Welcome to the Bios Page for Our Amazing
2021 Picture Book Palooza Presenters
And a lovely heads up, all of the presenters except Aron Nels Steinke, the editors, the publishers, and the agents,
are former CBA students passing it forward. Thank you.
are former CBA students passing it forward. Thank you.
Join here: bit.ly/PBPalooza2021
Work With These Soulful Women in the Writing with Heart and Soul Panel
on Saturday September 18th 10-11:30AM PDT
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Karen Yin is an award-winning writer and editor in Southern California. Her debut picture book, Whole Whale (Barefoot Books, 2021), is about making space for all. Her second book, So Not Ghoul (Page Street Kids, 2022), follows a little Chinese American ghost who’s caught in bicultural fashion limbo. Winner of the 2017 ACES Robinson Prize for furthering the craft of professional editing, Karen is the founder of several acclaimed digital tools for writers and editors, including Conscious Style Guide, The Conscious Language Newsletter, and the Editors of Color Database. Conscious Style Guide was named by Poynter as a top tool for journalists in 2018 and is recommended by SCBWI, Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America, Poets & Writers, Winning Writers, Jane Friedman, and many others, including NASA. Acclaim for Karen’s fiction includes a Lambda Literary Fellowship, a Table 4 Writers Foundation grant, an SCBWI Nonfiction Grant, and selection of her flash fiction by the L.A. Public Library for its permanent collection and Short Story Portal. Find Karen online at KarenYin.com and her book recommendations at DiversePictureBooks.com.
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Website: https://karenyin.com/ • Twitter: @KarenYin • Instagram: @KarensOffice • WHOLE WHALE at Bookshop.org: http://bit.ly/whole-whale-bookshop • Book recommendations: DiversePictureBooks.com / Twitter: @DiversePBs
Karen's innovative presentation will be on: The Curious Heart: Asking Questions to Engage Readers
Karen's innovative presentation will be on: The Curious Heart: Asking Questions to Engage Readers
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Donna Barba Higuera grew up in a tiny desert town in central California surrounded by agricultural and oil fields. Rather than wrangling dust devils, she’d spend recess squirreled away in the janitor’s closet with a good book. Her favorite hobbies were calling the library’s dial-a-story over and over again and sneaking into a restricted pioneers’ cemetery to weave her own spooky tales using the crumbling headstone for inspiration.
Donna’s Middle Grade and Picture books reinvent history, folklore, and or her own life experience into compelling storylines. She still dreams in Spanglish. Donna lives in Washington State with her husband, four kids, three dogs and a frog. Her books have won a ton of awards and honors. Her debut novel, Lupe Wong Won’t Dance, was released September 8, 2020 with Levine Querido. Her debut picture book, El Cucuy is Scared, Too! was released by Abrams Kids in July 2021. Her Middle Grade Sci-Fi, The Last Cuentista will be released by Levine Querido in Fall 2021. |
Find Donna at Website- www.dbhiguera.com • Twitter- @dbhiguera • Instagram- @donnabarbahiguera
Donna's presentation will be every bit as wonderful as she is: Combining Heritage, Humor and Heart in Your Writing
Donna's presentation will be every bit as wonderful as she is: Combining Heritage, Humor and Heart in Your Writing
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Award-winning author Rita Lorraine Hubbard is a retired special education teacher of 20 years who now champions unsung heroes whose stories need to be told with courage and heart.
Her books, THE OLDEST STUDENT: HOW MARY WALKER LEARNED TO READ; HAMMERING FOR FREEDOM: THE WILLIAM LEWIS STORY; and AFRICAN AMERICANS OF CHATTANOOGA: A HISTORY OF UNSUNG HEROES, have garnered honors and awards that include the New Voices Award, the East Tennessee Historical Preservation Award, the 2021 Floyd’s Pick Honor Book Award, and the 2021-2022 Texas Bluebonnet Master List Award. Rita is currently working as a researcher for Chattanooga Design Studio's Westside Evolves project, and as lead researcher for a Civil Rights project for a documentary filmmaker in the Chattanooga area. Rita also owns and manages The Black History Channel. |
THE OLDEST STUDENT - Starred Kirkus, SLJ, Hornbook, Booklist, and Publisher's Weekly Reviews http://theoldeststudent.com
HAMMERING FOR FREEDOM Starred Kirkus and SLJ Reviews http://hammeringforfreedom.com
HAMMERING FOR FREEDOM Starred Kirkus and SLJ Reviews http://hammeringforfreedom.com
Find Rita here: Rita Writes History www.Ritahubbard.com • or on Twitter here: @RitaLorraine • Picture Book Depot •
The Black History Channel
Rita will be teaching you how she writes: Social Justice Biographies with Heart and Soul
The Black History Channel
Rita will be teaching you how she writes: Social Justice Biographies with Heart and Soul
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Rosie J. Pova is a multi-published, award-winning children's author, poet, speaker, writing coach and school presenter on a mission to inspire children not only to read and write more, but to use their creativity, follow their passions, dream big and believe in themselves. She's a Writing Instructor for the Dallas Independent School District and a Rate Your Story judge. Rosie speaks on many women's topics as well and has appeared on TV, radio, and print media. Her newly released picture book, Sunday Rain, was featured in The New York Time and Parents magazine. Her upcoming picture book, The School of Failure: A Story About Success will be released in spring of 2022 from Yeehoo Press. Visit Rosie at rosiejpova.com.
