Upchurch
Shanna Upchurch is the award-winning author of picture books and middle grade novels that celebrate brave kids, remarkable animals, and big-hearted journeys. Raised in rural Illinois and now based in Texas, Shanna’s stories are inspired by the wonder found just outside our doors. Her book The Honeybee Highway (April 2026), is a celebration of honeybees, […]
Amato
Dr. Jarred Amato is an award-winning English teacher, the author of Just Read It: Unlocking the Magic of Independent Reading in Middle and High School Classrooms, and the co-founder of Project LIT Community, a grassroots literacy movement. Jarred is an avid reader and writer who enjoys collaborating with fellow educators to improve literacy access, attitudes, […]
Adame
Leslie Adame is a first-generation Mexican American and graduate of UCLA with a degree in political science and a minor in film, television, and digital media. She’s always enjoyed giving back and telling stories about characters not often found in books or films. Her debut Latinx middle grade fantasy is Chloe Vega and the Agents […]
Rothman
Scott Rothman is a writer of picture books, screenplays, theater, and humor pieces. Scott’s debut picture book ATTACK OF THE UNDERWEAR DRAGON (Random House) and its sequel RETURN OF THE UNDERWEAR DRAGON were both National Indie bestsellers. His most recent book KITTYBUNKPORT was featured on the Today Show and was selected by Jenna Bush Hager […]
VanBrakle
Khadijah VanBrakle is a Muslim woman of color, born and raised in Canada to American parents. She’s an alumni of the Highlights Foundation Muslim Storytellers fellowship. Her debut Young Adult novel, Fatima Tate Takes The Cake, was a 2024 NAACP Image Award finalist for Outstanding Youth/Teen Literature, a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection, and […]
Phan
Aimee Phan was born and raised in Orange County, California. She received her BA in English from UCLA and her MFA from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. She is the author of The Lost Queen, a young adult fantasy duology, as well as two books for adults, We Should Never Meet: Stories and the novel The […]
Mann
J. Albert Mann is a disability activist and award-winning author of books for young people. Her work focuses on history, social justice, equity, disability, eugenics, gender, economics, and labor. So…all the fun stuff. Her first work of historical fiction—SCAR: A REVOLUTIONARY WAR NOVEL—highlights the large role Indigenous Nations played in the war, a conflict which they […]
Tyson
Alana Tyson is an award-winning storyteller, author, and retired Intelligence Officer. She’s also a mom, actress, journalist, and native New Yorker. Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY Alana always had a passion for reading and writing. She earned two degrees in mass media, was a freelance writer for a NY-based business publication, and a production […]
McNamee
Libby Carty McNamee is a speaker, lawyer, and award-winning author of three upper middle grade novels in the “Remember the Ladies” Series: Susanna’s Midnight Ride: The Girl Who Won the Revolutionary War, Dolley Madison and the War of 1812: America’s First Lady, and The Union Spymistress: The Story of Elizabeth Van Lew, as well as […]
Wagner Lloyd
Megan Wagner Lloyd is the Eisner-nominated writer of bestselling and award winning graphic novels and other books for kids. Megan’s graphic novels ALLERGIC and SQUISHED, co-created with illustrator Michelle Mee Nutter, have won numerous state readers’ choice awards, in addition to both being instant indie bestsellers. ALLERGIC was nominated for an Eisner award and named […]