New England School Visit Directory

Pub: TP | Book Types: BB, PB | Genres: F, NF | Grades: PK, K, LE, UE | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT | Deb grew up exploring the Massachusetts shoreline and now lives along the Connecticut coastline where she raised her son. She writes books with heart, humor and to encourage curiosity. She is a former broadcast news journalist, freelance essayist and syndicated columnist for Gatehouse News Service. Her column about homeschooling her son was read in over 250 print newspapers nationally, as well as online. She was also a public relations director where she was a spokesperson for a major U.S. aquarium. She teaches an ongoing adult memoir writing workshop where she encourages writers to craft their life stories. She is a member of The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. (SCBWI) You can find her on social media at @DebAdamsonBooks.

Pub: SP | Book Types: PB | Genres: F | Grades: PK, K, LE | Visit Range: CT, RI | I am a retired first grade teacher and have published my first children’s picture book entitled Silly Sounding Sentences ABC Phonics Fun! I enjoy being creative and plan on writing two more books in this series.

Pub: TP | Book Types: BB, PB | Genres: F, NF | Grades: LE, UE, MS, HS, HE | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT + USA | Adriana Hernández Bergstrom is a Cuban American mixed-media illustrator who loves creating charming characters, heartfelt paintings, and sweet imagery for kids and kids-at-heart. She studied art & theatrical set design at the University of Miami and industrial design at the Rhode Island School of Design. She loves literacy and languages and speaks English, Spanish, and German. Adriana's work can be found on greeting cards, wrapping paper, and in books. She is the author and illustrator of ABUELITA AND I MAKE FLAN (Charlesbridge, 2022), TUMBLE (Scholastic, 2023) and COUNTDOWN FOR NOCHEBUENA (Little, Brown, 2023). When Adriana is not flipping flans or chasing tumbleweed, she’s back in her studio staring out the window and dreaming up new art and stories!

Pub: TP, SP | Book Types: PB, ER | Genres: F, NF | Grades: PK, K, LE | Visit Range: CT | Nohra is a Colombian-born author and translator. As a literacy promoter and a teaching artist, she shares her love of books and her passion for multilingual storytelling, poetry, and dance. She holds degrees in Psychology and Modern Languages from universities in Colombia, Spain, and France, and is a Mellon Foundation Artist Corps Grantee. Her book "Alma Semilla"/"The Child and The Tree" won a Skipping Stones Honor Award 2024 and ILBA Honorable Mention 2023. Other titles independently published and illustrated by her husband are "Together," "Amazon’s ABC," and "Rimas Geométricas." She lives in Connecticut with her family.

Pub: TP | Book Types: PB, CB | Genres: F, NF, P | Grades: PK, K, LE, UE, MS | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT, + USA | Winsome Bingham is the author of the Connecticut Book Award winner SOUL FOOD SUNDAY and THE WALK (which Hillary Clinton sent a personalized letter thanking her for writing it). She’s a teacher by trade, a veteran by circumstance, and an editor by choice specializing in children’s literature. She’s an advocate for literacy and book ownership by children. She has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education, technology, and writing. She resides in Connecticut.

Pub: SP | Book Types: PB | Genres: F | Grades: PK, K | Visit Range: CT | Diana Blau is a mother of 2 who still has her old childhood teddy bear, Tinker. She was inspired to write her first children’s book, Beary & Tinker: Young at Heart when she noticed her daughter loved playing with Tinker, despite having many "young" toys. She thought it would be fun to write a children's story from the point of view of Tinker and his friend Beary (her husband’s childhood bear). Maybe they weren't ready to be retired and still had lots of love to give. She has read at many schools, community events, festivals, etc. She loves for kids to bring their favorite stuffed animal to listen and unveils the REAL Beary & Tinker after her story for all the kids to see!

Pub: TP | Book Types: PB, ER | Genres: F, NF | Grades: PK, K, LE, UE, MS | Visit Range: CT (Fairfield County) | Valerie Bolling is passionate about creating stories in which all children can see themselves and feel seen and heard, valued and validated. She’s the author of six picture books -- LET’S DANCE! (SCBWI Crystal Kite Award winner); TOGETHER WE RIDE; TOGETHER WE SWIM (2023 Kirkus Prize Finalist); RIDE, ROLL, RUN: TIME FOR FUN!; BING, BOP, BAM: TIME TO JAM!; and I SEE COLOR (Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection) -- as well as a Scholastic Acorn early reader series, RAINBOW DAYS. Sharing her books with children and inspiring them to write their own stories brings Valerie immense joy! linktr.ee/ValerieBolling

Pub: TP | Book Types: PB | Genres: F, NF, P | Grades: PK, K, LE, UE, MS | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT + USA | Doe Boyle is the author of STEAM-infused picture books in poetry and prose that inspire readers to immerse their imaginations in nature. These titles—Hear the Wind Blow, Heartbeat, Blink!, and Water—were recently published by Albert Whitman. Doe’s earlier books, published by Soundprints in association with the Smithsonian Institution and the National Wildlife Federation, include Otter on His Own; Coral Reef Hideaway; and Summer Coat, Winter Coat, among other titles. Doe has also written the travel guides. An editor of adult nonfiction, Doe edits books on travel, cooking, gardening, and cultural and natural history. A teaching artist since 1997, she shares her love of reading and writing in residencies with schoolchildren. In Connecticut, she shares an ancient house at the side of an ancient road with her husband and amusing speckled hens who remind her of her four daughters. In summer, she writes at the edge of a beloved pond in midcoast Maine.

Pub: HP | Book Types: PB, MG, YA | Genres: F, NF | Grades: PK, K, LE, UE, MS, HS, HE | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT + USA | Award-winning author Katie L. Carroll began writing after her 16-year-old sister, Kylene, unexpectedly passed away. Since then writing has taken her to many wonderful places—both real and imagined. She is the author of 12 books (and counting) for kids, teens, and those who are young at heart.

Pub: SP | Book Types: PB | Genres: F | Grades: PK, K, LE | Visit Range: CT | Peni is a retired kindergarten teacher, but her ongoing love for inspiring young minds is unstoppable - just like her readers! Peni is now a picture book author dedicated to encouraging, motivating, and empowering children to believe in themselves, and to keep pushing forward because they can do it! Kids are amazing! Peni has a zest for the outdoors, staying active, and exploring new places. She lives in Connecticut with her husband, Stephen, golden retriever, Zawadi, and rescue cat, Camelot.

Pub: TP, SP | Book Types: PB | Genres: F | Grades: PK, K, LE, UE | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT | Lisa Cloherty is an award winning writer of children’s books and a pediatric speech-language pathologist. Lisa is the author of self-published Katie Spector the Art Collector (Charming Books Press, 2021) and traditionally published Terrance the Hothead: A book to help manage big feelings (ASHA press, 2022). Lisa's forthcoming Jewish themed SEL story Mabel's Mitzvah will be released in Fall 2026 by Free Spirit Publishing. Lisa was a finalist for the 2023 Crystal Kite Award and won the 2023 EXCEL Association Publishing Award. She is represented by Mara Cobb at Martin Literary. She is on faculty at the Westport Writers Workshop where she teaches workshops about writing stories for our youngest readers. Lisa lives in Connecticut with her husband and two children.

Pub: TP | Book Types: PB | Genres: F, NF | Grades: PK, K, LE, UE | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT + USA | Abi Cushman is the author-illustrator of funny books for kids, including SOAKED! (Viking), ANIMALS GO VROOM! (Viking), WOMBATS ARE PRETTY WEIRD (Greenwillow), and FLAMINGOS ARE PRETTY FUNKY (Greenwillow). She is also the illustrator of THE QUIET FOREST (Paula Wiseman Books), written by Charlotte Offsay. Abi has also worked as a web designer for 20 years. She runs two popular websites of her own: My House Rabbit, a pet rabbit care site, and Animal Fact Guide, which was named a “Great Website for Kids” by the American Library Association. Abi lives in a small Connecticut beach town with her family. In her spare time, she enjoys running, playing tennis, and eating nachos. (Yes, at the same time.)

Pub: TP | Book Types: PB | Genres: F | Grades: PK, K, LE, UE | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT | Gabriele enjoys creating works that delight, inspire, empower and reflect all children. She is the author of Peaches (Abramskids) and Our Joyful Noise (Atheneum). Gabriele holds an MA in magazine journalism and has worked as a children's magazine editor and freelance language arts writer. She lives in the Northwest Hills of Connecticut where she tutors, writes, bikes and reflects on the childhood memories that fire her imagination.

Pub: TP | Book Types: MG | Genres: F | Grades: UE, MS, HS, HE | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT + USA | Stacy DeKeyser is the author of acclaimed novels for young readers, including The Rhino in Right Field and The Brixen Witch. In addition to “Best Books” lists at the Chicago Public Library and the Bank Street (NY) College of Education, Stacy’s books have been named to award lists in 14 states, statewide Battle of the Books lists in New Mexico and Wisconsin, and on summer reading lists and “One School, One Book” programs across the country. Stacy is a popular presenter at schools, libraries, book fairs, and conferences. She lives in Connecticut with her family.

Pub: SP | Book Types: PB, ER | Genres: F | Grades: PK, K, LE | Visit Range: CT | Amanda is a first-time author who resides in Manchester, CT. She is a wife to Brian, a mom to her two boys, Patrick and Benjamin, and a friend to many. Reading to her children throughout the years has brought her so much joy that she decided to branch out and share it with others. She recently started her own publishing company in Manchester with the support of her family and friends.

Pub: TP | Book Types: PB | Genres: F, P | Grades: PK, K, LE, UE | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT + USA | Deborah Freedman was an architect once-upon-a-time, but now she prefers building worlds in picturebooks. She is the author and illustrator of 11 of them, featuring protagonists that include an earthworm searching for its purpose in life, a house that dreams of its origins, and a character that is almost too shy to appear in its own book. Her stories have been translated into ten different languages, adopted in classrooms across the country, and honored with many starred reviews and awards. Deborah lives in a colorful house in Connecticut, and she loves meeting her readers!

Pub: SP | Book Types: PB | Genres: F | Grades: PK, K, LE, UE, MS, HS | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT + USA | Tammy Gerhard is an author, speaker, mentor and counselor. She resides in Manchester, CT, where she co-owns a coffee shop in the center of her town. Tammy lives out her "Love Coffee Love People" motto daily, encouraging those with whom she crosses paths to walk through life with kindness and joy and to care well for their communities.

Pub: TP | Book Types: PB, GN | Genres: NF, F | Grades: LE, UE | Visit Range: CT | Karlin Gray is the author of NADIA: THE GIRL WHO COULDN’T SIT STILL, AN EXTRAORDINARY ORDINARY MOTH, SERENA: THE LITTLEST SISTER, ANNE and HER TOWER OF GIRAFFES, and MIA AND FRIENDS.

