Roni Schotter is the award-winning author of 31 books for children, with a 32nd book coming in June, 2026. Well-known books of hers include NOTHING EVER HAPPENS ON 90TH STREET and THE BOY WHO LOVED WORDS. All of her books celebrate imagination & the power of words. www.ronischotter.com

Awards

National Jewish Book Award, Children’s Choice Platinum Award, Parents’ Choice Gold Award, Emmy Award for ABC After School Special adaptation of A Matter of Time, starred reviews in SLJ & Kirk’s, NCTE citations, etc.

3 Fun Facts

1. Favorite Flavors: Mocha, Cinnamon, Ginger.
2. Favorite Month: May, my birthday month.
3. Favorite Fun: Playing with my 2 Granddaughters.

Amar Shah is the author of the critically acclaimed Play the Game basketball trilogy and the upcoming graphic memoir Wish I Was a Baller (Scholastic). A multiple Emmy- winning writer and producer, Amar has held key roles at ESPN, Fox Sports, NFL Network, and the Orlando Magic. His work has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, the Orlando Sentinel, SLAM, and the Washington Post.  www.amarshahwrites.com

Awards

Amazon Top New Release, SLJ said “Lovers of basketball, especially fellow athletes, will devour this novel.”

3 Fun Facts

1. I was on the cover of Sports Illustrated for Kids with Shaquille O’Neal as a kid.
2. I worked at ESPN as my first job.
3. I have two kids.

YA debut author Mason Stokes is a professor of English at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York, where he teaches African American literature and queer fiction. In addition to his scholarly writing, Stokes is the author of the adult novel Saving Julian and the personal essay “Namesake,” which was selected by Jonathan Franzen for inclusion in the 2016 edition of Best American Essays.   masonstokes.com

Awards

Starred review of ALL THE TRUTH in Publishers Weekly; Positive reviews in Kirkus, Booklist, School Library Journal, Forward Reviews, and Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books; author interview on WAMC’s The Roundtable

3 Fun Facts

1. I used to be a drummer.
2. I spent most of my adult life telling myself I would never write a novel.
3. According to my partner, I mispronounce any word beginning with “wh.”

Stephanie Seales is the California-born daughter of Panamanian immigrants and a children’s literature expert. Her debut picture book My Daddy Is a Cowboy (Abrams, 2024), illustrated by C.G. Esperanza, received a Caldecott Honor, Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award, and six starred reviews. Stephanie is passionate about community and equity and understands the power of story, following Toni Morrison’s advice in writing the books she wants to read. She dreams and creates with her magical canine companion, Pan, near the water in the Hudson Valley, New York. www.stephanieseales.com

Awards

Caldecott Honor; Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award; Publishers Weekly Best Books 2024; The Horn Book Fanfare 2024; New York Public Library Best Books 2024; Six starred reviews

3 Fun Facts

1. I love dogs, especially my sweet Pomeranian, Pan (my next book, Jodie Doesn’t Love Dogs, is about dogs!).
2. I’ve been writing stories since I was 5 years old and the first story I remember writing was inspired by The Land Before Time (dinosaurs are so cool!).
3. I never stopped reading kids books and have a master’s degree in Children’s Literature, so it’s extra cool to be an author now!

Suja Sukumar writes YA suspense novels featuring South Asian main characters battling villains while also dealing with their own inner demons. She is also a senior staff physician in a major health system in suburban Detroit, where she lives with her family and an elderly cat. When Mimi Went Missing is her debut novel. https://www.sujasukumar.com/

Awards

Listed on She Reads, Foreword Reviews, Teen Vogue, Booklist, Book Riot, Epic Reads, We Are Bookish, School Library Journal, among others.

3 Fun Facts

1. Started writing late (mid-forties) while working as a physician and never knew until then that I wanted to write.
2. I’ve failed miserably at plotting and am a pantser for life.
3. My TBR has taken over my home (keep buying books though I have so many I haven’t read).

Maria Scrivan is a New York Times bestselling author, award-winning syndicated cartoonist, and speaker based in Connecticut. Her laugh-out-loud syndicated comic, Half Full, appeared daily in newspapers nationwide for a decade, and is available three days a week on gocomics.com/half-full. Her cartoons have appeared in MAD Magazine, Parade, Highlights, National Lampoon, and many other publications. Nat Enough, her debut graphic novel, was an instant New York Times bestseller and launched her critically acclaimed six-book series of the same name. http://www.mariascrivan.com

Awards

New York Times Bestseller (Nat Enough)
Canadian Bestselling Author (Absolutely Nat)
Sakura Award Nominee (Nat Enough)

3 Fun Facts

1. I love running in trails.
2. I love standing on my head.
3. I love imaging what my dog would say to me if he could talk.

Guido A. Sanchez is a writer, middle school principal, comic aficionado, and podcaster based in New York. He nurtures young people as they begin writing the myths of their own lives. After school, he co-hosts “Dear Watchers: The Omniversal Comic Book Podcast” and explores world-building and modern myths with his 30,000+ comic collection.

In 2015, he authored a girls’ puberty textbook still in use today. In 2023, his book Spider-Man: Web of Technology was released with Running Press. In 2024, he published Queer Mythology: Epic Legends from Around the World with the same publisher. http://www.GuidoASanchez.com

Awards

Submitted for awards
Many end of year lists from 2024 from newspapers, websites, podcasts, and book stores
Associated Press gift list

3 Fun Facts

1. I have over 35,000 comics & a comic book podcast.
2. I collect queer history ephemera.
3. My career started in LGBTQ & AIDS service organizations before transitioning into schools.

Dan Saks is an acclaimed author, music therapist, and creator of Noodle Loaf, an award-winning music podcast for kids. His board books celebrate the beauty of diverse family experiences (Families Belong, Families Can, Families Grow) and highlight the importance of community and connection (We Share This School, We Share This Earth, We Share This Neighborhood). His first picture book, On Our Bikes, will be published in June 2026. Through all his work, Dan fosters creativity, inclusivity, and a sense of belonging for readers and listeners of all ages. www.noodleloaf.com

Awards

Books – ALA Reading Pick, Amazon Editor’s Pick, NCTE Notable Social Studies Book, SLJ and Kirkus Starred Reviews // Noodle Loaf – Webby Honor and Common Sense Media Seal of Approval.

3 Fun Facts

1. I prefer to get there by bike.
2. I’m always trying to get people to make music with me.
3. I’m working on a creating a card game that I hope you’ll try.

Chad Sell is an author and cartoonist originally from central Wisconsin. His children’s books include The Cardboard Kingdom, Doodleville, and The Stupendous Switcheroo. Chad lives in Connecticut. www.chadsellcomics.com

Awards

2020 Maine Student Book Award
2020 Nēnē Award for Best Graphic Novel
2019 Dwayne McDuffie Award for Kids’ Comics

3 Fun Facts

1. I love video games!
2. I’m weirdly good at croquet.
3. I love cats.