W Archives - Hudson Childrens Book Festival

Weyent, Christopher

Weyent, Christopher

Christopher Weyent-A cartoonist for The New Yorker and the Boston Globe, Chris’ award-winning work has been published worldwide in newspapers, magazines, books and in numerous national advertising campaigns. His cartoons are in permanent collection at The Morgan Library & Museum in New York City and in the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C. The National Cartoonist Society honored Chris with the Silver Reuben Award 2021, 2022 and 2024.
The Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard selected Weyant to be a Nieman Fellow, the second cartoonist to receive that honor in Nieman Foundation’s eighty-five year history. He is the winner of the 2015 Theodor Seuss Geisel Award for his illustrated children’s book, You Are (Not) Small, written by his wife, Anna Kang, and published by Two Lions Press. In that series written by Kang, he has also illustrated That’s (Not) Mine, I Am (Not) Scared, We Are (Not) Friends, It Is (Not) Perfect & This Is (Not) Enough.
Chris has also illustrated Eraser, Marker (Two Lions), Can I Tell You A Secret?, Will You Help Me Fall Asleep? (HarperCollins) and My Pillow Keeps Moving! by Laura Gehl (Penguin) and Silly Boobies: A Love Story (Two Lions), by Ame Dyckman. His latest picture book, So-Hee & Lowy, written by Anna Kang, arrived on bookshelves in 2025. christopherweyant.com

Awards

Theodor Seuss Geisel Award (2015) – You Are (Not) Small, Christopher Award (2019) –Eraser, NJ Association of School Librarians-NJ Author/Artist of the Year (2022), National Cartoonist Society Silver Reuben Award – (2021, 2022, 2024)

3 Fun Facts

1. Chris once had a 6 foot pet python.
2. Chris hides the initials of his daughters in all of his book art.
3. He loves all things peanut butter and licorice, but never together.

Winterbottom, Julie

Winterbottom head shot 2 – Julie Winterbottom

Winterbottom, Julie

Julie Winterbottom writes books for kids about science and history and sillier subjects like pranks and farts. Her newest book is Magic in a Drop of Water, a picture book biography of pioneering ecologist Ruth Patrick. She is also the author of two humor books, Pranklopedia and What a Blast! and Frightlopedia. She is the former editor-in-chief of Nickelodeon Magazine and worked as an editor at Sesame Workshop and Scholastic. When she’s not writing, she loves exploring the shores of the Hudson River near her home in Beacon, New York. JulieWinterbottom.com

Awards

Many Educational Press Association Awards for editing and writing for children’s magazines published by Scholastic, Sesame Workshop, and Nickelodeon.

3 Fun Facts

1. I was a serious prankster as a kid.
2. I play the accordion in a Cajun band.
3. I love the smell of skunks.

Wedelich, Sam

Sam Wedelich lives in Nyack, NY with her family. Her newest picture book is A Quick Trip to the Store. She’s also the creator of the popular Real and Totally True Chicken Little series and the illustrator for Farting Fish by Alice Harman and Bearplane! by Deborah Underwood. She loves making fun and funny books for kids and their grown-ups. samwedelich.com

Awards

2025 CBC Children’s Favorite Award, 2023 Triple Crown Award Winner, Cybils award finalist, Indie Next List Pick, 2022 Washing Children’s Choice Award Nominee.

3 Fun Facts

1. I am also a musician and love to sing and play guitar.
2. I’m originally from Texas, YEE-HAW!
3. I’m terrible at playing chess, but feel pretty confident I could draw a chess board!

Jonsen Watkins, Helen

HJ_Chapp_Station_laugh_retouched-ctw-RM – Helen Jonsen

Jonsen Watkins, Helen

Helen Jonsen Watkins has spent a lifetime telling stories starting as a journalist on local, national and international television and online. She has written books for children and adults. She’s mom to four grown-up children who she always told made-up silly poems and magical stories.

The Magic Christmas Sleigh is Helen’s first illustrated storybook. It’s the premier entry in the Magic of the Holidays Book Series.

Helen is the Chief Storyteller at helen Jonsen media. She serves as a member of the Hudson Children’s Book Festival Board, the Board Development committee for CureSearch Foundation for Children’s Cancer, and is an advocate for the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp. She lives in the Hudson Valley with her Aussie husband. helenjonsen.com or Amazon

3 Fun Facts

1. I wrote this story for my four kids when they were little.
2. I live in the Hudson Valley.
3. I have lived in Australia & love to travel there.

