N. West Moss is the author of the memoir Flesh & Blood and the short story collection The Subway Stops at Bryant Park. Her essays and short stories have appeared in McSweeney’s, The Saturday Evening Post, and The New York Times, among other publications. Birdy is her first book for young readers. She lives in New Jersey.  https://www.nwestmoss.com/

Awards

The Great American Fiction Contest at The Saturday Evening Post, The Diana Woods Memorial Prize for non-fiction from Lunch Ticket, 3 Faulkner-Wisdom gold medals.

3 Fun Facts

1. Writing for children is in my genes. My father Lloyd Moss’ Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin is a Caldecott Honor-winning children’s book illustrated by Marjorie Priceman, that uses rhythmic verse and playful art to teach counting and musical group names.
2. My mother gave me a filing cabinet for my 7th birthday. That should tell you what a bookworm and writer I’ve been since the beginning.
3. The two passions of my life are writing and teaching. I love having the excuse to sit with students of all kinds and talk about great writing with them, whether it’s their own writing or published work. I also like the way we teachers have a chance to create a little mini culture in our classroom where the values I like get to prevail. So my classes tend to be a place where we laugh a lot, and also where we value a solid work ethic. I usually end up loving a lot of my students, even if we never meet again, and when I’m teaching writing, I always ALWAYS see my writing in a new way because of my students.

Dana Mele is the author of five YA books and graphic novels. Their books have been shortlisted for the ITW Thriller Award, are ALA Rainbow List Selections, and have been named by the NYPL as their Top 50 YA Books of the Year. Dana lives and writes in the Hudson Valley with their family and plays a lot of board games in their spare time.  www.danamele.com

Awards

Finalist for ITW Thriller Award, JLG Selection, NYPL’s Top 50 YA Books of the Year Selection, ALA Rainbow List Selection, Shortlisted for ALA Quick Picks For Reluctant Readers, Shortlisted for YALSA Best Books for Young Adults.

3 Fun Facts

1. When I was a child, I lived in Germany for a bit. My very best friend went off to boarding school but was so homesick she returned—she even gave me her uniform. That’s when I started reading boarding school books and my first book is set at one!
2. I have a Lord of the Rings tattoo in elvish that means the word “friend”—in the book that word is a secret password, and my friends and I use it as our own secret word to drop everything and be there for each other!
3. My first favorite book series was The Babysitters Club. I had every book in the series and my favorite character was Kristy.

Maryann Jacob Macias‘s second picture book, NISHA KNOWS BEST, recently published by Dial Books for Young Readers/Penguin Random House in February 2026, has received positive reviews from Booklist and Kirkus Reviews. Her debut picture book, TÉO’S TUTU, was named an Amazon Best Book of 2021 for 3-5 year olds; a 2022 Notable Social Studies Trade Book by the National Council for the Social Studies and Children’s Book Council; and a 2023 Rainbow List book by the American Library Association, and received positive reviews from School Library Journal, Horn Book, and Kirkus Reviews. www.maryannjacobmacias.com

Awards

TÉO’S TUTU was named an Amazon Best Book of 2021 for 3-5 year olds; a 2022 Notable Social Studies Trade Book by the National Council for the Social Studies and Children’s Book Council; and a 2023 Rainbow List book by the American Library Association.

3 Fun Facts

1. I color my hair blue-black (like Wonder Woman but it doesn’t quite show!).
2. I could live on mangoes (seriously, no other foods necessary).
3. I have a hard time remembering human names but I ALWAYS remember dog names.

Kerry McQuaide is an author-illustrator in New York’s Hudson Valley. She studied in London at Chelsea School of Art and Design, graduated from Parsons School of Design. Her picture book, The Biggest, Highest Wave (a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection), was inspired by her first time surfing, where she was awed by the energy and force of the waves. And while she’s never ridden a wave as high as the one the girl in her story faces, she knows what it’s like to wipe out—in the water and in life—and get back up again. www.kerrymcquaide.com

Awards

THE BIGGEST HIGHEST WAVE was named a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection—an honor given to fewer than 3% of traditionally published children’s books each year!

3 Fun Facts

1. My book was inspired by my first surfing lesson.
2. I love summer, being in the water, and swimming. (But in winter I ice-skate instead!)
3. I draw almost everyday.

Janae Marks is the New York Times bestselling author of the Zoe Washington series, A Soft Place to Land, and A Split Second. She has an MFA in Writing for Children from The New School, and lives in Connecticut with her family. Learn more at janaemarks.com.

Awards

New York Times Bestseller (On Air with Zoe Washington), Indie Bestseller (From the Desk of Zoe Washington + On Air with Zoe Washington), Starred trade reviews (From the Desk of Zoe Washington, A Soft Place to Land, A Split Second), Named a Best Book of the Year by Parents Magazine, Book Riot, Kirkus Reviews, Booklist, Chicago Public Library, the Boston Globe, the Bank Street College of Education (From the Desk of Zoe Washington), Junior Library Guild selections (From the Desk of Zoe Washington + On Air with Zoe Washington).

3 Fun Facts

1. My favorite color is purple.
2. I have a dog named Cookie.
3. I love the theater.

Barbara McClintock is the award-winning illustrator and author of over 40 books for children. Her books have been translated into a dozen languages; one of her books is a best selling title in Japan.
Barbara is self-educated as an author/illustrator, learning by studying texts and artwork from picture books checked out of public libraries. Originally from New Jersey and North Dakota, she now resides in northeastern CT with her partner and their two overly-helpful cats. barbaramcclintockbooks.com

Awards

Barbara’s books have received five New York Times Best Illustrated Books awards, four ALA Notable Book citations, two Golden Kite Honor awards, a Horn Book/Boston Globe Honor award, a China Times award, a British Fantasy award, Best Book Selections in Time Magazine, Entertainment Weekly, The Wall Street Journal, Publisher’s Weekly, The New York Public Library, Bank Street Books, Kirkus Reviews, and many other awards, citations, starred reviews and recommended reading lists.

3 Fun Facts

1. I wanted to be a cat when I was little.
2. I’d still like to be a cat.
3. My cat Nick thinks he’s a dog, which I find very funny.

Daniel J. Mahoney has been writing and illustrating books for young readers for over 25 years. He has written 6 picture books and has illustrated countless others. His latest picture books that he’s written and illustrated are We Don’t Eat Our Neighbors and My Cat is a Secret Agent. He grew up in Albany, NY and now resides on a cozy street in the country with his daughter Shay. Danieljmahoneyauthor.com

Awards

Bank Street Best Books and inclusion in the Society of Illustrators Original Art Show. 

3 Fun Facts

1. I’m a fully trained Radiologic Technologist.
2. I sing to the bugs in my house.
3. I can break dance.