DANIEL NEWELL KAUFMAN is an Emmy-nominated filmmaker whose documentaries and short films have played at SXSW, Tribeca and Cannes Lions film festivals. Raised in both Los Angeles and Vermont, Daniel’s life is driven by a deep curiosity and love of people. This is Daniel’s debut picture book. He lives with his wife and co-author, Esmé Shapiro, in an old farmhouse in the Hudson Valley.

3 Fun Facts

1. I’ve driven back and forth across the United States 10 times–once through a super storm.
2. My childhood cat lived to be 25 and used to ride on the back of my childhood dog.
3. The secret ingredient in my family’s chicken stew recipe is black currant jelly.

Christine J. Ko is an author, mother, practicing physician, and a Professor of Dermatology and Pathology at Yale University. Her debut children’s book, Sound Switch Wonder, was inspired by her son, Owen Whang, and was written to include more representation of deaf people and the spectrum and range of deafness. Christine lives with her husband and their daughter and son in New Haven, Connecticut. https://soundswitchwonder.com

Awards

SCBWI Virtual ShopTalk

3 Fun Facts

1. I read books out of page order.
2. I LOVE chocolate!
3. I also love the endorphin-rush of exercise.

Sylvie Kantorovitz was born in Casablanca, Morocco, grew up in France, and now lives in the beautiful Hudson Valley. She is the author-illustrator of SYLVIE, a middle-grade graphic-novel about her young years in France. SYLVIE has been called “enchanting and witty” (School Library Journal), “a delightful graphic-novel memoir of artistic coming-of-age for children ages 8-14.” (Wall Street Journal). Her latest book, also a graphic novel, is MONTI AND LEO, A NEWCOMER IN POCKETVILLE. She is also the illustrator of the bestseller, WHEELS ON THE BUS, A RAFFI SONG TO READ. www.sylviekantorovitz.com

Awards

SYLVIE is a Bank Street Best Book of the Year and a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection. MONTI AND LEO is a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection.

3 Fun Facts

1. I’m easy to recognize: I have very short hair and a French accent
2. I love spirals! I manage to include 2 in my autograph
3. I have learned a new word: knolling. I love the practice of knolling the treasures I bring back from nature walks.

Jackie Azúa Kramer- Many lives ago I was born into a Puerto Rican and Ecuadorian loving family. Together we travelled to far away places.Now I’m an author, and wile away my time writing children’s picture books. What ties these all together are my dreams and imagination. Most of the time you’ll find me reading, watching old movies, globe trekking and whenever possible sharing laughter & food with my family. jackieazuakramer.com/

Awards

Bank Street College Best Children’s Books of the Year; Junior Library Gold Selection; Best Books Canadian Children’s Book Centre; Chicago Public Library-Best of the Best Books; Winner of Japan’s 31st Bronze Kembuchi Picture Book Award; Winner of 2021 SCBWI Crystal Kite Award; Silver Medal-Parents’ Choice Awards.

3 Fun Facts

1. I swam with dolphins.
2. I speak Spanish fluently.
3. I once worked as an actor.

Leslie Kimmelman is the author of more than fifty popular books for children, whose subjects range from the rainforest adventures of a bat and sloth, to a hot dog picnic Eleanor Roosevelt hosted for the king and queen of England, to the New York City marathon. lesliekimmelman.com

Awards

Five Sydney Taylor Honor and Notable Titles. Many state awards, such as the Charlotte award, given by the New York State Reading Association.

3 Fun Facts

1. I know the way to Sesame Street; I worked there for almost 25 years.
2. If I hadn’t been a children’s book author, I would’ve loved to be a wildlife photographer.
3. My cure for writer’s block (and everything else) is dark chocolate.

David A. Kelly gets to go to Moon, baseball stadiums, and football games for his job. David is the author of over 30 children’s books that have sold over 1.5 million copies, including his bestselling Ballpark Mysteries series in which cousins Kate and Mike visit MLB ballparks to solve mysteries, and the Football Mysteries series, in which they visit NFL stadiums. David’s latest picture book, Tee Time on the Moon, takes readers to the Moon with Alan Shepard as he hits two golf balls during the Apollo 14 mission. www.davidakellybooks.com.

Awards

Booklist Top 10 Sports Books for Youth, Children’s Book Committee at Bank Street College Best Children’s Book of the Year, Library Media Connection Editor’s Choice, Maine Chickadee Award, Maryland Blue Crab Award, Missouri State Teacher’s Association Reading Circle selection, New York Public Library Best Books for Kids.

3 Fun Facts

1. I once met baseball superstar Hank Aaron.
2. I used to wear a cowboy hat for my job.
3. I watched the last Space Shuttle take off in person.

Alan Katz has written 50+ highly acclaimed books for young readers, including Take Me Out of the Bathtub and Other Silly Dilly Songs and OOPS!, Alan is the co-author (with the Today Show’s Dylan Dreyer) of Misty the Cloud, a New York Times Bestseller. Alan’s other recent titles include Got Your Nose!, Really Stupid Stories for Really Smart Kids, three Lieographies, and the first five books in the Society of Substitutes series. Alan has also created comic books, trading card sets, TV series and commercials, and hundreds of other special projects for kids and their parents. Visit him at alankatzbooks.com

Awards

NY Times Bestseller
Utah Children’s Poetry Book Award Winner
North Carolina Children’s Book Award Winner
Colorado Children’s Picture Book of the Year Winner

3 Fun Facts

1. My daughter Simone is getting married on June 21st!
2. My favorite food is cantaloupe.
3. I am the biggest NY Mets fan ever.