Pub: TP | Book Types: PB | Genres: F, NF | Grades: PK, K, LE, UE, MS | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT + USA | Janice Hechter is both an author and illustrator whose debut picture book, Adventure Girl, published in 2021 by Alazar Press, gained recognition in a New York Times article. Mom’s Choice Award winner, as well as Readers’ Choice Award Finalist, Where Are the Women?: The Girl Scouts’ Campaign for the First Statue of Women in Central Park, written and illustrated by Janice, and published by Red Chair Press, will be out on February 4, 2025. KIRKUS REVIEWS described the book as “An inspiring true story of female empowerment.” The Power of Her Paintbrush, written and illustrated by Janice, will be published by KAR-BEN (Lerner) in 2026. Janice has also illustrated five other picture books, including SCBWI Crystal Kite Award finalist, The Great Elephant Escape, for Pelican Publishing.

Pub: TP | Book Types: MG | Genres: F | Grades: UE, MS | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT | I spent decades of my career in education: teaching K-5, writing curriculum, and serving as a school principal. These days, I’m writing full-time (poetry and prose, fiction and nonfiction, for kids and adults.) I also have the honor of serving on my town’s Board of Education. When not reading or writing, I love hiking, swimming, kayaking, traveling, and spending time with my husband, children, and granddaughter.​

Pub: TP | Book Types: PB | Genres: F, NF | Grades: PK, K, LE UE, HE | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT + USA | Sara Levine is a veterinarian, a science educator, and an award-winning picture book author of over a dozen books. Her titles, which include Bone by Bone, Flower Talk, Sensitive, The Animals Would Not Sleep!, and Hello Dog/Hello Human, have received the AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prize, Bank Street College Best Book of the Year, Beehive Book Award, Cook Prize, and the Mathical Book Prize. She lives in Stony Creek, CT and loves doing school visits.

Pub: TP | Book Types: PB, YA | Genres: F, NF, P | Grades: PK, K, LE UE, MS, HS, HE | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT | Donna Marie Merritt is a children’s author and poet. Her most recent picture books are Teensy Meensy Mice, illustrated by Ed Heck, and Hush That Hullabaloo, illustrated by Chris Demarest. Over the past 25 years, her stories and poems have appeared in school reading programs, language arts books, Highlights High Five, Highlights Hello, and American Library Association’s Book Links. Donna’s poems have also been selected for a number of anthologies, including Dear One: A Tribute to Lee Bennett Hopkins (National Council of Teachers of English), Book of Nature Poetry (National Geographic), The Poetry of Us (National Geographic), and One Minute till Bedtime (Little, Brown). Her seventh book of poetry, Bible Poems for Reflection and Response, is her newest release for adults. Donna lives in Connecticut and has worked as a teacher, editor, school librarian, and ice cream scooper. Her latest and GREATEST role yet is Grandma.

Pub: SP | Book Types: ER, CB, MG | Genres: F | Grades: LE, UE | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT | I recently retired from public schools. I am an occupational therapist and worked with school-aged children with developmental and learning disabilities. I began writing children's books over a decade ago, but decided to self-publish when I retired. The first book that I self-published is titled "I Flew Again Last Night: Meeting Harriet Tubman." This is the first in a series of chapter books for early to middle readers about a 10 year old boy who goes back in time to meet some of the greatest minority Americans.

Pub: TP | Book Types: PB | Genres: F, NF | Grades: LE, UE | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT | David Opie earned his undergraduate degree in illustration from RISD and his master's degree from the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan. He has illustrated numerous books. His debut author/illustrator book, "All the Birds in the World," received starred reviews from Kirkus, School Library Journal, Publisher's Weekly, and Booklist. That book turned into a series with subsequent books on fish, insects, and mammals. David teaches art at two universities in Connecticut.

Pub: TP | Book Types: PB, YA | Genres: NF | Grades: HS, HE | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT + USA | Ainissa Ramirez, Ph.D., is an award-winning scientist and science communicator, who is the author of “The Alchemy of Us” (The MIT Press). A graduate of Brown University, she earned her doctorate in materials science and engineering from Stanford. Ramirez began her career as a scientist and is now dedicated to making science understandable to the general public. She has explained science headlines on CBS, CNN, NPR, and PBS. Currently, she is writing a series of children’s picture books about little-known Black inventors as well as a range of other titles that make learning science and engineering fun.

Pub: TP | Book Types: PB, ER, CB | Genres: F, NF | Grades: PK, K, LE, UE | Visit Range: CT | Dana Meachen Rau has written more than 350 books for children in a variety of genres—early readers, picture-books, and nonfiction on scientific, historical, and other popular topics, as well as biographies for the popular Who Was? Series. Since graduating from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, with degrees in both creative writing and art history, she has worked as a writer, artist, and editor. She attended Vermont College of Fine Arts for her Master’s Degree in Writing for Children and Young Adults, and she has taught writing at the Mark Twain House, the Writing Barn, the Highlights Foundation, the University of Hartford, local arts centers, and from her studio in Winsted, CT.

Pub: TP | Book Types: PB, MG, YA, GN | Genres: F, NF | Grades: LE, UE, MS | Visit Range: CT | Cindy L. Rodriguez is a senior editor for an educational publisher and an award-winning author of children’s books. Her titles include When Reason Breaks (2015), “I’m a Survivor” from Life Inside My Mind: 31 Authors Share Their Personal Stories (2018), and Three Pockets Full: A Story of Love, Family, and Tradition (2022). Her latest is Lola Reyes Is So Not Worried (2024), which received a starred review from Kirkus. Cindy, who is of Puerto Rican and Brazilian descent, is also a former journalist and public school teacher. When she’s not working or writing, she is hanging out with her family and two dogs in Connecticut. She is represented by Tricia Lawrence from the Erin Murphy Literary Agency.

Pub: TP | Book Types: PB, ER | Genres: F, NF | Grades: PK, K, LE | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT | Carol Schwartz is inspired by nature, as an observer and as an artist. This is evident in her 60+ picture books, largely nonfiction, about nature. Her work has also been seen in countless magazines and publications such as Ranger Rick, & Cricket, and for companies such as National Geographic Society and The Washington Post. She earned her MFA in Illustration from the University of Hartford and a BFA at the Kansas City Art institute and Rhode Island School of Design. Carol’s work has been in many exhibitions nationally, including The Society of Illustrators in New York and Focus on Nature XIV and XV. She has been an artist-in-residence at the Shoals Marine Laboratory on Appledore Island, Maine multiple times. Carol is Assistant Professor of Illustration at the University of Hartford, Connecticut and teaches in Rhode Island School of Design’s Natural Science Certificate Program.

Pub: TP | Book Types: PB | Genres: F | Grades: PK, K, LE | Visit Range: CT, MA, RI | Martha Seif Simpson is a retired Children’s Librarian and an author. She has three traditionally published picture books: What NOT to Give Your Mom on Mother’s Day, The Dreidel That Wouldn’t Spin: A Toyshop Tale of Hanukkah, and Esther’s Gragger: A Toyshop Tale of Purim. Her next picture book, A Ring for a King, will be published by Wisdom Tales in 2025. She enjoys talking about her books at conferences, libraries, schools and community centers. See her website, www.Martha-Seif-Simpson.com, to arrange a visit and to read her monthly newsletter, The Simpsonian Muse. You can also find her on Facebook at Martha Kidlit Author, on Twitter @MarthaSimpMLS, and on Bluesky @marthakidlitauthor.bsky.social.

Pub: TP | Book Types: MG | Genres: F | Grades: LE, UE | Visit Range: CT, ME MA, NH, RI, VT | I am a former actress and attorney and an avid reader of mysteries and spy novels. I love "puzzling." After graduating Duke University and U. Penn Law School, I handled a broad range of legal cases including white-collar crime and involving people living double lives. In my writing I drew from these experiences. I live in Fairfield County, Connecticut. My middle-grade mystery The Neighbors' Secret (traditionally published by EverImagine Books) was a finalist of the Tassy Walden Awards (2023) and in Pre-Teen Fiction for the American Fiction Awards (2024). Throughout the novel, I weave in history about the Culper Spy Ring and Agent 355, making it a fun supplement to the curriculum. I also wrote a play, Fickle Fate (2022 semi-finalist in the SheNYC Festival) and co-wrote a musical, Virtually Ours (2024 NYC Sparks Theater Festival for Emerging Artists). My website is dianasussmanwrites.com. Follow me on socials at @dianasussmanwrites.

Pub: TP | Book Types: MG | Genres: F | Grades: UE, MS | Visit Range: CT, ME MA, NH, RI, VT + USA | Nancy Tandon loves to share stories that entertain and encourage young readers. Her debut middle grade novel, The Way I Say It, was a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection, an Indies Introduce and Kids’ Indies Next pick, a Georgia Book Award nominee and an Indiana Read Aloud selection. Her most recent novel, The Ghost of Spruce Point, was named to the Texas Bluebonnet Master List and is an homage to coastal Maine. Nancy is a former teacher, speech-language pathologist, and adjunct professor of phonetics and child language development, all of which helped plant seeds for stories about awesome kids doing brave things. A transplant from the Midwest, Nancy now lives in Connecticut with her family where she snacks on popcorn and supports literacy outreach programs of all kinds.

Pub: TP | Book Types: MG, YA | Genres: F | Grades: UE, MS, HS | Visit Range: CT | S. J. Taylor writes stories steeped in folklore and magic, where young protagonists tackle big adventures and bigger questions. Although she grew up in Arizona's desert, her heart yearns for the Nordic lands. When she's not writing, she can often be found knitting yet another sweater (sweater weather is the best weather). She lives in Connecticut with her family.

Pub: TP, HP | Book Types: MG | Genres: F | Grades: UE, MS | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT | Cat Urbain was inspired to write children’s books while working at Weston Woods Studios. Cat also worked as Executive Director for the Connecticut Storytelling Center, a media educator for the Children’s Museum of Manhattan, and grant writer for the Association of Hole in the Wall Camps. Diego, Whynd, and The Block Island Ghost, was influenced by Cat’s experiences working in haunted hotels on Block Island and living in Nicaragua. Her first novel, Manuel and the Lobsterman, was published by Front Street. Cat currently works as a writer for emergency medicine doctors at Yale School of Medicine. A former middle school teacher, Cat earned a master’s degree in art education from Wesleyan University. She conducts workshops for students, teachers, and librarians and has been featured at book signings, conferences and festivals including the Shoreline Chapter of SCBWI, the Connecticut Library Consortium, the Shoreline Arts Alliance, Mystic Seaport, the Tassy Walden Book Awards, Hudson Book Festival, and Barnes & Noble.

Pub: SP | Book Types: PB, ER | Genres: F | Grades: PK, K, LE, UE | Visit Range: CT | My name is David Valovcin. I absolutely love to write children's books! My first book, A Desk to Lean On, took me on an exciting journey from the early phase of brainstorming through to final publication. It is definitely a wonderful feeling of accomplishment. Ever since this book was published, I knew that I just wanted to write more children's books! My inspiration and ideas come from watching my daughter, Grace, and how she goes about her day-to-day activities. She is truly the best gift I could ever wish for and I absolutely love being her Daddy. My family and I live in Connecticut. Every Sunday, we make time to walk through our local bookstore. Of course, my daughter has to walk out of the store with a book in hand. This definitely puts a smile on my face.