Published Books: IF I WEREN'T WITH YOU SARAH'S SONG SUNDAY RAIN HAILEY QUEEN PRANKING MAKES PERFECT THE SCHOOL OF FAILURE: A STORY ABOUT SUCCESS |
Find Rosie at: www.rosiejpova.com • Twitter: @RosiePOV https://twitter.com/RosiePOV • IG: https://www.instagram.com/rosiepova/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/RosieWrites • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosie-j-pova-childrens-author/
Rosie will be giving a wonderful presentation on Writing Stories that Touch the Heart
FB: https://www.facebook.com/RosieWrites • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosie-j-pova-childrens-author/
Rosie will be giving a wonderful presentation on Writing Stories that Touch the Heart
Work With These Inspiring Women in the Nonfiction Versus
Informational Fiction Panel on Saturday September 18th 12:30-2:00 PM PDT
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Lauren Soloy is the author and illustrator of When Emily was Small (Tundra, 2020) and Etty Darwin and the Four Pebble Problem (Tundra, 2021), and the illustrator of I’s the B’y (Groundwood Books, 2022). Lauren has lived on both coasts of Canada, always within reach of the sea. She currently lives in a 140-year-old house in the wilds of Nova Scotia with her librarian husband, two curious children, an ever-expanding collection of books, two hives of bees, and one cat. She has a Visual Arts BFA with Honours from the University of Victoria, and a certificate of Fine Furniture from Camosun College. Along the way, she has learned to make a Queen Anne Highboy, a pottery mug, a hand knit pair of socks, a headstand, and a mess. She is represented by Jackie Kaiser at Westwood Creative Artists. Pronouns: she/her.
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Find Lauren online at: www.laurensoloy.com • On twitter at: @lauren_soloy • And on Instagram at: @laurensoloy
Purchase her books at: https://www.indiebound.org/search/book?keys=lauren+soloy
Lauren will be giving a creative presentation about: Writing and Illustrating Quirky or Lyrical Biographies
Purchase her books at: https://www.indiebound.org/search/book?keys=lauren+soloy
Lauren will be giving a creative presentation about: Writing and Illustrating Quirky or Lyrical Biographies
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Emma Bland Smith is the award winning author of many nonfiction and fiction books. She was born in Scotland, grew up in San Francisco, and has lived in New York, Santa Barbara, and Paris. Now she's back home, living a block away from her childhood house. Her first picture book, Journey: Based on the True Story of OR7, the Most Famous Wolf in the West (2016) was featured on NPR and the Huffington Post and is the winner of Bank Street College’s Cook Prize and Northland College’s SONWA award, as well as a finalist for SCBWI’s Crystal Kite award and for the Washington State Book Awards. Her other books include the Maddy McGuire, CEO chapter books (2018), To Live on an Island (2019), the Gavin McNally’s Year off chapter books (2019), The Pig War: How a Porcine Tragedy Taught England and America to Share (2020), Odin: Dog Hero of the Fires (2020), and Claude: The White Alligator of the California Academy of Sciences (2020). Forthcoming books include: Mr. McCloskey’s Marvelous Mallards: The Making of Make Way for Ducklings. How Science Saved the Eiffel Tower and The Fabulous Fannie Farmer: Kitchen Scientist and America’s Cook!
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Visit her online at emmabsmith.com and on Twitter at @emmablandsmith
Emma will be giving an intriguing presentation on: Making Nonfiction Magic for Kids
Emma will be giving an intriguing presentation on: Making Nonfiction Magic for Kids
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Annette Schottenfeld is the author of Obi’s Mud Bath (Spork/Clear Fork Publishing) and Not So Fast, Max: A Rosh Hashanah Visit with Grandma (Kalaniot Books). She is passionate about writing for children, hip-hop dance, and environmental issues, believing all have the power to change lives. When readers pick up her books, she hopes they find themselves on a journey with new friends and positive takeaways. Annette has written extensively on the topics of health, nutrition and fitness.She lives in New York with her husband and two grown children.
