Justin Colón‘s debut picture book, The Quacken (S&S), was named a Kid’s Indie Next List book and is currently nominated for state and international awards in Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Utah, and Canada. His other books include Impossible Possums and Impossible Possum for Mayor (Disney-Hyperion), The ZomBees (S&S), and Vampurr (FSG/Macmillan, 2026). He presents at schools nationwide and has spoken about his work at/on New York Comic Con, the Boston Book Festival, the Latinx Kidlit Book Festival, EpicFest, SLJ’s Picture Book Palooza, NPR, The Children’s Book Podcast, and more. He is also a professional on-camera/voice actor and proud member of SAG-AFTRA. You can connect with him at justincolonbooks.com.

Awards

THE QUACKEN: 2024 July/August Kid’s Indie Next Pick, Nominated for the following awards: 2025 – 2027: Sunshine State Young Readers Award, Jr. (Florida), Read Aloud Indiana, Primary Award (Indiana), Young Hoosier Book Award (Indiana), Kentucky Bluegrass Award, Grades K-2 (Kentucky), Louisiana Young Readers’ Choice Award (Louisiana), Golden Sower Award (Nebraska), Redbud Read Aloud Award (Oklahoma), Volunteer State Book Award (Tennessee), Beehive Book Award (Utah), Surrey Book Award (Canada). THE ZOMBEES: Starred review from School Library Journal.

3 Fun Facts

1. I am also a professional actor for film and tv.
2. I am a beekeeper.
3. I have jumped out of an airplane (twice!)