Jamie Michalak is a former editor and the author of many children’s books. Her titles include the multiple-star reviewed NIKI NAKAYAMA: A CHEF’S TALE IN 13 BITES, co-written with Debbi Michiko Florence and illustrated by Yuko Kato-Jones; DAKOTA CRUMB: TINY TREASURE HUNTER and DAKOTA CRUMB AND THE SECRET BOOKSHOP: A TINY TREASURE HUNT, illustrated by Kelly Murphy; the FRANK AND BEAN early reader series, illustrated by Bob Kolar; the JOE AND SPARKY early readers series, illustrated by Frank Remkiewicz; and COME ON IN: THERE’S A PARTY IN THIS BOOK!, illustrated by Sabine Timm. www.jamiemichalakbooks.com

Awards

Children’s Book Council 2023 Favorites Award Winner, Florida SSYRA Jr Award Nominee, Cybils Award Finalist, Junior Library Gold Standard Selection, Amazon Best Book of the Year, Kirkus Best Book of the Year, Chicago Public Library Best Book of the Year, Bankstreet Best Book of the Year, Library of Congress 52 Great Reads for Kids, CBC Notable Social Studies Book, Mighty Girl Book of the Year, Louisiana Young Readers’ Choice Award, Sakura Medal Nominee, Panda Award Shortlist, Young Hoosier Book Award Nominee.

3 Fun Facts

1. By day, I’m a writer at a toy company. One of my jobs is naming toys.
2. My best friend is my dog, Lucy Caboose.
3. I love to go surfing with my son (although we’re not very good at it!).

Megan Pamela Ruth Madison, Ph.D. is a lifelong student of Black feminism and early childhood education. She grew up in Northern Michigan, and now lives on Lenape land in Harlem. With Jessica Ralli, Dr. Madison co-authors “First Conversations,” a series of award-winning board books on topics like gender, consent, bodies, love, grief, justice, and disability. Their debut book, Our Skin: A First Conversation about Race, has sold more than 100,000 copies and is being used to support anti-racist teaching and caregiving around the world. They are both proud members of Jews for Racial and Economic Justice. Ceasefire NOW! https://www.firstconversations.com/

Awards

Bank Street Los mejores libros infantiles en Español, Bank Street Best Books, Rise: A Feminist Book List, “Read with Pride” Book Pick, Kirkus Best Book, Parents Magazine Best Book, School Library Journal Best Book, National Council for the Social Studies Notable Book, ALA Notable Book and a bunch of starred reviews.

3 Fun Facts

1. I love being Black and queer.
2. I danced ballet when I was a kid.
3. It took me a long time to learn how to read.

Lyn Miller-Lachmann is the author of the YA historical novel Torch (Carolrhoda Lab, 2022), winner of the 2023 Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Young Adult Literature and a 2022 Booklist Editors’ Choice. She wrote the picture book Ways to Play (Levine Querido, 2023), illustrated by Gabriel Alborozo, and co-authored with Zetta Elliott the middle grade verse novel Moonwalking (FSG, 2022). Her nonfiction includes a biography of Temple Grandin in the She Persisted chapter book series and Film Makers: 15 Groundbreaking Women Directors (co-authored with Tanisia Tee Moore). Her YA historical novel in verse Eyes Open will be published by Carolrhoda Lab in spring 2024. https://lynmillerlachmann.com

Awards

Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Young Adult Literature (Torch) Booklist Editors’ Choice, 2022 (Torch) Kirkus Best Books of 2022 (Torch and Moonwalking) Bank Street College of Education Best Children’s Books + Outstanding Merit, 2023 (Torch and Moonwalking) New York Public Library Best Books of 2022 (Moonwalking) Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection (Eyes Open, Torch, and Moonwalking).

3 Fun Facts

1. I’ve built a giant LEGO town that includes many buildings I’ve designed myself.
2. I used to live in Portugal.
3. I used to DJ weddings and parties but sold my equipment when I moved to New York City.

Maria Elizabeth Ausherman, a teacher and independent scholar, lives in Stuyvesant, New York with her husband, Steven Taylor, a photographer. She has two wonderful grown-up daughters and an awesome granddaughter. She enjoys travel, hiking, reading, and spending time with her family, friends, and neighbors.

The author of Masters of Shape: The Lives and Art of American Women Sculptors, Behind the Camera: American Women Photographers Who Shaped How We See the World, The Photographic Legacy of Frances Benjamin Johnston, and co-author with Patricia Jennings of Georgia O’Keeffe’s Hawaii, she earned her B.A. in Geography from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, an M.A. in Cinema Studies from the City University of New York and an M.Ed. in Social Science Education from the University of Georgia in Athens, where she also obtained a graduate certificate in historic preservation and completed coursework and a dissertation for a Ph.D. in Art. 

Awards
– League of Women Voters Citizenship Award
– Cherokee Rose Garden Club Award
– Next Generation Indie Book Award Finalist for Historical (Non-Fiction)
– Starred Reviews

3 Fun Facts

1. Maria wants people to love art history as much as she does.
2. Maria loves team work. She played wing on the Varsity Women’s Field Hockey team at the University of North Carolina, in Chapel Hill where she grew up.
3. Maria’s favorite job of all time was using a 1733 Danish map to find historic plantation sites on St. John, the smallest of the three main U.S. Virgin Islands.

Kayla Miller is the author and illustrator of the New York Times bestselling Click graphic novel series and co-author of its spin-off series Besties. www.kayla-miller.com

Awards

New York Times Bestseller, Indie Bestseller, USA Today Bestseller, A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection, Little Maverick Reading List Selection.

3 Fun Facts

1. I have a pet turtle named Galahad. Her favorite food is bananas.
2. I didn’t always want to be a cartoonist. Growing up, I wanted to be a paranormal investigator.
3. I can read text when it’s upside down almost as easily as when it’s right side up, which came in handy while working on group projects or sharing books in school.

Sharee Miller is the bestselling illustrator and author of Curlfriends: New in Town. She is best known for her acclaimed picture book Don’t Touch My Hair. Her other picturebooks include Princess Hair, and Michelle’s Garden: How the First Lady planted seeds of Change. Sharee is currently working on the graphic novel adaptation of One Crazy Summer by Rita Willams-Garcia. https://www.shareemiller.com/

Awards

Curlfriends: 2023 indie bestseller, Don’t touch my hair: ALA Children’s Notable Book

3 Fun Facts

1. I have 2 cats names pumpkin and spice
2. I love comics and anime
3. My favorite color is pink!