Obi’s Mud Bath can be purchased here: Obi’sMudBath A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Water.org, an organization which empowers families around the world with access to safe water and sanitation. ShopToSupport (scroll to end of page to find Obi) and here for Not So Fast, Max: A Rosh Hashanah Visit with Grandma – NotSoFastMax |
Find Annette here on: Twitter, Facebook, and annetteschottenfeld.com • Annette is a member of SCBWI Long Island
She will be giving a beautiful presentation on Gentle Environmentalism in Informational Fiction Picture Books
She will be giving a beautiful presentation on Gentle Environmentalism in Informational Fiction Picture Books
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Gretchen is a former elementary reading specialist who now devotes herself to tutoring, writing, editing and visiting schools. She is the author of Mrs. McBee Leaves Room 3, Grace Zong ill. (Peachtree), I’m Done! Catherine Lazar Odell ill. (Holiday House) and Button and Bundle, Gillian Flint ill. (Knopf), No Party Poopers!, Lucy Semple ill. (Little Bee), and When Your Daddy’s a Soldier, E.G. Keller (Philomel 2022). She writes chapter books and middle-grade fiction as well.
Gretchen grew up as a global nomad, daughter of a career Army officer, and lived on three continents. She has settled in Washington state where she lives with her husband, puppy Bodie, stunt squirrels, nomadic neighborhood chickens, and celebrates when her children and grandchildren come home. Children will find a home in her heartfelt books about community, courage and compassion. When she isn’t writing or teaching, Gretchen can be found reading, playing word games, attending plays, hiking in the woods, x-country skiing and sewing. |
Visit Gretchen at gretchenmclellan.com, on twitter @gmclellan5, and Instagram @gretchenmclellan for more information about her books, events and author visits.
Gretchen will be delivering a power-packed presentation on: Writing Fun Informational Fiction with Life Lessons & STEM
Gretchen will be delivering a power-packed presentation on: Writing Fun Informational Fiction with Life Lessons & STEM
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Eleanor A. Peterson was born and raised in Ottawa, Canada. She grew up running after wild animals and playing in the swamp. That passion melded into writing about nature and animals. Eleanor lives in Italy with her husband, three dogs, cats, and hens. She still chases after animals. In her free time, she reads, doodles, plays with clay, and takes long walks in the woods. Her favorite element is water. If she takes a dip, she turns into a dolphin. Her debut picture book Jurassic Rat was released by Clear Fork Publishing-Spork Imprint in June 2019. You can purchase Jurassic Rat here: Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Jurassic-Rat-Eleanor-Ann-Peterson/dp/195016912X • Indie Bound: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781950169122 or at Barnes & Nobles here: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/jurassic-rat-eleanor-ann-peterson/1131275012?ean=9781950169122
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Website: https://eleanorannpeterson.com • Twitter: @EAnnPeterson https://twitter.com/eannpeterson • G: https://www.instagram.com/eleanorannpeterson • Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.it/eleanorannpeter/ • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eleanorannpeterson/
Eleanor will be moderating the panel and giving a fascinating presentation on: Turning STEM & History into Fun Informational fiction
Eleanor will be moderating the panel and giving a fascinating presentation on: Turning STEM & History into Fun Informational fiction
Meet, Play With, Make Critique Groups With . . . Your Kindred Spirits!
Sick of feeling shut out of communicating with other participants in kidlit events? We've got you covered in this awesome event! We WANT you to ask questions, get answers and connect with and learn from each other!
Work With These Generous Women in the What DO Agents Want & How Do I Get One? Panel Saturday September 18th 4:00-5:30 PM PDT
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Kaitlyn Leann Sanchez is a mom, wife, agent with Context Literary Agency, middle school math teacher, and picture book author. She's also the proud co-creator and co-host of the Spring Fling Kidlit Contest and Kidlit Zombie Week as well as creator and co-host of the Kidlit Fall Writing Frenzy Contest. In her free time, she loves to play soccer, binge-watch TV shows, and, of course, read, especially when she's all cozied up with her husband and daughter reading together.
