SCBWI Oregon: The Great Critique - Summer 2024

DOW PHUMIRUK is an award-winning author and/or illustrator of fifteen children's books, with five more on the way. She is one of the illustrators of YES WE WILL by New York Times bestselling author Kelly Yang. She has illustrated A LIFE OF SERVICE, by two-time Newbery Honor winner Christina Soontornvat, and ONE GIRL, by NYT bestselling author Andrea Beaty. She is currently working on illustrations for a book by renowned author Jane Yolen. HUGSBY and MELA AND THE ELEPHANT, both written by Dow, are Colorado Book Award finalists. Dow is a retired pediatrician who teaches medical students part time. She was born in Bangkok, Thailand and now lives in Lone Tree, Colorado with her family and enjoys sewing and light hiking. She has been a member of the Society for Children's Book Writers and Illustrators since 2011 and is represented by East West Literary Agency.

LINDSAY BONILLA is a professional storyteller and children’s book author from North Canton, Ohio. While earning her Bachelor’s degree in theatre and religion at Northwestern University, she fell in love with folktales and world travel. Lindsay has performed interactive theatre, shared stories and taught workshops all over the world. Lindsay is the author of Parents' Choice award winner POLAR BEAR ISLAND, I LOVE YOU WITH ALL OF MY HEARTS, THE NOTE WHO FACED THE MUSIC, and THE STORYTELLER. Her forthcoming books include YOU'VE GOT THIS (Holiday House, August 2024), THE HOLE (Nancy Paulsen/Penguin, 2025) and FAMILY IS ALWAYS (Nancy Paulsen/Penguin, 2026). She lives with her husband, two wild and creative kids and their rescue dog, Blitzen. When she’s not writing or performing, she can be found wrangling Lego sets with her kids as they brainstorm her next book idea.

ELIZABETH (LIZ) GILBERT BEDIA is the author of BESS THE BARN STANDS STRONG (Page Street Kids) named one of the “Superlative Books of 2020” by BookPage, ARTHUR WANTS A BALLOON (Trigger Publishing) / BALLOONS FOR PAPA (HarperCollinsUS) – a 2022 SCBWI Crystal Kite Finalist, and A DINOSAUR’S DAY picture book series from DK Children/Penguin Random House. After working as a researcher, educator and audiologist, Liz now spends most days creating heartfelt and humorous stories for children. Liz lives in central Iowa with her husband, two children and two lovable pups, who keep her running most days.

KATE BERUBE is the author-illustrator of MAE’S FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL and HANNAH AND SUGAR, which won the Marion Vannett Ridgway Award and the Oregon Book Award for Children’s Literature, and was shortlisted for the Klaus Flugge Prize. She is the illustrator of the forthcoming WILLOW THE WHITE HOUSE CAT, written by Jill Biden, JOHN'S TURN written by Mac Barnett, which won the Irma Black Silver Medal, and THE SUMMER NICK TAUGHT HIS CATS TO READ written by Curtis Manley, which won a CLEL Bell Award and was a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year. Kate Berube lives in Portland with her family.

Nora grew up in central New York, but now makes her home in Portland, Oregon with two kids, two dogs and two cats. Besides reading and writing, she loves cooking, camping, and whittling spoons while dreaming of her future miniature donkey farm. A graduate of Vermont College of Fine Arts (Writing for Children and Young Adults), Nora is the author of DILL & BIZZY: AN ODD DUCK AND A STRANGE BIRD and DILL & BIZZY: OPPOSITE DAY, both illustrated by her sister, Lisa Ericson, and TOO EARLY, illustrated by Elly MacKay, which received four starred reviews and many honors, including being named an Amazon Editor’s Pick, a CBC Best Book of the Year, an ALA Notable Book, a Bank Street College Best Book of the Year and the 2023 Margaret Wise Brown Prize Honor Book, given specifically for a picture book text. Most recently, TOO EARLY won the 2024 Oregon Book Award for Young People's Literature. Nora's next book, THE BUNNY BALLET (2025), also illustrated by Elly MacKay, is a rhyming text, so she's been brushing up on her iambs and trochees and will bring her rhyming resources to The Great Critique for any other rhyming enthusiasts!

ROSANNE PARRY grew up in Oregon loving its rainy days, wild places, and fabulous libraries. She is the author of middle grade novels and picture books, including the NY Times best selling A WOLF CALLED WANDER , A WHALE OF THE WILD, and A HORSE NAMED SKY. Her newest nonfiction picture book is THE WOLF EFFECT: A WILDERNESS REVIVAL STORY. Rosanne is a bookseller at the legendary Annie Blooms Books. She lives in an old farmhouse in Portland and writes in a treehouse in her backyard.