Pub: TP | Book Types: PB | Genres: F | Grades: LE | Visit Range: CT | Since retiring from corporate life, I have found my way back to writing creatively for children. The School Library Journal described my debut picture book, BRING BACK THE BABKA! as “…a food-filled mystery that celebrates the diversity of Jewish food and the Jewish community.” I have over a decade’s worth of experience in book and magazine publishing and ran a graphics services department for a market research company for 25 years. I am a member of SCBWI, and 12x12 PB Challenge, and have attended seminars at the Highlights Foundation with their partner PJ Library. I have presented at a few schools and libraries in my vicinity and look forward to presenting at your school soon. Born and raised in Lakewood, New Jersey, I currently reside with my husband in Stamford, Connecticut, where our son currently teaches sixth grade.

Pub: TP, SP | Book Types: BB, PB, ER | Genres: F, NF, P | Grades: UE, MS | Visit Range: CT | Allia Zobel Nolan is the author of over 150 traditionally published titles. Her books reflect her two main passions: God and cats. Recent titles include Cat Confessions: A Kitty-Come-Clean Tell-All Book (over 145,000+ copies sold); the classic bestselling children’s book, What I Like About Me: a Book about Differences, and the sequel, What I Like About You: a Book About Acceptance finalist in the 2020 Indie Book Awards for Children’s Picture Books. Her newest title Harriet Hurry-Up and the Oh-S0-Slow Day pubbed in August 2024 from Kregel Publishers, She lives and writes with her husband, Desmond, their two fur babies, Nolan Nolan, and Colleen Fiona Shannon, and their recently-adopted shelter dog, Miss Kitty, in New England.

Pub: TP, HP | Book Types: MG, YA | Genres: F, NF | Grades: UE, MS, HS | Visit Range: ME, northeast MA, NH | I have been writing for young readers for more than thirty years. A Maine native, I graduated from Bates College. I am a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and of Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance. I have had seven books published. My two biographies received national awards (including a NSTA Best STEM Award and a National Outdoor Book Award). My logging history book, Timberrr, won Maine Library Association’s Lupine Honor Award. An updated edition of Timberrr will be published in 2025. I have also published two historical novels and two plays are available as Readers’ Theater books. Nearly 100 of my articles, stories, and activities have been published in children’s magazines. Several have been reprinted in educational publications, and a few are online. My husband and I live near Portland, Maine.

Pub: TP | Book Types: PB, MG | Genres: F, NF | Grades: LE, UE, MS | Visit Range: ME | I fell in love with stories as a young girl. There's nothing more fun for me than putting words together to make stories come alive. While I was raising my two sons I had four nonfiction picture books published: histories of beds, hairstyles, candy, and finally, underwear. I loved the research hunt to find the most interesting and accurate information. Later, while I was teaching English Language Learners in an elementary school, I turned to middle grade fiction. ONE GOOD THING ABOUT AMERICA is the story of a fourth-graders's first year in an American school with all the crazy, wacky misunderstandings that come while navigating the English Language. HOW TO SAVE A SUPERHERO was next. It's the story of two lost people who find each other in a retirement community: a girl and a grumpy old resident who has very unusual powers. I have several more stories in the works, one about a small island I visit in the summer. When I'm not playing with my grandsons, reading, baking, or knitting, I'm usually walking somewhere in beautiful Maine.

Pub: SP | Book Types: PB, ER | Genres: F | Grades: PK, K, LE | Visit Range: ME | I was raised on a dairy farm in rural Wisconsin. Yet, I have lived almost my entire adult life in cities, including New York, London, San Francisco, Minneapolis, and Toronto. Now, my husband and I divide our time between Portland, Maine and Madrid, Spain. When I'm not writing or reading, you'll frequently find me in my kitchen or a swimming pool.

Pub: TP | Book Types: PB | Genres: F | Grades: PK, K, LE | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT + USA | Kalee is the author of MISS MACDONALD HAS A FARM. She is a homeschooling mom to 4 book-loving kiddos living in the woods of Maine. She worked as a personal chef before writing picture books full time. Her stories are sometimes silly, often lyrical, and nearly always include food. She writes to encourage children and their families to learn about where their food comes from and most importantly to have fun in the kitchen. When she is not writing or cooking, she enjoys kayaking, hiking, and crafting.

Pub: TP | Book Types: PB | Genres: F | Grades: PK, K | Visit Range: ME | Ashley Halsey is an illustrator, graphic designer and fine artist living in Portland, Maine. She grew up on a farm in Connecticut where she spent time observing and painting the nature around her. After living in New York City and working as book designer she moved to Maine, where she works as an art director. She continues to pursue her love of the environment and conservation and finding ways to spread awareness of the natural world through art.

Pub: TP | Book Types: PB | Genres: F, NF, P | Grades: PK, K, LE, UE, MS, HS, HE | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT + USA | Alexandra S. D. Hinrichs is a poet and author of picture books including The Lobster Lady, I Am Made of Mountains, The Pocket Book, The Traveling Camera, and Thérèse Makes a Tapestry. Her books have won awards such as Maine’s Lupine Award and Wisconsin’s Outstanding Achievement Award. They have also been featured on ABC Morning News, CBS News, The Washington Post, and other news outlets. Alex has worked as a librarian in school, public, and academic libraries. She was also a historical researcher at American Girl, and now serves on the board of directors for Island Readers and Writers. She lives in Maine with her husband, three wild sons, two tame cats, and one curious tortoise.

Pub: TP | Book Types: PB, ER, CB, MG | Genres: F, NF | Grades: LE, UE | Visit Range: ME | Fran Hodgkins has loved books her whole life, but didn't think of being a writer until a high-school English teacher told her, "You know, you could make a living at this." So she studied journalism, which taught her how to research, how to talk to people, and how to write fast. She writes mostly nonfiction picture books, but has published two novels as well. She lives in midcoast Maine with her family, cats, dog, and an ever-changing array of creatures that stroll through the yard.

Pub: TP, HP | Book Types: PB, CB | Genres: F, NF | Grades: PK, K, LE | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT | I am an author and illustrator living three miles out to sea. I have a BFA in Illustration from Rhode Island School of Design and am a member of SCBWI and the Maine Writers & Publishers Alliance. I taught illustration at Maine College of Art & Design for fourteen years. My picture books feature nature themes and adventurous characters.

Pub: TP | Book Types: MG, YA, GN | Genres: F | Grades: UE, MS, HS | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT + USA | George Jreije ("jer-age") is the Lebanese American author of six books with HarperCollins, including the acclaimed Shad Hadid children’s fantasy series, the upcoming Bashir Boutros fantasy series, and the upcoming graphic novels, Tarik's Bazaar Adventure and Lilo and the League of Librarians. He also writes short stories in collaboration with organizations like UNICEF. George is a Public Speaker, Creative Writing teacher with Gotham Writers Workshop, and was the author-in-residence for the Concord Library. When not writing, George scours the world for delicious food and visits schools to spread his love of books!

Pub: TP | Book Types: PB, MG | Genres: F, P | Grades: LE, UE, MS | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT + USA | Rebekah Lowell is an award-winning author/illustrator and surface pattern designer with a curiosity for nature. A homeschooling mother of two and survivor of domestic abuse, she is passionate about resiliency, freedom, and hope. Her middle grade novel in verse, THE ROAD TO AFTER (Nancy Paulsen/Penguin), was a Junior Library Guild selection. Her picture book illustration for CATCHING FLIGHT (Doubleday/Random House) was longlisted for the World Illustration Awards. She earned her BFA from The Rhode Island School of Design, and her MFA from Hollins University. She is earning her certificate in natural science illustration through RISD, and her Nature Journal Educator Certificate through the Wild Wonder Foundation. She serves on the Board for York County Audubon, transports birds for Avian Haven, and rescues monarchs from local hayfields. She is represented by Paige Terlip at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency.

Pub: HP | Book Types: PB | Genres: F | Grades: PK, K, LE, UE | Visit Range: ME | Diane Madden lives in Maine and is the former director of a statewide children's literacy program. A lifelong bookworm, she is mostly likely to be found reading with her grandchildren. Diane and "Neeps", her 4 year old Hermann Tortoise, love to do author visits at schools and libraries.

Pub: SP | Book Types: PB | Genres: F | Grades: PK, K, LE | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT | Olive Olini is a certified health coach with an education in nutrition, plant medicine, permaculture, art history, and design. A bit of a wanderer, she has lived in Florida, California, Vermont, Maine, New York, Italy, and the UK. In each region, Olini has gained knowledge about the local plants and foods. She is passionate about food and is an accomplished cook who has been experimenting with recipes and creating plant-based dishes for more than 20 years. When not enjoying time in her kitchen or at local farm stands and farmers markets, Olini likes to hike, swim, paddle her kayak, and explore the world.

Pub: TP | Book Types: PB | Genres: F | Grades: PK, K, LE, UE, MS | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT + USA | Lucky Platt is a visual artist, writer and children's book creator. Her debut picture book, Imagine a Wolf, was a Maine Literary Awards Finalist in Children’s, a Ezra Jack Keats Award Finalist, and a New England Book Award Finalist. Her stories explore themes of resilience, healing, positive self expression and inclusion, and are often illustrated in traditional art mediums including oil paint, ink, gouache, graphite, paper sculpture, drypoint, pyrography and colored pencil. Lucky has presented narrative art and writing workshops, readings and artist talks for children and adults for SCBWI, the Farnsworth Art Museum, Maine Writers & Publishers Alliance, Maine Media Workshops & College, Maine Crafts Association, Waterville Creates, Waterfall Arts, Maine Arts Commission, and many libraries, schools and indie bookshops. She grew up in northeast PA and studied writing, painting, drawing and printmaking at Vassar College, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and Complutense City University of Madrid.

Pub: TP | Book Types: MG, GN | Genres: F | Grades: UE, MS | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT + USA | Sarah Sax grew up in St. Louis on Uncle Scrooge and Sailor Moon comics. She studied storytelling and sequential imagery at Hampshire College and worked in education and gaming in the Bay Area before starting her publishing journey. She is the illustrator of the first three books (Escape This Book: Titanic; Escape this Book: Tombs of Egypt; and Escape This Book: Race to the Moon) in the inventive, interactive Escape This Book series, which has been translated into eight languages. Picture Day, her first of four graphic novels in the Brinkley Yearbook series, was published in June 2023. Tryouts, the next graphic novel in the series came out in May of 2024. Sarah lives and works in Portland, Maine with her husband and a small menagerie of pets.