Website: https://kaitlynleannsanchez.com/
Twitter: @KaitlynLeann17 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaitlynLeann17 |
Please follow Kaitlyn's clients on social media: https://kaitlynleannsanchez.com/literary-clients/
Kaitlyn will be sharing helpful tips for getting your dream agent and how she chooses her clients
She will be accepting submissions for a limited time via our exclusive submissions system
Kaitlyn will be sharing helpful tips for getting your dream agent and how she chooses her clients
She will be accepting submissions for a limited time via our exclusive submissions system
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Charlotte Wenger is a literary agent based in the Boston area with Prospect Agency. She represents authors and illustrators of children's books - board books through YA, but especially picture books - as well as select authors of adult nonfiction memoirs/biographies. She also serves on the national advisory board of the Mazza Museum, the world’s largest collection of original artwork by children’s book illustrators. Prior to becoming an agent, Charlotte was an associate editor with Page Street Kids. She earned her Master of Arts in Children’s Literature from Simmons College (now University), where she has since mentored MFA in Writing for Children students. When she's not reading in her free time, you can find her hiking and exploring New England outside the city and randomly breaking into song. Charlotte will be co-teaching our upcoming the Ultimate Craft & Business of Writing Children's Picture Books interactive e-course this November.
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Website: https://www.charlottewenger.com/ • Agency page: https://www.prospectagency.com/agent.html#charlotte_wenger Twitter: @WilbursBF_Char
Charlotte will be sharing about: What what she does, what she loves and how she chooses her clients
She will be accepting submissions for a limited time via our exclusive submissions system
Charlotte will be sharing about: What what she does, what she loves and how she chooses her clients
She will be accepting submissions for a limited time via our exclusive submissions system
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Mela Bolinao has a B.A. degree in Art History with a concentration in Visual Arts from Barnard College. After graduation in 1995, she joined HK Portfolio as the assistant to Harriet Kasak, founder of HK Portfolio. With Harriet’s guidance and encouragement, Mela advanced to become an associate agent focused on artists who worked primarily within the textbook market. Sadly in March 2003, Harriet lost a courageous battle with cancer and Mela took the reins as main agent and sole owner of the agency now known as MB Artists.
@mela.bolinao @mbartists @MBartists.inc www.mbartists.com |
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Mela will be speaking about: Working with illustrators and writer illustrators and how she chooses her clients
She will be accepting submissions for a limited time via our exclusive submissions system
She will be accepting submissions for a limited time via our exclusive submissions system
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Claire Easton began her publishing career at Painted Words in 2012 as an assistant, and worked her way up to Agent.
She loves stories with humor and heart, relatable characters, unpredictable endings, and books that reflect the diversity of children’s experiences. Her favorite picture books inspire compassion, curiosity, and a fresh way of looking at the world. She especially loves humorous, character-driven stories; entertaining nonfiction; and timeless stories that can be enjoyed at any age. |
Find Claire here: https://painted-words.com/represents/about-pw/ •
Claire will be speaking about: What do agents do and how she chooses her clients
She will be accepting submissions for a limited time via our exclusive submissions system
Claire will be speaking about: What do agents do and how she chooses her clients
She will be accepting submissions for a limited time via our exclusive submissions system
Work With These Fabulous Women in the Jewish, Muslim & Christian Kidlit Panel Sunday September 19th 10:00-11:30 AM PDT
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Nancy Churnin is the award-winning author of ten picture books about people who persevered to achieve their dreams and make the world a better place. Among her awards: a Junior Library Guild selection, a Kirkus Star, multiple National Council for the Social Studies Notables, multiple Silver Eureka Awards, multiple inclusions on A Mighty Girl list, Sydney Taylor Notable, Towner Award nominee, Sakura Medal finalist, Notable Book for a Global Society, Anne Izard Storytellers Choice Award and the South Asia Book Award. DEAR MR. DICKENS and A QUEEN TO THE RESCUE, THE STORY OF Henrietta Szold, FOUNDER OF HADASSAH, will be out in October 2021. Her website, nancychurnin.com, includes free teacher guides, resources and projects with dedicated project pages for kids. She loves doing school visits, especially virtual ones, and can be booked through carole@authorsandmore.com. A native New Yorker, Nancy lives in North Texas with her family, which includes a dog named Dog and two cantankerous cats.
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You can also find her on Twitter @nchurnin, on Instagram @nchurnin and on Facebook at Nancy Churnin and Nancy Churnin Children’s Books. and of course, on her website here: https://www.nancychurnin.com/
Nancy will be presenting on: Finding Jewish Heroes (and your own cultural heroes)
Nancy will be presenting on: Finding Jewish Heroes (and your own cultural heroes)
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Writer for children—reader forever…that’s Vivian Kirkfield in five words. Her bucket list contains many more words – but she’s already checked off skydiving, parasailing, and visiting kidlit friends all around the world. When she isn’t looking for ways to fall from the sky or sink under the water, she can be found writing picture books in Bedford, New Hampshire. A retired kindergarten teacher with a masters in Early Childhood Education, Vivian inspires budding writers during classroom visits and shares insights with aspiring authors at conferences and on her blog where she hosts the #50PreciousWords International Writing Contest and the #50PreciousWordsforKids Challenge. Her nonfiction narratives bring history alive for young readers and her picture books have garnered starred reviews and accolades including the Silver Eureka, Social Studies Notable Trade Book, and Junior Library Guild Selection.
