S), was named a Kid’s Indie Next List book and is currently nominated for state and international awards in Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Utah, and Canada. His other books include Impossible Possums and Impossible Possum for Mayor (Disney-Hyperion), The ZomBees (S&S), and Vampurr (FSG/Macmillan, 2026). He presents at schools nationwide and has spoken about his work at/on New York Comic Con, the Boston Book Festival, the Latinx Kidlit Book Festival, EpicFest, SLJ’s Picture Book Palooza, NPR, The Children’s Book Podcast, and more. He is also a professional on-camera/voice actor and proud member of SAG-AFTRA. You can connect with him at justincolonbooks.com.

Awards

THE QUACKEN: 2024 July/August Kid’s Indie Next Pick, Nominated for the following awards: 2025 – 2027: Sunshine State Young Readers Award, Jr. (Florida), Read Aloud Indiana, Primary Award (Indiana), Young Hoosier Book Award (Indiana), Kentucky Bluegrass Award, Grades K-2 (Kentucky), Louisiana Young Readers’ Choice Award (Louisiana), Golden Sower Award (Nebraska), Redbud Read Aloud Award (Oklahoma), Volunteer State Book Award (Tennessee), Beehive Book Award (Utah), Surrey Book Award (Canada). THE ZOMBEES: Starred review from School Library Journal.

3 Fun Facts

1. I am also a professional actor for film and tv.
2. I am a beekeeper.
3. I have jumped out of an airplane (twice!)

Canino, Jeffrey

Canino, Jeffrey

Jeffrey Canino is a writer and educator working out of New York’s Hudson Valley. He is a coauthor of Besties: Work It Out, Besties: Find Their Groove, and Besties: Prank War. He earned his MA in English literature from the State University of New York at New Paltz. www.jeffreycanino.com

Awards

Texas Little Maverick; Junior Library Guild Gold State Selection.

3 Fun Facts

1. Collects rare books.
2. Has three cats.
3. Does many passable celebrity impressions.

Chen, Sylvia

Chen, Sylvia

Born and raised in Queens, New York, Sylvia Chen has also lived and worked in Boston, San Francisco, Seattle, Paris, and Tokyo, and now resides in Essex County, New Jersey. As an Asian American children’s book author, she recently celebrated her debut picture book TRICKY CHOPSTICKS (illustrated by Fanny Liem and published by Atheneum/Simon & Schuster) and her newest picture book SPARKLES FOR SUNNY: A Lunar New Year Story (illustrated by Thai My Phuong and published by Flamingo Books/Penguin Random House). Sylvia loves crafting picture books that spark kids’ interest in STEAM and creative thinking. https://www.sylviaichen.com/

Awards

SPARKLES FOR SUNNY was featured as a 2026 January/February Kids’ Indie Next List Pick by the American Booksellers Association. In addition, TRICKY CHOPSTICKS was the 2025 Crystal Kite Award Winner (Atlantic Division) and was also awarded for the 2025 Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People (Kindergarten to Fifth Grade category), by the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) and the Children’s Book Council (CBC). TRICKY CHOPSTICKS was also chosen as the recommended Elementary picture book for May in the National Education Association (NEA)’s Read Across America for 2025-2026.

3 Fun Facts

1. I love making DIY costumes and crafts when I have a good chance to create them.
2. I like sneaking secret meanings into my books.
3. And I really enjoy drinking boba tea!