Pub: TP | Book Types: PB, MG | Genres: F, NF | Grades: PK, K, LE, UE, MS | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT | Ryan Bani Tahmaseb is an author, academic coach, and curriculum developer. His debut picture book, Rostam’s Picture-Day Pusteen, was published by Charlesbridge in summer 2024, and his debut middle grade book, Persian Mythology, will be published in fall 2025 by Running Press Kids. His writing has also appeared in publications such as Education Week and the Carolina Quarterly. He lives in Southern Maine with his wife and two young children. Twitter: @ryantahmaseb Instagram: @ryanbanitahmaseb

Pub: SP | Book Types: PB | Genres: F | Grades: LE, UE | Visit Range: ME | Deborah "Dee" Tonken, an author deeply rooted in the picturesque settings of Casco Bay, Maine, embodies the spirit of island life. Growing up surrounded by quaint cottages, serene harbors, lush blueberry fields, and the invigorating coves of her childhood island, she has a passion for mysteries and the enchanting tales of her surroundings. Dee's rich connection to Maine's heritage beautifully transitions into her writing, including her earlier works such as the "Nana Dee and Ari Storybook Series” and the "12 Months of Harmony" series published in 2024. These collections lay the groundwork for the characters, settings and atmosphere she continues to explore with her upcoming new storybook series to be launched in January 2025.

Pub: TP | Book Types: PB | Genres: F | Grades: PK, K, LE, UE | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT | Meghan Wilson Duff wanted to be a marine biologist when they grew up, but got distracted trying to figure out people. They teach in the Psychology & Community Studies program at University of Maine at Machias. Prior to teaching, Meghan worked as a clinical psychologist supporting children and families.

Pub: TP | Book Types: PB | Genres: F | Grades: LE, UE, HE | Visit Range: southern ME, MA, southern NH | Monica Acker is a writer and educator. She holds a BA in creative arts and a MAT degree in childhood education. She writes to share joy, ease heartbreak, encourage awesomeness, and to have fun!

Pub: TP | Book Types: PB | Genres: F | Grades: PK, K, LE, UE | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT | Marietta Apollonio is the author/illustrator of JACK THE LIBRARY CAT (Albert Whitman 2023) and WOMBAT AND THE FAMILY TREE (Tommy Nelson Books/HarperCollins 2024). Her stories focus on characters who explore their curiosity and are looking for something—a home, acceptance, growth, their place within a family or community, magic. In creating an atmosphere inclusive of diverse characters, her illustrations use traditional materials, digital, texture, patterns, and vibrant saturated moments—pulling readers into universal experiences. She spends her time working in the studio, out in the world looking for the sparks for her next idea, mentoring, and visiting schools and libraries. As an author AND illustrator Marietta is incredibly lucky to be able to connect and engage with students (kids AND adults!) using both facets of book making. In her spare time you can find her teaching beginners horseback riding, visiting book stores, and searching for the best vegan desserts.

Pub: TP | Book Types: YA, GN | Genres: NF | Grades: UE, MS, HS, HE | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT + USA | Cara Bean is an obsessive doodler, author, and art educator. Here I Am, I Am Me: An Illustrated Guide to Mental Health is her first book for adolescents. She is also the author of Draw 500 Faces and Features, and her work has been featured in Pen America Illustrated, The Women’s Review of Books, and Teaching Arts Magazine. Cara enjoys watching the beginning of complex ideas emerge from the simple act of doodling on paper. She provides interactive workshops on creativity with people of all ages and backgrounds in various public forums. Cara lives on the Southcoast of Massachusetts with her partner Matt and their dog Raisin.

Pub: TP | Book Types: BB, PB | Genres: F | Grades: PK, K, LE, UE, MS | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT | Kirsti Call is an award winning author who co-hosts the Picture Book Look Podcast and hosts the Coaching for Creatives podcast as a therapist trained life coach. She’s a critique ninja for 12×12, a blogger for Writers’ Rumpus, and she’s judged the Cybils award for fiction picture books since 2015. Kirsti is the author of Mootilda’s Bad Mood (Little Bee), Cow Says Meow (Clarion) Cold Turkey (Little Brown), The Big Scream (Little Simon) and Smarty Ants (Capstone, 2023). Kirsti has an MSW from Boston College and is represented by Charlotte Wenger at Prospect Agency.

Pub: TP | Book Types: PB | Genres: F | Grades: PK, K, LE, UE | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT | Kelly Carey is an award-winning children’s fiction author from New England. Her debut picture book, How Long Is Forever? (Charlesbridge, 2020), illustrated by Qing Zhuang, received a glowing review from Kirkus and was named a MUST READ by the Mass Center for the Book. For over a decade, her fiction stories have been published in Highlights for Children, Clubhouse Jr., and Girls’ World. Kelly is a graduate of The Institute of Children’s Literature and an active member of the Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). She belongs to The Writers’ Loft and is the proud co-founder of the blog 24 Carrot Writing (www.24carrotwriting.com). Kelly is represented by Sharon Belcastro of the Belcastro Agency.

Pub: SP | Book Types: PB | Genres: F | Grades: PK, K, LE | Visit Range: City of Boston MA | I'm really excited to have published my first picture book, "Be Well City". Squirrel embarks on a journey to some favorite places and encourages the city to be well in this homage to a picture book classic. The book is also a celebration of healthy spaces that are built and cultivated for community well-being. "...the text is simple and sweet, the rhymes are soft and lulling, and it all flows well...It's not Goodnight Moon, but this book has its own pleasant appeal." - Kirkus Reviews

Pub: SP | Book Types: PB | Genres: F | Grades: LE, UE | Visit Range: 60 min of Cape Cod MA | Kim Clarkson is a writer from Cape Cod, Massachusetts. She is a graduate of Bridgewater State University and holds an M.Ed. from The College of St. Rose in New York. Kim taught special education in public schools for 25 years and currently consults with private schools. Her debut book, Rodica’s Red Scarf, was published by WestBow Press in December 2023. Kirkus Review Magazine (May 15, 2024), states, “The tale celebrates an attitude of gratitude that children might do well to emulate.” “A strong story about how small acts can affect others in a big way.” Rodica's Red Scarf is categorized as a picture book, but the independent reading level is end of third grade. Kim is a member of The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators as well as the Cape Cod Writers’ Center.

Pub: TP | Book Types: CB, MG | Genres: F | Grades: PK, K, LE, UE | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT + USA | Victoria J. Coe is the author of FENWAY AND HATTIE - the Global Read Aloud for Early Readers, Amazon Teachers’ Pick, and a “One School, One Book” favorite. She's also written 3 FENWAY AND HATTIE sequels, a 4-book chapter book series called Make Way for Fenway!, AND Ezra & The Mouse: The Search for Lafayette, a stand-alone middle grade novel. The SCBWI Sid Fleischman Honoree for exemplary writing for children in the genre of humor, she visits elementary schools across the country.

Pub: SP | Book Types: PB | Genres: F, NF | Grades: PK, K, UE | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT | I write and illustrate children's books about the Eastern Deciduous Forest, presenting natural science in simple, lyrical language for young readers. The books focus on seasonal changes in plants and animals, offering early field guide-style illustrations for children aged 0-6. Each book includes activities or concepts inspired by real biologists’ work, encouraging interactive learning. My ink paintings are designed to help children recognize forest animals and plants in nature. These books have been featured in story walks at the Hitchcock Center and the Mount Grace Accessible Nature Trail, and I’ve shared them in libraries and classrooms. At an exhibit at Holyoke Heritage State Park, I taught children to paint pileated woodpeckers and trees.

Pub: TP | Book Types: PB, CB | Genres: F | Grades: PK, K, LE, UE | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT + Northeast USA | Author Janet Costa Bates loves creating stories for and talking with kids. Her books, both funny and heartwarming, include stories about Cabo Verdean American families, immigration, and grandparent/grandchild relationships. Her school visit program options, engaging and interactive, include Creating Characters!; Creating Stories!; Let's Learn about Cape (or is it Cabo?!) Verde; The Author’s Journey; and Storytime. Depending upon the needs and time frames of the school, program options can sometimes be combined. She is the author of the RICA BAPTISTA chapter book series (Junior Library Guild selections and the Boston Authors Club Award), TIME FOR BED, OLD HOUSE (NAACP Image Award nomination as well as several starred reviews and best books lists), and SEASIDE DREAM (Lee and Low New Voices Honor Award.) Her books have been illustrated by AG Ford, Gladys Jose, and Lambert Davis. Social Media: @jcostabates

Pub: TP | Book Types: PB | Genres: F | Grades: PK, K, LE, UE | Visit Range: MA | Phaea Crede loves writing silly picture books for silly kids. Serious kids, too! She is the author of Jet the Cat (is Not a Cat) (Barefoot Books), Super Pizza & Kid Kale (Viking Books), plus the upcoming Oh Deer! (Sleeping Bear Press) and Princess Battle Royal (Viking Books). As a writer with dyslexia, Phaea is proud to demonstrate that disabilities don't stand in the way of dreams. She loves to connect with kids and adults who think they can't write—and convince them that they can.

Pub: TP | Book Types: PB | Genres: P | Grades: PK, K, LE, UE, MS | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT + USA | Poet, author, and Literacy Coach Mary E. Cronin engages students with a healthy dose of “Vitamin P”-- poetry! Through the power of poetry, Mary inspires young readers and writers to make connections to key literacy concepts and encourages them to delve more deeply into the elements of poetry, including wordplay, sound, rhyme, movement, and more. Mary E. Cronin’s poetry for young readers has been published in numerous anthologies, including Amazing Faces, Chasing Clouds, What is Family? and Things We Do. Mary’s poetry collection about a busy firehouse, TRUCKS, BOOTS, AND BELLS, will be published by Holiday House in 2026. Mary’s picture book biography of PFLAG founder Jeanne Manford, LIKE A MOTHER BEAR, will be published by Atheneum/Simon & Schuster in 2027. A seasoned Massachusetts educator, Mary has delivered K-8 presentations in Massachusetts and NYC.

Pub: TP | Book Types: PB | Genres: F, NF, P | Grades: PK, K, LE, UE, MS, HS, HE | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT + USA | Amanda Davis is a teacher, artist, writer, and innovator who uses her words and pictures to light up the world with kindness.

Pub: TP | Book Types: PB | Genres: F | Grades: LE, UE | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT | Carol Gordon Ekster grew up in Brooklyn, New York. After graduating from Boston University and getting a Master’s degree in reading and language she was a passionate elementary school teacher for 35 years. At the end of her career she began writing unexpectedly. Her two most recent titles, are SOME DADDIES, Beaming Books, 2022 and TRUCKER KID, Capstone, 2023. She’s a member of SCBWI, 12x12, The Writing Barn’s Courage to Create, and part of the group blog, Writers' Rumpus. When Carol is not immersed in her writing life she might be doing yoga, walking or biking. She lives in Andover, Massachusetts with her husband Mark.

Pub: TP | Book Types: YA | Genres: F | Grades: HS, HE | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT + USA | Federico Erebia is a retired physician, woodworker, author, poet, and illustrator. He received the 2024 Lambda Literary Exceptional New Writer Award. His debut novel, Pedro & Daniel (Levine Querido 2023), has additional commendations: 2024 Ohioana Book Award - Finalist; 2024 Massachusetts Book Award - Longlist; 2024 Crystal Kite Award - Honor Book; the 2024 Américas Book Award - Commended Book; 2024 Bank Street BEST BOOK; 2023 Kirkus Reviews BEST BOOK; the 2023 Nerdy Book Club BEST BOOK; featured on NPR’s Weekend Edition; and starred reviews from Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, and Shelf Awareness. He is a state leader of Authors Against Book Bans, on the board of Read Your World, and on the steering committee of the SCBWI Impact & Legacy Fund. He and his husband live near Boston, Massachusetts.