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To connect with Vivian and learn more about her books visit: Website: www.viviankirkfield.com • FB www.facebook.com/viviankirkfield
Twitter: www.twitter.com/viviankirkfield • Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/viviankirkfield • Instagram: www.instagram.com/viviankirkfield
Vivian will be presenting on: Adapting Stories from Your Heritage
Twitter: www.twitter.com/viviankirkfield • Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/viviankirkfield • Instagram: www.instagram.com/viviankirkfield
Vivian will be presenting on: Adapting Stories from Your Heritage
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Melissa Stoller is a full-time, career author. The first book in her chapter book series, The Enchanted Snow Globe Collection: Return to Coney Island, was published by Clear Fork Publishing in 2017, and her picture books, Scarlet’s Magic Paintbrush, Ready, Set, GOrilla!, and Sadie’s Shabbat Stories were published by Clear Fork in 2018 and 2020. PLANTING FRIENDSHIP: PEACE, SALAAM, SHALOM (co-authored with Callie Metler and Shirin Rahman, illustrated by Kate Talbot) releases from Clear Fork on October 19, 2021. In other chapters of her life, Melissa has worked as a lawyer, legal research and writing instructor, and early childhood educator. Additionally, she is a blogger and course assistant for the Children’s Book Academy, a volunteer with SCBWI Metro/New York, and a founding member of The Book Meshuggenahs resource group. She lives in New York City with her family, where she is a past Board Member at Temple Shaaray Tefila, and a member of the Jewish Book Council’s Literary Society. When not writing, Melissa enjoys theatre, museums, and researching ancestry.
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Connect with Melissa Stoller: https://www.MelissaStoller.com • https://www.MelissaStoller.com/blog
http://www.facebook.com/MelissaStoller • http://www.twitter.com/melissastoller • http://www.instagram.com/Melissa_Stoller
http://www.pinterest.com/melissa_Stoller • http://TheBookMeshuggenahs.com
http://www.facebook.com/MelissaStoller • http://www.twitter.com/melissastoller • http://www.instagram.com/Melissa_Stoller
http://www.pinterest.com/melissa_Stoller • http://TheBookMeshuggenahs.com
Melissa will be dialoguing with her interfaith book co-authors on Writing and Publishing Jewish Kidlit
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Callie is the illustrator for the Enchanted Snow Globe Chapter Book series written by Melissa Stoller. She has also written Swensons, Penick, and the TCR; Ben’s West Texas Snow and How to Babysit a Logan. Her fourth book, Planting Friendship, an interfaith fiction story from the point of view of each faith of the co-authors creating their characters. Planting friendship will be out in October of 2021. Find Callie at: www.calliemetler.com/ Twitter: @CallieMetler and FB here: www.facebook.com/callievmetler And Clear Fork here: www.clearforkpublishing.com/bookstore |
Callie will be dialoguing with her interfaith book co-authors on Writing and Publishing Christian Kidlit
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Born and raised in the UK, to Pakistani parents, Shirin now lives in Illinois, where she has raised six children— three human and three feline. Shirin has been writing stories since she became a mother, and has authored many books for children, including her debut middle grade novel, LAILA AND THE SANDS 0F TIME (Clear Fork Publishing, 2019)
Shirin's books include: PLANTING FRIENDSHIP: Peace, Salaam, Shalom (Clear Fork, Fall 2021) • ZAHRA’S BLESSING (Barefoot Books, Spring 2022) • THE MOON FROM DEHRADUN (Atheneum, Fall 2022 Her pronouns are: she/her Find Shirin at: www.ShirinShamsi.com • www.ShirinsBooks.com • @ShirinsBook • ShirinShamsi1 (IG) |
Shirin will be dialoguing with her interfaith book co-authors on Writing and Publishing Muslim Kidlit
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Koloud Fawzi Omar Abdul Aziz Tarapolsi is a Libyan American who promotes a positive image of Arab culture. Brought to America at 7, Koloud has traveled to all the states, including Puerto Rico. Along the way, she received her Bachelors of Science, a Ducktorate, Museology Certification and a Masters of Arts. Koloud is a Docent at the Seattle Art Museum, the Arabic storyteller for the King Country Library System, a member of Multicultural Kid Blog, Muslimah Bloggers and co-Host for Multicultural Children’s Book Day. In 2008, Koloud founded ACraftyArab.com, a multicultural blog that focuses on free tutorials, recipes and book lists about the Arab world and Muslim culture. Her lists of Arab and Muslim children books includes over a thousand titles. Available for free for children caretakers, the lists were recently used by the Cooperative Children’s Book Center to update Arab into their categories. A graduate of both Children' Book Academy illustrating and writing courses, Koloud is currently working on publishing American’s first Libyan picture book. Her hope is that her three daughters will finally be able to find themselves on a library shelf, something she could never do as a child immigrant.