Chan, Ruth

Chan, Ruth

Ruth Chan is an author and illustrator of comics and books for children including her graphic memoir Uprooted. Prior to illustrating full time, she spent her teens in China and a decade working with youth and families in underserved communities. She is a proud Canadian and lives and works in NYC. ohtruth.com

Awards

Cybils Award Finalist for Graphic Novels 2024
A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of 2024
A School Library Journal Best Book of 2024
A Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2024
A New York Magazine Best Book of 2024
An NPR Best Book of 2024
A Common Sense Media Best Book of 2024

3 Fun Facts

1. I am really bad at math!
2. I once had seven milkshakes in one day.
3. I live by the beach… in New York City

Call, Kirsti

Kirsti Call is an award winning author who co-hosts the Picture Book Look Podcast and hosts the Coaching for Creatives podcast as a therapist trained life coach. Kirsti loves teaching writing workshops, and visiting schools! She is the author of Mootilda’s Bad Mood (Little Bee), Cow Says Meow (Clarion) Cold Turkey (Little Brown), The Big Screen (Little Simon) and Smarty Ants (Capstone, 2023). Kirstine has an MSW from Boston College and is represented by Charlotte Wenger at Prospect Agency. www.kirsticall.com

Awards

THE BIG SCREAM, (2022, Little Simon) Julia Howard Award, Praiseworthy award.

3 Fun Facts

1. I have lived in Brazil and Japan.
2. I have five children.
3. I have a song for each of my books on youtube.

Clark, Yvette

Yvette Clark is the author of the middle-grade novels Glitter Gets Everywhere and The House Swap, which was a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection. A Brit by birth and a New Yorker by design, Yvette lives in Manhattan with her husband, children, and a small blue cat. www.yvetteclark.com

Awards

Glitter Gets Everywhere: Booklist Starred Review. The House Swap: Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection and OwlCrate Junior March Selection.

3 Fun Facts

1. I organize my bookshelves by color.
2. I decided aged ten to move from England to New York after reading Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume. I moved here fifteen years later!
3. I love to trampoline.

Conklin, Melanie

MelanieConklin_AuthorPhoto_square—Melanie-Conklin

Conklin, Melanie

Melanie Conklin grew up in North Carolina and worked as a product designer before she began her writing career. She is the author of Counting Thyme, Every Missing Piece, A Perfect Mistake, Crushed (2024), and her debut picture book, When You Have to Wait (2024). Her books have won awards such as the International Literacy Association Teacher’s Choice Award, Bank Street Best Children’s Book, and nominations to six state reading lists. When she’s not writing, Melanie spends her time doodling and dreaming up new ways to be creative. She lives in New Jersey with her family. https://www.melanieconklin.com/

Awards

The International Literacy Association Teacher’s Choice Award, Bank Street Best Children’s Book, and nominations to six state reading lists.

3 Fun Facts

1. Before I started writing, I was a product designer. I’ve designed some strange things: eye-wash stations, label makers, baby incubators, and pencil cups.
2. I didn’t always want to be a writer! I’ve always loved books, but it took me a long time to write one of my own.
3. I hated middle school. My hair never cooperated, no matter how much hairspray I used!

Cummins, Lucy Ruth

Lucy Ruth Cummins is an author, illustrator, and art director of children’s books. Her author-illustrated books include “Stumpkin,” “Vampenguin,” and “Our Pool.” She is also the illustrator of “Truman,” written by Jean Reidy, and the author of “Sleepy Sheepy,” illustrated by Pete Oswald, among others. She lives with her little family in Brooklyn, New York.

Awards

Governor General’s Award shortlist, Publisher’s Weekly Best Book, New York Times best book, NPR best book, Irma Black Honor book.

3 Fun Facts

1. I am the youngest of six children
2. I have met the president
3. I prefer pie to cake.

Corrigan, Caroline

Caroline Corrigan is a freelance graphic designer and illustrator. She works out of her home studio in Upstate New York, where she lives with her husband, and three young children. Her favorite color is blue and her favorite museum is Musée d’Orsay. http://www.carolinecorrigan.com/

3 Fun Facts

1. The author and illustrator are friends who decided to make a book about the artists they loved one day.
2. Melanie studied women and art in college while raising her son, Julian, so this book is a culmination of those two experiences.
3. Caroline is an amazing illustrator, artist, and graphic designer whose visual signature can be seen all over upstate New York.