Pub: TP | Book Types: PB | Genres: F | Grades: PK, K, LE, UE | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT + USA | Carrie Finison writes children’s books with humor and heart, including Dozens of Doughnuts; Lulu & Zoey: A Sister Story; Hurry, Little Tortoise, Time for School; and Don’t Hug Doug, which was named an ALA Notable Children’s Book in 2022. Her newest book is Pigs Dig a Road, a humorous story about road construction and teamwork. She lives in the Boston area. Visit her online at www.carriefinison.com , or follow her on social media @CarrieFinison.

Pub: TP | Book Types: PB | Genres: F, NF, P | Grades: PK, K, LE | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT | Maria Gianferrari is a picture book reader/writer, animal lover, and birdwatcher with an M.A. in Creative Writing and a Ph.D. in English. Maria’s books celebrate urban ecosystems and the natural world around us, and honor our bonds with creatures both domestic and wild. Maria’s most recent titles include To Dogs, With Love, Fungi Grow (winner of a Horn Book Honor), Being a Cat: A Tail of Curiosity, You and the Bowerbird and Thank a Farmer. Her next book, Rain and the Reading Horse, releases in October 2025. She lives with her family in Massachusetts where bobcats, coyotes and bears traverse her backyard.

Pub: SP | Book Types: PB | Genres: NF | Grades: PK, K, LE | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT | Under her pen name, Carolinda Goodman has published three picture books, all about various aspects of nature. As an adjunct to the books and her Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/carolindagoodman/), she also hosts “Skygazing with Carolinda,” a podcast on which she talks about all the wonderful things one can see—or imagine—in the sky. She is currently at work on a book about how animals sleep. When she’s not writing for children, Carol (under her “real” name, Carol Goodman Kaufman) writes mysteries and has two long-running newspaper features about food history.

Pub: TP | Book Types: MG, GN | Genres: F | Grades: UE, MS | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT | Jim is a word-wrangling pixel herder with a passion for storytelling. He holds an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts and is currently the Director of the Alumnx Mini-Residency there. He has led workshops for the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod, the Cape Cod Writers Center, the Cotuit Center for the Arts, the New England Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, and the Highlights Foundation. His works have appeared in Daily SF and the SCBWI Bulletin. He was a regular contributor to the blogs Project Middle Grade Mayhem and Through the Tollbooth, and his TEDx Talk, "Role Models and the Myth of Perfection," has received over 30K views on YouTube. Jim's first book, Duff Parker and the Downfall of the Dystopiad, a graphic novel from Avenue A Books, was published in 2022.

Pub: TP | Book Types: CB, MG | Genres: NF | Grades: UE, MS, HS | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT | Kathryn Hulick is an author and science journalist. Her nonfiction book WELCOME TO THE FUTURE explores how technology could change the world in the future, while STRANGE BUT TRUE reveals the real science behind paranormal mysteries, including ghosts, aliens, and sea monsters. Her first fiction book, THE UFO FILES, comes out with Quarto in 2025. Hulick also writes regularly for Science News Explores, Muse magazine, and Front Vision magazine. In school visits, she loves engaging with students. One big hit is a group quiz about futuristic technology. She also shares examples of the editorial process and leaves plenty of time for questions. Her favorite part of writing about science is getting to speak with researchers in many different fields. Once, she spoke with an expert on parallel universes while he was shoveling snow from his driveway. Hulick lives in Massachusetts with her family and many house plants.

Pub: SP | Book Types: PB | Genres: F | Grades: LE | Visit Range: MA | Kathleen grew up in Rhode Island and holds a BA in Elementary Education/Psychology. After a career in US & international publishing, Kathleen left the corporate world to work for Glastonbury Abbey Bookstore in Hingham, MA. She enjoyed her 12 year indie bookstore adventure especially researching children’s books. She is now writing children’s picture books to fulfill her vision to bring, “Love, Light, Spirit, Truth, Joy,” to little one’s beautiful hearts.

Pub: TP | Book Types: MG | Genres: F | Grades: UE, MS | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT + USA | Ginger Johnson earned a BA from BYU, a MA from Indiana University, and an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults at Vermont College of Fine Arts. Her debut middle-grade novel, The Splintered Light (Bloomsbury) was released September 4, 2018. Her second novel, The Other Side of Luck, was released August 10, 2021, also from Bloomsbury. She lives with her family in a large Victorian house in Massachusetts.

Pub: SP | Book Types: YA | Genres: F | Grades: MS, HS | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT + USA | Patrick D. Joyce is the author of two historical novels for young adults, Back in the USSR and Strawberry Fields, both inspired by his experiences growing up in U.S. embassies during the Cold War. He earned his B.A. at Cornell University and his Ph.D. in government at Harvard, and he has been a newspaper reporter, a college lecturer, and a medical practice manager. He welcomes the chance to visit classrooms and connect with teens about writing, history, and the power of music and literature to fight oppression.

Pub: TP, SP | Book Types: PB, CB | Genres: F, NF | Grades: PK, K, LE, UE | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT + USA | David A. Kelly gets to go to the moon, baseball stadiums, and football games for his job. David is the author of over thirty children’s books that have sold over 1.5 million copies, including his bestselling Ballpark Mysteries series in which cousins Kate and Mike visit MLB ballparks to solve mysteries, and the Football Mysteries series, in which they visit NFL stadiums. David’s latest picture book, Tee Time on the Moon, takes readers to the Moon with Alan Shepard as he hits two golf balls during the Apollo 14 mission. In previous lives he got paid to go on vacation and write travel articles for newspapers like the New York Times and Boston Globe. He has also spent many years writing about technology. He currently lives outside of Boston. Find him on X/Twitter at @DavidAKelly, Instagram and Facebook at @DavidAKellyBooks

Pub: TP | Book Types: PB | Genres: F | Grades: PK, K, LE | Visit Range: an hour of Boston, MA | Julie Koon is an author-illustrator who loves making sweet and silly books for kids. Her debut picture book, The Struggle Bus, was published in 2022. As a former school counselor, Julie is passionate about helping kids learn how to navigate their feelings and the big, wide world.

Pub: TP | Book Types: PB, ER, GN | Genres: F | Grades: PK, K, LE | Visit Range: MA | Renée Kurilla is a children's author and illustrator who loves drawing nature, animals, and working on projects that require a little bit of research. She creates art and stories that inspire kids (and grown-up kids) to spread kindness and appreciate the wonder of the world around them. Renée has illustrated many books including the #1 NYT bestselling JUST BECAUSE by Matthew McConaughey, MERMAIDS’ SONG TO THE SEA by Dianna Hutts Aston, CHICKS RULE! by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen, the ADA LACE series by Emily Calandrelli, and FARM BOOTS by Lisl H. Detlefsen. Renee has written a few books as well such as IT’S FALL!, ONE SPRINGY SINGY DAY, and THE FLOWER GARDEN. She has a BFA in Illustration and a minor in Graphic Design from Lesley University College of Art and Design. Before her full-time career in children’s books, she was a Lead Artist at FableVision Studios in Boston for 10 years.

Pub: TP | Book Types: PB, MG | Genres: F | Grades: PK, K, LE, UE | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT | Kaija Langley is the author of an award-winning picture books and middle grade novel. She was raised on a healthy diet of library books, music and theater performances, and visits to the family farm in rural North Carolina. She loves long road trips, dancing wherever music moves her, and adventures near and far with her Beloved. She resides with her family in Cambridge, MA.

Pub: SP | Book Types: PB | Genres: F | Grades: PK, K, LE | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT | L. S. Lentz is a first-time author with a passion for education, boasting over fifteen years of experience in the field. Alongside her career, she embraces the roles of a devoted wife and mother to two adult children and a lovable mastiff-mutt named Stella. The real-life friendship between Stella and the genuine Shell inspired Lentz to craft a story that celebrates friendships of diverse shapes, sizes, and abilities. Residing in a rustic farmhouse in Byfield with her husband and family, Lentz penned this story over a decade ago. Apart from her commitment to teaching, she dedicates time to family and friends, engages in hosting fundraising events, enjoys activities like spinning and golf, manages fantasy football, and has now ventured into the world of writing.

Pub: TP | Book Types: PB, ER | Genres: F, P | Grades: PK, K, LE | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT | Megan Litwin is the author of the Dirt and Bugsy early reader series (a 2023 Cybils Award finalist), Twinkle, Twinkle, Winter Night (a 2023 Massachusetts Must-Read title), and the upcoming Gather Grateful (October 2025). A former classroom teacher with a Master of Arts in Children's Literature from Simmons University, Megan is passionate about growing readers and spreading book love.

Pub: TP, SP | Book Types: ER, CB | Genres: NF | Grades: UE, HE | Visit Range: MA | Career freelance writer and author; biographer (Nature's Ambassador: The Legacy of Thornton Burgess, 2013, Schiffer Publishing) of renowned 20th century children’s author and respected naturalist; adjunct writing instructor; speaker. BA degree Hobart-William Smith Colleges, MA degree University Massachusetts. Author of non-fiction children’s book, (The Last Heath Hen: An Extinction Story), beautiful illustrations, conservation account of 1933 species extinction on Martha’s Vineyard, information on research and bird banding, blank pages provided for readers to record experiences in nature.

Pub: TP | Book Types: PB | Genres: F | Grades: PK, K | Visit Range: MA | Kristi Mahoney lives in Massachusetts with her husband, son, daughter, and seven fur-family members. Kristi loves animals of all kinds, so it’s not surprising they’re a big part of her writing. Her debut picture book, ALPACAS MAKE TERRIBLE LIBRARIANS (illustrated by Chantelle and Burgen Thorne), was recently released with a sequel, OWLS MAKE TERRIBLE TEACHERS, to follow in Spring 2026 (Gnome Road Publishing). She is represented by Elisa Houot of The Seymour Agency.

Pub: TP | Book Types: CB, MG | Genres: NF | Grades: LE, UE, MS | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT | I have written 2 nonfiction books for the educational market. One is a book for grades 4-8 on the history of the Rosh Hashanah holiday (part of the History of Holidays and Festivals series, published by ABDO ), and the other is a a book for grades 3-6 on Cryptocurrency (part of The World of Money series, published by A Child’s World). I would love to come talk and present to the kids on the topic of writing well-researched and interesting nonfiction! How to research different topics, cite sources properly, structure and outline a nonfiction book, and make it fascinating to readers!

Pub: SP | Book Types: PB | Genres: F | Grades: PK, K, LE | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT | Zeba McGibbon is a kindergarten teacher, curriculum creator, and children’s book author. So far, Zeba has written two books in her Caring Critters series to support young children with learning vital social and emotional skills. Zeba wrote the Caring Critters series when she noticed a huge need for more developmentally appropriate social-emotional curriculum and resources for young children. Zeba has used these stories with her students for many years and has seen firsthand how the children gravitate toward the characters, identify with the characters, and learn strategies from the characters. They also love how the characters keep appearing in each other's stories!