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Find Koloud on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter as ACraftyArab. Koloud is a future kidlit rock star!
Koloud will be sharing Muslim kid's books and resources from her outrageously fabulous database of Muslim and Arab kidlit.
Koloud will be sharing Muslim kid's books and resources from her outrageously fabulous database of Muslim and Arab kidlit.
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Marcia Berneger is a retired teacher who lives with her husband and three crazy dogs She taught both first and second grade, as well as special education in grades K-6 and Sunday school through fifth grade. She wrote her picture book, Buster the Little Garbage Truck, about a young garbage †ruck afraid of loud noises, to help children overcome their fears. Her second book is a time-travel chapter book called A Dreidel in Time. Her third book, Busy Feet, will be scurrying into children’s hands in 2022. Marcia is a member of SCBWI, Children’s Book Academy, 12 x 12, and the Storyteller Academy, all which help her keep her finger on the pulse of current trends in children’s literature. Best of all, she is the proud Grammy of Ori, her first grandchild! Find Marcia's books here: Sandcastle Tales Bookstore:
Buster the Little Garbage Truck – Del Mar Bookstore • A Dreidel in Time A New Spin on an Old Tale – Del Mar Bookstore Or on Amazon here: Buster the Little Garbage Truck • A Dreidel in Time |
Visit Marcia at: www.marciaberneger.com • www.facebook.com/MarciaBerneger • www.twitter.com/marciaberenger
Marcia will be moderating the panel and speaking on Contemporary Kids in Jewish KidLit and Other Kinds of Spiritual Children's Books
Marcia will be moderating the panel and speaking on Contemporary Kids in Jewish KidLit and Other Kinds of Spiritual Children's Books
Work With These Fabulous People in the Making Magical Graphic Novels Panel Sunday September 19th 12:30-2:00 PM PDT
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Larissa Marantz Larissa Marantz is a former animation artist for Nickelodeon's The Rugrats and Rocket Power and has illustrated almost a dozen books for Nickelodeon's licensed properties, including Avatar The Last Airbender.
She has taught art and comics to folks at Cartoon Network and Google, as well as thousands of children, teens and adults all over the world through her educational company OC Art Studios. Her favorite color is purple and she loves doing yoga and eating brownies, but not at the same time. Larissa is the illustrator and co-creator of Clyde the Hippo Picture book series, published with Penguin Workshop and is currently illustrating a science fiction graphic novel to be published by HarperCollins about a young girl genius who must save the world from aliens. |
Find Larissa at www.LarissaMarantz.com • www.OCArtStudios.com • Illustrator Larissa Marantz (@larissadrawsstuff) • Instagram photos and videos • Larissa Brown Marantz | Facebook • Larissa Marantz Illustrator Educator (@LarissaMarantz) / Twitter
Larissa will be sharing Graphic Novel illustration ideas, tricks, and techniques
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Aron Nels Steinke is a cartoonist and elementary school teacher residing in Portland, Oregon. He began making comics in 2006 with the help of a grant from the Xeric Foundation, and subsequently spent the early part of his career self-publishing and exhibiting at small press and zine shows. In 2015 he and his wife Ariel Cohn won the Will Eisner Comics Industry Award for their book The Zoo Box (First Second Books), in the category of Best Publication for Early Readers. Mr. Wolf’s Class (Scholastic/Graphix) is his newest graphic novel series for kids, and follows the adventures of a class of anthropomorphs and their teacher who just so happens to be a wolf. The New York Times has called Mr. Wolf’s Class, “A vibrant, funny new series that charmingly captures the everyday antics of a fourth grade classroom.” These books have won numerous awards including the Oregon Spirit Honor Award, the Washington State Library Association OTTER Award, and Kid’s Comics Choice Award, the Beehive Award, and been nominated for several others including the Harvey Award. The fifth book in the series, SNOW DAY, publishes on February 1, 2022. Aron grew up in Camas, Washington, and earned degrees from Clark Community College, Portland State University, and Lewis and Clark Graduate School for Education. He has been teaching elementary school in the Portland area for the past ten years and is currently on leave to focus on his next graphic novel. He loves speaking to school groups of all ages virtually and/or in person (if safe).