Wulfekotte, Dana

Dana Wulfekotte is a children’s book author-illustrator and freelance animator. She is the author and illustrator of Peanut Gets Fed Up, and the illustrator of The Remember Balloons, a Schneider Family Honor Award book. She was born in Seoul, South Korea, raised in New Jersey, and currently lives in New York with her husband and two rabbits. http://www.danawulfekotte.com

Awards

Schneider Family Honor, JLG Selection, Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Picture Book

3 Fun Facts

1. I have two pet rabbits.
2. I was born in South Korea and came to the US as a baby.
3. When I was a kid I had a pet iguana named Humphrey.

Wishingrad, Alysa

Alysa Wishingrad writes fantastical stories for young readers, tales that ask; is the truth really true? Her favorite stories are those that meld the historical with the fantastic, and that find ways to shine a light on both the things that divide and unite us all. She is the author of Between Monsters and Marvels and The Verdigris Pawn, which was a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection. Alysa lives in the Hudson Valley with her family and two demanding rescue dogs and a cat-shaped dog, who are either monsters or marvels, depending on the day. www.alysawishingrad.com

Awards

Starred Review SLJ, JLG GOld Standard Selection, DogEarred Book Box

3 Fun Facts

1. I’ve played a zombie in a horror movie.
2. My dogs are from Egypt.
3. I’ve lived in a haunted house.

Wiklinski, Stanley E.

Wiklinski, Stanley E.

Stanley E. Wiklinski has an MFA from the Yale University, School of Drama. Following graduation, he acted on Broadway, regional theatre and television. He is a member of the Naval Academy Class of 1958, a retired U.S. Navy Commander, and a retired New Jersey Commissioner of Maritime Pilotage. He is married, with four children, and five grandchildren, residing with his wife in New Jersey.

3 Fun Facts

1. Retired U.S. Naval Officer.
2. Graduate of Yale University School of Drama, with Henry Winkler. Former Broadway and television actor.
3. Retired N.J. Commissioner of Maritime Pilotage.

West,Tracey

Author Photo Fall 2025 – Tracey West, Author

West,Tracey

Tracey West is the author of the New York Times Bestselling series, Dragon Masters, as well as the new early reader series, Dragon Hill. Tracey has written more than 400 books, including lots of books about your favorite cartoons. She and her husband Billy live in the Western Catskills, where they operate a mobile children’s bookstore, the Dragon Wagon, and give away free books to kids. www.traceywest.com

Awards

Nominated for an Otter Award in 2024 and 2017. Nominated for a 2016 Sunshine State Young Readers (Junior) Award).

3 Fun Facts

1. If I were a Dragon Master I would connect with a Tree Dragon.
2. I have wanted to be an author since I was eight years old.
3. When I used to play Pokémon Go, I caught a Mew.

Williams, Ismee

Ismée Williams is a pediatric cardiologist who trained and practiced at Columbia University Medical Center in New York City for 15 years. She lives in New York with her husband and three daughters as well as a dog who is commonly mistaken for a muppet. Water in May is her first novel. www.ismeewilliams.com

3 Fun Facts

1. Ismee is a pediatric cardiologist and the book is based on her experience in the field.
2. Her mother is a Cuba immigrant and she was raised by her abuelos, which also informed Mari’s familial relationships in the book
3. Her labradoodle has a larger Instagram following than she does: https://www.instagram.com/redrowandoodle

Wallmark, Laurie

Award-winning author Laurie Wallmark writes picture book biographies of women in STEM as well as fiction. Her books have earned five starred trade reviews, been chosen by Junior Library Guild, and received awards such as Outstanding Science Trade Book, Crystal Kite, Cook Prize Honor, and Parents’ Choice Gold Medal. Her titles include Ada Byron Lovelace and the Thinking Machine, Grace Hopper: Queen of Computer Code, Hedy Lamarr’s Double Life, Code Breaker, Spy Hunter, Dino Pajama Party, and Her Eyes on the Stars. Laurie has an MFA in Writing from VCFA and is a former software engineer and computer science professor. . You can find Laurie at www.lauriewallmark.com and @lauriewallmark.

Awards
Outstanding Science Trade Book, Best STEM book, Cook Prize Honor Winner, Crystal Kite Winner, Junior Library Guild Selection, Parents’ Choice Gold Medal, Eureka! Nonfiction Children’s Book Award

3 Fun Facts

1. I was the only girl in a boys-only architectural drawing class in junior high.
2. My high school principal told me I would never take advanced math classes because I was a girl, but he was wrong.
3. I used to teach computer science to students on campus and also those in prison.