Pub: TP | Book Types: PB | Genres: F | Grades: PK, K, LE | Visit Range: MA | Jaya Mehta is the co-author of Nisha's Just-Right Christmas Tree. She has a Ph.D. in English literature from Yale University, and taught both English and Indian literature for many years as a college professor. She won a LitUp Fellowship from Reese's Book Club for a YA novel manuscript in 2022. She lives in Chelmsford Massachusetts, among all the animals left behind by her college-aged twins. She loves observing wildlife, cuddling with her two dogs, attending storytelling events, travelling to foreign countries, and playing board games with her family during which her husband and son cheat madly.

Pub: HP | Book Types: YA | Genres: F | Grades: HS, HE | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT | Michael Miller was born in a small town in New Jersey like the one portrayed in his novel. Like his characters, he played baseball, did odd jobs like delivering the daily newspaper, and tramped through the woods. Through small town life, he learned to respect people regardless of their backgrounds and to appreciate the gifts each person brings to the world. Miller continues to get great joy from his family, exploring the outdoors, learning history and about others, and contributing to his community as a volunteer.

Pub: TP, SP | Book Types: PB | Genres: F | Grades: PK, K, LE, UE | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT + USA | Mario Nacinovich was born in New York City. He was the Founding Editor of the Journal of Communication in Healthcare in 2008 and an adjunct faculty member of Boston University since 2010. He has contributed to the Healthcare Marketer’s Exchange, Medium, DocCheck, Journal of Communication in Healthcare, Journal of Brand Strategy, The Write Stuff, and PharmaVOICE. He authored the lead chapter - “The Art of Pricing in the Pharmaceutical Industry” in the book Pharmaceutical Pricing Compendium – A Practical Guide to the Pricing and Reimbursement of Medicines in 2003. He lives outside of Boston and authored a collection of flash fiction in SIXTEEN STORIES: Contemplatives in Action in 2020. “The Adventures of Myron and Swimmy: One for Myron” is his first in a series of children’s books.

Pub: TP | Book Types: BB, PB, MG, YA | Genres: F, P | Grades: PK, K, LE, UE, MS, HS, HE | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT + USA | Lesléa Newman has published 85 books for readers of all ages including the middle-grade novel, "Hachiko Waits," the teen novel-in-verse, "October Mourning: A Song for Matthew Shepard" and the picture books, "Joyful Song: A Naming Story," "The Babka Sisters," "Gittel's Journey: An Ellis Island Story," "Welcoming Elijah: A Passover Tale With A Tail," "Sparkle Boy," and "Heather Has Two Mommies." She has received two National Jewish Book Awards, two ALA Stonewall Honors, the Sydney Taylor Body-of-Work Award, and the Massachusetts Book Award. From 2008 - 2010, she served as the poet laureate of Northampton, MA. Currently she teaches writing for children and young adults at the Naslund-Mann School of Professional Writing.

Pub: TP | Book Types: PB | Genres: F | Grades: PK, K, LE | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT | Jason Perkins is a picture book author, father, and special education teacher with over twenty years experience working with children with Autism. He resides in Western Massachusetts with his wife and two rock star children.

Pub: TP | Book Types: BB, PB, MG, YA | Genres: F | Grades: PK, K, LE, UE | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT + USA | Cynthia Platt is the author of books for young readers for all ages, ranging from board books to young adult fiction. Her picture books include Grow, Easter Starring Egg, A Little Bit of Love, and Panda-monium. She’s also the author of the young middle grade novel Parker Bell & the Science of Friendship, the YA novel Postcards from Summer, and numerous Curious George books. She’s also written numerous picture books and early readers for the Khan Academy Kids learning app. Her latest book, Happy Halloween, Teal Pumpkin!, celebrates the holiday in style for kids with food allergies. She teaches in the Lesley University MFA in Creative Writing program and is the editorial director at a small educational nonprofit.

Pub: TP | Book Types: BB, PB, ER, CB | Genres: F, NF | Grades: PK, K, LE, UE | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT + USA | April Jones Prince is the author of many books for young readers, from board books for preschoolers to chapter-book biographies in Penguin’s popular Who Was…? series (the “bobble head” books!). April’s award-winning picture books include Twenty-One Elephants and Still Standing, What Do Wheels Do All Day?, and Goldenlocks and the Three Pirates. Most recently, her double-sided “flip” book You Are a Reader!/You Are a Writer! links and celebrates these two essential processes, empowering readers to expand their concept of literacy and the ways reading and writing support and complement each other. April has worked in publishing for more than 25 years and co-teaches a longtime picture book course for Illustration undergraduates at Rhode Island School of Design. Through her books, teaching, and author visits, she works to inspire and champion readers and writers of all ages.

Pub: TP | Book Types: PB | Genres: NF | Grades: PK, K, LE, UE, MS | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT | Interactive? Engaging? Yes and yes! Author Cedar Pruitt will use questions, tools and activities to stoke passion for reading, writing, and poetry in your students. Her lyrical nonfiction picture books provide the framework; her expertise as a trained facilitator, 10+ years hosting author visits in public schools, and Ed.M. from Harvard provide the insight. Cedar Pruitt understands the importance of creating moments that pop for students—and invites them into the riveting world of ideation, expression and revision. FIRE FLIGHT: A Wildfire Escape, illustrated by Chiara Fedele (Capstone Editions, 2024), explores an owl’s real-life flight out of a California wildfire and right into a surprise that made headlines around the world. WHAT MARCEL FOUND: The Incredible Discovery of the Lascaux Cave Paintings, illustrated by David Litchfield (Beach Lane Books, 2026), is about the brave kids in 1940's occupied France who forever changed our view of humanity.

Pub: TP | Book Types: PB | Genres: F, NF | Grades: PK, K, LE | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT | I am an author/illustrator and as a child I emigrated from the former Yugoslavia, where my poem and illustration, Baby Dragons of Ljubljana, included in the Writer’s Loft anthology, Gnomes And Ungnomes, Poems of Hidden Creatures around the World takes place. I hold two certificates from the Rhode Island School of Design in Children’s Book Illustration and Natural Science Illustration and am a recipient of the R. Michelson Galleries Emerging Artist Award. I am a member of the Writer’s Loft and SCBWI, where I was co-illustrator coordinator of the New England Chapter from 2015-2021. I have illustrated six picture books, including Harry Can Hear by Fynisa Engler, An Old Man And His Penguin, written by Alayne Kay Christian which won a Certificate of Excellence in Literature from Story Monsters and Noodles’ and Albie’s Birthday Surprise, written by Eric Bennett, which was a Mom’s Choice Gold Award Recipient.

Pub: TP | Book Types: MG, YA | Genres: F | Grades: MS, HS | Visit Range: MA | Born on a stormy night in upstate New York, Amy grew up strong and creative with three athletic brothers who teased her into being the person she is today. Her first YA novel, REGARDING JEFFREY, received excellent reviews on Amazon and Goodreads. Her second novel, HAVEN’S HOME, went through a professional developmental edit and is currently seeking representation and a wider audience. While teaching first elementary English and social studies and then emotionally disabled teenagers, Amy earned a masters in special education and an MFA in creative writing. Amy’s writing pulls from her experiences as a teacher, horse lover, and mother to a foster child. When not writing, Amy rides her horse, camps, enjoys live music, and catches striped bass when they’re in season. She lives on Martha’s Vineyard Island and is inspired by nature, animals, and the young people she taught and mentored.

Pub: TP | Book Types: MG, YA | Genres: F | Grades: UE, MS, HS, HE | Visit Range: MA | Diana Renn is the author of five novels, including three YA mysteries featuring globetrotting teen sleuths (Tokyo Heist, Latitude Zero, and Blue Voyage), and two middle grade eco-mysteries, The Owl Prowl Mystery (2024) and Trouble at Turtle Pond (2022). Trouble at Turtle Pond, inspired by her volunteer work with Blanding's turtles in Zoo New England's HATCH program, was named a 2023 Green Earth Book Award Honor Book and a Massachusetts Book Award “Must-Read.” Diana received a Massachusetts Cultural Council Fellowship Award for creative nonfiction for a collection of essays she is writing about becoming a neighborhood nature detective. She serves as a mentor in Creature Conserve, an organization which facilitates collaborative work among scientists, artists and writers working on conservation issues. She lives in Concord with her husband and son, on a street she shares with turtles and owls - some of whom have inspired her books!

Pub: TP | Book Types: PB | Genres: F | Grades: PK, K, LE | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT | Casey W. Robinson grew up in Maine and used to keep a shoebox of favorite words and phrases under her bed. She now lives with her family just west of Boston, in a yellow house overflowing with books. When she’s not writing, Casey manages book events for her local indie bookseller. Her debut picture book, Iver & Ellsworth, was a finalist for the Crystal Kite Award and Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Award. Her latest picture book, Small Things Mended, is a New England Book Award winner and a Kids’ Indie Next Pick.

Pub: TP | Book Types: PB, ER | Genres: P | Grades: LE, UE | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT | Ron and Amy Schmidt live in Newburyport, Massachusetts, and are a husband and wife artist-author team. They have been sharing their love for creativity through art, storytelling, and creative writing with elementary school students for over ten years. They do this through fun and interactive workshops that focus on exploring creativity and how it can inspire art and poetry. Ron and Amy share their creative process by leading students in interactive brainstorming and idea-generating sessions that cover the sparking of ideas, character creation, and storytelling through using different poetry styles as a form of creative writing. The Schmidts are the creators of three top-selling children’s picture books featuring Ron’s art and Amy’s poetry - Loose Leashes (Random House), Dog-Gone School (Random House), Back to Dog-Gone School (Random House).

Pub: TP, SP, HP | Book Types: MG, YA, GN | Genres: F | Grades: UE, MS, HS, HE | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT + USA | Arnon Z. Shorr is an author and filmmaker of character-driven adventures and thrillers, where heroes grapple with the extraordinary, and in doing so, learn important truths about themselves.Arnon is perhaps best known for his swashbuckling graphic novel, José and the Pirate Captain Toledano. It is an expansion of his award-winning short film about Jewish pirates in the 16th century Caribbean. He is a 2024 Fellow of the JWI Screenwriters Lab, and a 2024-25 Fellow of the PJ Library Sephardic Stories Initiative.For more about Arnon and his work, visit www.arnonshorr.com

Pub: SP | Book Types: PB | Genres: F | Grades: PK, K, LE | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT | Candelaria Silva-Collins is an author, arts administrator, and facilitator who connects community-based groups to the arts. Candelaria’s children’s stories, fiction, essays and reviews have been published in local and national publications. She has published a series of children’s picture books featuring an active and imaginative Black girl, Stacey Huggins. They are Stacey Became a Frog One Day (2020), Jump, Jump, Jump, Stacey! (2021), and What’s the Baby’s Name, Stacey? (2022). An active member of Boston’s cultural community, She is Project Manager of the Fellowes Athenaeum Trust Fund for programs at the Roxbury Branch of the Boston Public Library. She is currently Chair of the Designators of the George B. Henderson Foundation; a board member of Legacy Fund Boston; and has received numerous awards for her community work.