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You can find Aron online at www.mrwolfsclass.com and on Twitter and Instagram: @mrwolfcomics
Aron will be presenting on Writing and Illustrating a Chapter Book Graphic Novel series
Aron will be presenting on Writing and Illustrating a Chapter Book Graphic Novel series
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Dave Roman is the author/illustrator of the Astronaut Academy series (winner of Maryland’s Black-Eyed Susan Book Award) and writer of the graphic novels Teen Boat! (with John Patrick Green) and Agnes Quill: An Anthology of Mystery. He has contributed stories to Comics Squad: Recess!, Explorer: The Mystery Boxes, Nursery Rhyme Comics, and Goosebumps Graphix: Slappy’s Tales of Horror. Roman is a professor at the School of Visual Arts, a former editor at Nickelodeon Magazine and is currently series editor for First Second’s Science Comics and History Comics series of nonfiction graphic novels. He lives in New York City and draws a weekly webcomic called Starbunny, Inc. Dave will be looking at art from Palooza members for his work at First Second. |
Find Dave here on his website: http://yaytime.com/ on Twitter @yaytime and on Insta here: https://www.instagram.com/yaytime/?hl=en
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Nikki Slaughter studied animation at a famous school in Vancouver, Canada. Now she lives in Chicago with her 4 cats and and a small cockatiel. She works for a big company doing User Interface and Illustration. As you might be able to tell by the fact that she lives with 4 cats, Nikki is a major cat lover and works hard to keep them entertained.
She is currently illustrating her first children's picture book in a graphic novel style so she can play with the many creative ways of visual storytelling and framing that this form uniquely offers. Sasquatch Loves Bacon Day, by Carole Shelton, is about a bacon obsessed Sasquatch and his best friend Lulu Mae. And yes, there really is a National Bacon Day on December 30th! The book features just some of the many ways that a bacon-obsessed Sasquatch and his best friend might enjoy making and eating bacon. |
Find Nikki at: https://nikkislaughter.com/ • https://www.instagram.com/genki.illo/ • https://twitter.com/blerd_ette/
Nikki will be giving an insightful presentation on graphic-novel style picture books
Nikki will be giving an insightful presentation on graphic-novel style picture books
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Gina Gagliano is the publishing director for Random House Graphics. Random Houses new Graphic Novel imprint which opened in 2019. Gina worked with First Second as one of their first employees when it was created in 2005. At First Second, Gina was the Associate Director, Marketing & Publicity, and spent thirteen years on the First Second team as the lead on marketing and PR, managing campaigns for bestselling and award-winning creators including Vera Brosgol, Ben Hatke, Faith Erin Hicks, Lucy Knisley, Scott McCloud, Mariko Tamaki and Jillian Tamaki, Tillie Walden, Jen Wang, and Gene Luen Yang, as well as the Reading Without Walls program. Gina has a great love of everything reading, especially graphic novels and comics. She is the co-host for Graphic Novel TK with Alison Wilgus. Gina will be looking for stories and art from palooza members |
Find out more about Gina Gagliano: https://twitter.com/_GinaGagliano Graphic Novel TK: https://twitter.com/GraphicNovelTK and Random House Kids: https://www.rhkidsgraphic.com/ and https://twitter.com/RHKidsGraphic
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Holly Vagley switched schools five times before 5th grade, finding new friends through music and comedy. An award-winning SAG-Aftra/AEA actor and cabaret artist who’s performed at The White House and around the world, she’s also a Childrens Book Academy grad, an active member of SCBWI & 12x12, and an advocate for children with disabilities. Recent laughs include villains for Marvel, and her 400th performance at the Kennedy Center. Thanks to networking through CBA, Holly’s voicing a new Google app for early literacy. Find out more: https://www.imdb.me/HollyCrossVagley Folllow her on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/HVagley @HVagley and Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/holly.vagley
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Cheryl Chase was born in Manville, New Jersey to parents supportive of their only child’s hopes and dreams. Cheryl loved playing with dolls and making people laugh. She loved mimicking different voices and putting on shows with her costumes from her dance classes. Cheryl pursued acting in college at BYU and later in NYC at the Lee Strasburg Institute. Moving to Los Angeles, she focused on a voice over career. With her unique young sounding voice and wide vocal range Cheryl can create little girls to little old ladies. Over the years, Cheryl managed to work her way up to become an award winning voice actress on the globally popular animated show Rugrats receiving many awards. Cheryl cherishes being a part of such a celebrated global cartoon franchise. She regards being Angelica as a privilege and golden opportunity to give joy to the children and families of the world.
