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 is excited about her forthcoming 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

Recently recognized for the 2025 Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People (Kindergarten to Fifth Grade category) Award, by the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) and the Children’s Book Council (CBC). Recommended for social studies use in classrooms. To see more about this award, visit: https://www.cbcbooks.org/awards-and-book-lists/notable-social-studies/. Also selected as a top 10 nominee for the 2025-2026 Chickadee Award (The Maine Children’s Choice Picture Book Award). Final selection tbd; more info at: https://sites.google.com/site/thechickadeeaward/sneak-peek

Link for Kirkus Review: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/sylvia-chen/tricky-chopsticks/

Also, as a fun fact: In my elementary school years, I was the recipient of the Ezra Jack Keats Bookmaking Competition Memorial Award in 1988 and 1990.

3 Fun Facts

1. I love all types of food.
2. I like to eat fried chicken with chopsticks.
3. At my most recent school visit, students challenged me to use chopsticks with my non-dominant hand in one challenge, and behind my back in another challenge!

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

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.

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.

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!

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.

Leslie Connor is the author of the middle grade novels, Crunch, Waiting for Normal, winner of the ALA Schneider Family Book Award, All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook, a finalist for the E.B. White Read Aloud Award, The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle, a National Book Award finalist and winner of the ALA Schneider Family Book Award, and A Home for Goddesses and Dogs. Leslie’s most recent title is Anybody Here Seen Frenchie? about an unusual pair of devoted friends. She lives with her husband and two rescue dogs in a little house in the Connecticut woods. www.leslieconnor.com

Finalist for the National Book Award
Two-time winner of the ALA Schneider Family Book Award.

3 Fun Facts

1. I’m surprised that I’m a writer.
2. I eat weird things like peanut butter and pickle sandwiches.
3. I love being upside down.