Pub: SP | Book Types: MG | Genres: F | Grades: UE, MS | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT | Darrin is an educator with more than twenty five years experience teaching and working with students in Idaho, Indiana and Massachusetts. He lives in Boston with his wife Jennifer. They have five grown children and five perfect grandchildren! Darrin enjoys walking along the harbor, cheering for the Celtics and the Red Sox and writing contemporary middle grade fiction. He received his PhD in education from the University of Idaho.

Pub: TP | Book Types: PB, MG | Genres: F | Grades: PK, K, LE, UE, MS | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT + USA | Katie Slivensky is an enthusiastic presenter and the critically acclaimed author of middle grade sci-fi novels, THE COUNTDOWN CONSPIRACY and THE SEISMIC SEVEN, and natural history themed picture books, THIS WOLF WAS DIFFERENT and I, ROCK (forthcoming in 2025). She is a professional science educator who has worked in zoos and museums since age eleven. Her love of learning has resulted in a lifetime of adventures, including helping separate fighting rhinos, falling down a cliff in search of fossils, flying an astronaut through the solar system (the astronaut was real, the solar system was a simulation), raising a stranded baby mouse, creating million-volt lightning bolts, and handling feisty alligators. She is a firm believer that science and adventure are for everyone, and that kids have a lot to teach adults about how to save the world.

Pub: SP | Book Types: PB | Genres: F | Grades: PK, K, LE, UE | Visit Range: MA | I fell in love with the Camino de Santiago in Spain when a small kitten begged to walk with me. So I told his story, highlighting the glories of the Road and Spain. Some Spanish vocabulary, a map and a glossary, all illustrated in watercolor and ink.

Pub: TP | Book Types: PB | Genres: F, NF | Grades: PK, K, LE | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT + USA | Laya Steinberg is an award-winning Canadian-American author of picture books: THESAURUS REX, (a Junior Library Guild selection and Texas 2x2 selection); ALL AROUND ME I SEE (a Bank Street Best Book); and THE BEST SUKKOT PUMPKIN EVER, (a PJ Library book). Laya studied illustration and graphic design at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design. She was a high school visual arts/design educator and now teaches pottery to adults and children. Laya loves to visit schools and libraries. She’s a climate activist and nature lover. When not writing she might be swimming in Walden Pond with peach blossom jellyfish and a friendly otter, getting muddy in her vegetable garden, or munching on dark chocolate while brainstorming new book concepts.

Pub: TP | Book Types: BB, PB, ER, CB | Genres: F, NF | Grades: PK, K, LE, UE, MS | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT | Heidi didn’t want to be a writer when she grew up. In fact, after she graduated from college, she became a probation officer in Florida. It wasn’t until she was 28 years old that she gave in and joined the family business, publishing her first short story in a book called Famous Writers and Their Kids Write Spooky Stories. The famous writer was her mom, author Jane Yolen. Since then, she has published almost fifty books and numerous short stories and poems, mostly for children. Heidi lives and writes on a big old farm in Massachusetts that she shares with a dozen deer, a family of bears, three coyotes, two bobcats, a gray fox, tons of birds, and some very fat groundhogs. Once a year she calls owls for the Audubon Christmas Bird Count.

Pub: TP, SP | Book Types: PB | Genres: F, P | Grades: PK, K, LE, UE, MS | Visit Range: MA | Author, poet, and collage artist, CATHY STENQUIST, collects seeds of inspiration from nature, her voracious love of reading and many funny and tender moments with her grandchildren. Planted one by one, they sprout into stories and poems that she nurtures - watering and pruning them till they blossom. Being a “word gardener” is one of Cathy’s greatest joys. Her poetry has been published in several children’s anthologies. Her picture book FOREVER HOME, about pet rescue and adoption, has won two independent publishing awards including Best Children’s Book. She won 2nd place in the 2020 Boston Author's Club Picture Book Discovery Award Contest. Cathy visits schools with her daughter, Erica Leigh, a professional illustrator, sharing their love of writing, poetry and illustration. They love to inspire children to use their imagination and express themselves in words and art.

Pub: TP | Book Types: MG | Genres: F | Grades: UE, MS | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT + USA | Elly Swartz lives in Massachusetts and is happily married with two grown sons, a grandbaby, a beagle named Lucy, and a pup named Baxter Bean. Hidden Truths, called a "realistic fiction at its best" in a starred review by SLJ, was her latest novel. Same Page flies into the world on 1/14/25 and is about Bess Stein who unites friends with a group of librarians known as the Book Warriors to fight a bookban happening at her middle school. Swartz is also the author of Dear Student, Finding Perfect, Smart Cookie, and Give and Take, novels for middle-grade readers.

Pub: TP | Book Types: MG | Genres: F | Grades: UE, MS | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT + USA | Alex Thayer is a former film and television actress and elementary school teacher. She lives in New England with her two sons. Happy & Sad & Everything True is her debut novel.

Pub: TP | Book Types: PB, MG, YA | Genres: F, NF, P | Grades: LE, UE, MS, HS, HE | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT + USA | Holly Thompson, longtime resident of Japan, is the author of three verse novels for young people: Falling into the Dragon’s Mouth; The Language Inside; and Orchards, winner of the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature. She is also author of the picture book biography Listening to Trees: George Nakashima, Woodworker; The Wakame Gatherers about a girl gathering seaweed with two grandmothers; and the poetry picture books Twilight Chant and One Wave at a Time. She edited Tomo: Friendship Through Fiction—An Anthology of Japan Teen Stories. Holly is a graduate of the NYU Creative Writing Program, and a Regional Advisor Emeritus of SCBWI Japan. Now based primarily in Massachusetts, she writes and translates poetry, fiction and nonfiction for children, teens and adults and teaches writing at Yokohama City University, Boston's GrubStreet, and UC Berkeley Extension, and she visits schools in Japan, the U.S. and places in between.

Pub: TP | Book Types: MG | Genres: F, NF | Grades: UE, MS, HS | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT | Taylor Tyng is an author of fantastical fiction for young readers. His CLARA POOLE adventure series has been called "an engrossing and inventive flight through the skies" by Kirkus Reviews and a "soaring debut with echoes of Jules Verne and Roald Dahl" by Booklist. His next book, a Tim Burtonesque speculative tale called SPROUT will be published in 2026 (Random House Children’s).

Pub: TP | Book Types: PB, MG | Genres: F | Grades: PK, K, LE, UE | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT | Author Christina Uss has published four acclaimed novels for young readers, including The Adventures of a Girl Called Bicycle, A Few Bicycles More, The Colossus of Roads, and Erik Versus Everything, plus one quirky picture book, The Island Before No. Her books have received multiple starred reviews and been on numerous state award lists, including the Texas Bluebonnet and the Vermont Golden Dome. Christina’s school visits themes center on persistence and a growth mindset, as well as the power of mixing true stories into imagined tales. She’s ridden her bike across the United States twice, once east-to-west, and once north-to-south. When she’s not writing or riding, she’s probably reading, or working at a public library. She has trouble saying no to checking out one more book from the library, and always, always, always says yes to yummy things.

Pub: TP | Book Types: PB | Genres: F | Grades: PK, K, LE, UE | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT + USA | Pam Vaughan is the author of the picture books MISSY WANTS A MAMMOTH (Holiday House, 2024) and TENACIOUS WON’T GIVE UP (Knopf, 2025). Depending on the season she loves to pick blueberries and apples, but during any season loves to write stories and play ice hockey. Pam is the Director the Whispering Pines Writers’ Retreat and is co-assistant regional advisor for SCBWI New England.

Pub: SP | Book Types: PB | Genres: F | Grades: PK, K, LE, UE | Visit Range: MA | I'm Denyse Walker, an Artist. Teacher. Illustrator. Stealing away as many hours Art-ing as I can, while Mom-ing. I have a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art Education from Massachusetts College of Art and Design. I love to create illustrations digitally and also through mixed media that come alive; rich with spontaneity and texture. Collaborating with my cousin, writer Zeba McGibbon, on our social emotional learning children's book titled "Felipe the Feeling Frog” has been a dream come true. When I'm not creating in my studio, you'll often find me and my husband on the sidelines of a soccer field, cheering on our boys. We cherish our daily walks with Miss Piper, the sweetest doggie, always ending our busy days as a family with a good book and a warm snuggle from our orange kitty man, Cooper.

Pub: TP | Book Types: BB, PB, CB | Genres: F, NF | Grades: LE, UE, MS | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT | Joy Nelkin Wieder is an author, artist, and educator. Her picture book The Passover Mouse, illustrated by Shahar Kober, was awarded the SCBWI/PJ Library Jewish Stories Award and was chosen as a PJ Library selection. Her historical novel The Secret Tunnel has been selected for the PJ Our Way program. Joy has two Hanukkah books slated for publication in 2025. When she’s not writing or illustrating books for children, she might be painting landscapes or training service dogs. Joy lives outside Boston with her husband and two cats.

Pub: TP | Book Types: YA | Genres: F, P | Grades: MS, HS, HE | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT | Kip Wilson is the critically acclaimed YA author of verse novels White Rose (Versify, 2019), The Most Dazzling Girl in Berlin (Versify, 2022), and One Last Shot (Versify, 2023). Awards for her books include the Malka Penn Award and the Julia Ward Howe Award, and her books have been named a Massachusetts Book Honor title, an Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award finalist, and a Los Angeles Times Book Award finalist. Her next project is a YA anthology of stories in verse, All the Love Under the Vast Sky (Nancy Paulsen Books, 2025). Kip holds a Ph.D. in German Literature and is an enthusiastic high school library worker. Find her on Instagram @kipwilsonwrites.

Pub: TP | Book Types: MG | Genres: NF | Grades: MS, HS | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT | Laura A. Woollett is the author of the middle-grade book Big Top Burning: The True Story of an Arsonist, a Missing Girl, and The Greatest Show On Earth, a nonfiction account of the 1944 Hartford circus fire, published by Chicago Review Press. Laura has a Master’s degree in Children’s Literature from Simmons College and is a full-time writer and editor of literacy curriculum for children in kindergarten through grade 12. Originally from South Windsor, Connecticut, Laura now lives in Massachusetts with her husband, daughter, and two cats.

Pub: TP | Book Types: PB, MG | Genres: F, NF | Grades: PK, K, LE, UE | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT | REBECCA J. ALLEN grew up with her nose stuck in books like A WRINKLE IN TIME and THE HOBBIT. Now, she writes middle grade stories that blend mystery and adventure and young adult stories with kick-butt heroines. Her latest books, MY CAT CAN'T TELL TIME (BUT I CAN) + 3 other books in the narrative nonfiction series MATH ALL AROUND launched August 1st. They teach core math concepts to kindergarten and first-grade readers through engaging stories. Her novels, COLE CHAMPION IS NOT SUPER & COLE CHAMPION TAKES ON THE VILLAINS are STEM superhero adventures for 3rd-5th grade readers. Rebecca lives in New Hampshire with her husband, two kids, and Emmy the cat. When not writing, she likes to hike, bike, watch spy thrillers, and grow yummy things in her garden. She’s on Twitter and Instagram as @RebeccaJ_Allen. Pronouns: she/her

Pub: TP | Book Types: PB, CB, YA, GN | Genres: F, NF | Grades: PK, K, LE, UE | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT + USA | Debbie Dadey is the author and co-author of 182 traditionally published books. She is a former first grade teacher and school librarian. Her passion has always been finding (or writing) a good book for every kid to enjoy.