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Find Cheryl here: www.cherylchasebooks.com/ On Wikipedia here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheryl_Chase_(actress) and on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/cherylchase An interview with her about her self-published book That's Coola Tallulah! here: youtu.be/1XWvvJQ6uXQ and Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/cheryl.chase88
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Dr. Mira Reisberg is the Director of the Children's Book Academy and a freelance Editor and Art Director. So far, her students have published or contracted well over 700 children’s books! Every single presenter except for the agents and 1 of the publishers at the Palooza is a former student. In a time, not that long ago, Mira was a literary agent and a children’s literature professor. She has a PhD in Education and Cultural Studies with a focus on kid lit. Mira has illustrated 6 award-winning books and contributed text and art to 2 others. She has also edited and art directed over 20 books, some of which have won awards. Mira will be doing the BONUS picture book pitch and bio MASTERCLASS, which is one of her secret (or not so secret) superpowers. She'll be doing as many as time allows so get your work in there as soon as you can.
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Find Mira at the Children's Book Academy here: https://www.childrensbookacademy.com/ on Twitter at @ChildrensBookAc Her personal website here: http://www.mirareisberg.com/ and the next exciting course that she is co-teaching with agent Charlotte Wenger and a mystery editor at the Academy here: https://bit.ly/2021CBWPB
Work With These Outstanding Women in the Independent Publishers Panel Sunday September 19th 4:00-5:30 PM PDT
Connect with Helen H. Wu:
Website: https://helenhwu.com/ Twitter: @HelenHWu Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/helenhwu/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/helenhuitingwu/ |
Helen H. Wu is a children’s book author and illustrator of over 20 picture books, as well as a translator, graphic designer, and publisher. Her new picture book, Tofu Takes Time, illustrated by Julie Jarema, will be published by Beaming Books in spring 2022. She illustrated the educational coronavirus picture book Be a Coronavirus Fighter by Songju Ma Daemicke, which received many praises all around the world and has been translated into 12 languages. Helen is the Associate Publisher of Yeehoo Press, an indie children’s book publisher that publishes picture books in English and Chinese. Being fascinated by the differences and similarities between cultures, Helen loves to share stories that can empower children to understand the world and our connections. Born and raised in Hefei, China, Helen moved to the US in her 20s. Currently, she resides in sunny Southern California, with her family and two kids.
Learn more about Yeehoo Press:
Website: https://yeehoopress.com/ Twitter: @YeehooPress Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yeehoopress Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yeehoopress |
Helen will be speaking about Yeehoo Press and its US & China collaboration
She will be accepting submissions for a limited time via our exclusive submissions system
She will be accepting submissions for a limited time via our exclusive submissions system
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Sandra Sutter is the owner of Gnome Road Publishing, where they seek stories with the “R” factor . . . Re-Readability! Sandra is also the author of The Real Farmer in the Dell and Stan’s Frightful Halloween (Spork). This experience blends well with her past roles as an attorney and counselor to work effectively with creative talent. She enjoys bringing people and ideas together to showcase stories and art that can be treasured by young readers everywhere. Check the GRP website for wish lists and open submissions periods. Sandra lives outside of Louisville, Kentucky with her husband, two energetic kids, a pair of goofy-doodle dogs, a Siamese cat and a fluffy, floppy Ragdoll kitten.
Follow GRP on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/GnomeRoadPub Follow GRP on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/gnomeroadpublishing/ Browse the GRP website at: www.gnomeroadpublishing.com |
Sandra will be speaking about: What makes a Little Gnome author or illustrator
She will be accepting submissions for a limited time via our exclusive submissions system
She will be accepting submissions for a limited time via our exclusive submissions system
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Joni Sussman is the Publisher at Kar-Ben Publishing, headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
With over 400 titles in print, Kar-Ben publishes 20-24 new, high quality Jewish-themed children’s titles each year. Kar-Ben publishes both fiction and non-fiction, for preschool through 6th grade, including holiday books, life-cycle stories, Bible tales, folktales, stories about Jewish history, stories about Israel and many other Jewish topics written by both Jewish and non-Jewish authors. Kar-Ben seeks stories that reflect the rich diversity of today’s Jewish family. Wearing her other hat, she is the President of the Board of Books for Africa Find Joni at Kar-Ben Publishing here: https://www.karben.com/ |
Joni will be speaking about: The Beauty of Niche Publishing and What She Does at Kar-Ben
She will be accepting submissions for a limited time via our exclusive submissions system
She will be accepting submissions for a limited time via our exclusive submissions system
Impressed? We hope so.
Are you Ready to DIVE IN and get access to this fantastic
2-day writing conference?
Click your favorite picture below.
Are you Ready to DIVE IN and get access to this fantastic
2-day writing conference?
Click your favorite picture below.
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