Pub: TP | Book Types: MG | Genres: F | Grades: LE, UE, MS | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT + USA | E. E. Dowd is a writer, educator, and the author of her debut middle grade novel, Shipshape, a fast-paced mystery full of robots, class pets, and adventure around every turn. She has been an educator, consultant, writer, and presenter for almost two decades. She holds a master’s degree in Global and International Education from Drexel University and presents frequently at conferences, including ISTE, ASCD, and AFS on global education and creativity topics. In 2017, she was named an ASCD Emerging Leader for her work in curriculum development and global collaboration. Currently working on her second novel, Dowd believes that wonder and creativity are the foundations of making positive change in the world and that everyone can be a changemaker. When she’s not writing, she can be found wondering about and wandering around the world with her partner or snuggling with her cat Pita in New Hampshire.

Pub: TP, HP | Book Types: BB, PB | Genres: F, NF, P | Grades: PK, K, LE, UE, MS | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT | Matt Forrest Esenwine is the author of numerous picture books including the Kirkus-starred "Flashlight Night" (Astra Young Readers, 2017), which was included on Encyclopedia Brittanica’s list of “11 Children’s Books That Inspire Imagination,” and "I Am Today" (POW! Kids Books, 2022), recipient of the 2023 NH State Literary Award for Outstanding Children’s Literature. Meanwhile, his poetry can be found in anthologies like "The National Geographic Book of Nature Poetry" (N.G. Children’s Books, 2015); "Construction People" (Wordsong, 2020), a Kirkus Best Book of the Year; and the Donald Hall tribute, "Except for Love" (Encircle, 2019).

Pub: TP | Book Types: PB, YA | Genres: F, P | Grades: PK, K, LE, UE, MS, HS, HE | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT | Terry Farish writes picture books and young adult novels. Her newest novel is Go Home, written with Lochan Sharma, awarded a 5-star review from CM: Canadian Review of Materials. Her picture books include Joseph’s Big Ride, “A joyful, upbeat tale that takes a positive perspective on an immigrant child’s first encounters.” Her second Joseph book written with OD Bonny is A Feast for Joseph. Visit her blog on books from many cultures, One Moon. (https://www.terryfarish.com/category/one-moon-reviews/)Terry teaches adult English language learners in Exeter, NH and lives in Portsmouth.

Pub: TP | Book Types: PB | Genres: F | Grades: PK, K, LE, UE | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT + USA | Carrie Kruck writes books for kids, including Iggy Who Breathes Fire (plus the upcoming summer camp sequel Iggy Who Shines, illustrated by Erika Meza) and Alfred Blooms (illustrated by Carmen Mok). She grew up in Canada, worked as a psychologist in Australia, and now lives in New England with her husband, two kids, and a delightful assortment of owls, foxes, and bears (oh my!). She loves swimming in lakes, snowshoeing in forests, and growing food in her garden, but you can mostly find her staring out the window with a cup of coffee.

Pub: TP | Book Types: PB | Genres: F, NF | Grades: PK, K, LE, UE | Visit Range: NH | Before becoming a full-time writer, Cathy Stefanec Ogren was an elementary school teacher and a school librarian. In those roles, she was passionate about introducing new and diverse books to her students. She has contributed articles, stories, fingerplays, and action poems to educational and children's magazines. She has written a nonfiction picture book, PEW! The Stinky and Legen-Dairy Gift from Colonel Thomas S. Meacham (2023), and a fiction picture book, The Little Red Chair (2024). Both are from Sleeping Bear Press. Cathy believes in reading and writing books that spark curiosity and teach children about the world. She takes great pleasure in encouraging students to use their imagination and embrace writing as a way to express themselves.

Pub: TP | Book Types: PB, CB, MG | Genres: F | Grades: PK, K, LE, UE | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT | Gina Perry writes and illustrates children’s books with humor, hugs, bubbles, big feelings, and easy-to-memorize refrains. Having previously worked in animation, she uses a colorful palette and dynamic characters. Some of her picture books for children are SMALL (a Bank Street Best title) and TOO MUCH! NOT ENOUGH! She is also the illustrator of the Aven Green chapter book series, written by Dusti Bowling. Her newest book, THE KING OF BOOKS, is forthcoming from Macmillan in July 2025. She enjoys meeting and drawing with her readers through school visits and workshops. Gina lives in New Hampshire with her husband, children, and Hank the pug.

Pub: SP | Book Types: PB | Genres: NF, P | Grades: PK, K, LE | Visit Range: MA, southern NH | Marge Silvestri’s life has been full and fulfilled as a pre- school through LA middle school teacher, mother to 3, grandmother to 6, in a beautiful diverse family. However, for many years she had a longing to write a specific children’s picture book. The idea came as a Child Development and Family Relationships major at Cornell University . While doing research on children developing racial bias, the fear of differences seemed to play an important role. That became a seed for an idea. “Like a Rainbow” was finally created to focus on the beauty of our differences by spotlighting Nature’s diverse colors. Marge is now sharing her book, its message, and integrated activities in Author School Visit presentations.

Pub: TP | Book Types: PB, MG, YA | Genres: F, NF | Grades: UE, MS | Visit Range: CT, MA, RI | Linda Crotta Brennan is the award-winning author of over twenty books for young readers. Her middle grade fantasy, The Selkie’s Daughter, earned a starred review in School Library Journal and was selected as a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Title. When Rivers Burned: The Earth Day Story was selected as a Children’s Book Council Notable Social Studies Trade Book and Outstanding Science Trade Book. Marshmallow Kisses was selected one of the best children’s books of the year by Bank Street College. Brennan holds a master’s degree in early childhood education and has worked as a library assistant, teacher, and an instructor for the Institute of Children's Literature. She lives in Rhode Island, the Ocean State, with her husband and mischievous mutt, Tansy.

Pub: TP, SP | Book Types: YA | Genres: F | Grades: MS, HS | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT | Rachel Menard is an author of strange and fantastical stories for teens that feature unapologetic young women. Her work has been featured in Writer's Digest and on Cast of Wonders, and her short story, Blame it on the Bees, was chosen as a “Best of 2019” by Diabolical Plots. Her novels include Game of Strength and Storm and Clash of Fate and Fury, both Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selections. Game of Strength and Storm also won the Silver IPPY Medal for Young Adult Fantasy. Steel Hand, Cold Heart, her self-published novel, was the grand prize winner in the Writer’s Digest 7th Annual Self-Published eBook awards.

Pub: TP | Book Types: BB, PB, ER | Genres: F, NF | Grades: PK, K, LE, UE | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT + USA | Jamie Michalak is a former editor and the author of many children’s books. Her titles include the multiple-star reviewed NIKI NAKAYAMA: A CHEF’S TALE IN 13 BITES, co-written with Debbi Michiko Florence and illustrated by Yuko Kato-Jones; the FRANK AND BEAN early reader series, illustrated by Bob Kolar; the DAKOTA CRUMB: TINY TREASURE HUNTER series, illustrated by Kelly Murphy; the JOE AND SPARKY early reader series, illustrated by Frank Remkiewicz; and many more.

Pub: TP | Book Types: PB | Genres: F, P | Grades: PK, K, LE | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT | Jean Taft studied German literature, became a nurse and always wanted to write children’s books. Her picture book, Worm Weather (Grosset & Dunlap 2015), was also published by Scholastic (2017, 2023) and was an NAIBA Pick of the List for Picture Books. She has poetry in the children’s anthologies Friends & Anemones (2020) and Gnomes & Ungnomes (November 2023) published by the Writers' Loft. A reformed arachnophobe, she has spent the last several years learning about spider biology (yes, there are spider poems!). Crafting stories with rhythm, rhyme and a focus on clarity, Jean writes from the intersection of language, literature and science. When not writing, her favorite place to be is paddling in a canoe with her husband and thinking of more stories and poems inspired by nature.

Pub: TP | Book Types: MG, YA | Genres: F, P | Grades: UE, MS, HE | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT + USA | Padma Venkatraman is the author of The Bridge Home, Born Behind Bars, A Time to Dance, Island's End and Climbing the Stairs. Her books have sold over ¼ million copies, received over 20 starred reviews, and won numerous awards: Walter Dean Myers Award, South Asia Book Award, Golden Kite, ALA Notable etc. Her poetry has appeared in Poetry Magazine and been nominated for a Pushcart Prize. “An exquisite novel in verse by one of my favorite poets,” says Newbery honor winner, Margarita Engle, about Padma’s upcoming novel, Safe Harbor. Inspired by Padma’s doctorate in oceanography, Safe Harbor features a girl who rescues a stranded seal. When she’s not writing, Padma loves teaching and sharing her love for reading, writing and science. Visit Padma’s website to download free teacher and writer resources (www.padmavenkatraman.com) and arrange an event via her speaking agency, The Author Village (https://theauthorvillage.com/presenters/padma-venkatraman/).

Pub: SP | Book Types: MG | Genres: F, GN | Grades: PK, K, LE, UE, MS, HE | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT | Marie Ventura (pen name: Rowena Zahnrei) is a neurodiverse (ASD) author. Her publications range from children’s fiction (including "The Ghost in Room 113" in Ranger Rick’s Storybook: Favorite Nature Tales from Ranger Rick Magazine) and comics/graphic novels (including "Birthday Cake When It's Too Hot To Bake" in Comics From The Kitchen!) to peer-reviewed articles (including “Honks, Whistles and Harp: The Transnational Sound of Harpo Marx” in Miranda). THE ADVENTURES OF NICKI AND RICKY: BAFFLING BIRDS! – her crowdfunded graphic novel series – met its funding goal in less than twelve hours, was accepted to San Diego Comic-Con, 2024, and sold nearly 20 copies in under two hours at a book signing event at Bank Square Books in Mystic, Connecticut. Growing up with autism, Marie has always used stories and storytelling to unpuzzle the worlds around her, and she hopes to share her wide range of stories with many more readers.

Pub: TP | Book Types: PB, CB, MG | Genres: F, NF | Grades: PK, K, LE, UE, MS, HS, HE | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT + USA | Michael J. Caduto is best known as for his children’s books, including the Keepers of the Earth series (co-author), which appeared on the New York Times bestseller list. As an author, storyteller, ecologist and singer-songwriter, he writes and presents programs and performances for all ages—focusing on Earth stewardship, cultural diversity, science and the arts. He has presented live programs to over 500,000 people throughout North America, Europe and the Middle East. His children’s books also include Earth Tales from Around the World, Native American Gardening (coauthor), Catch the Wind, Harness the Sun, Riparia’s River, The Crimson Elf: Italian Tales of Wisdom and The Garden of Wisdom: Earth Tales from the Middle East. His awards include the Teacher’s Choice Award, Aesop Prize, Storytelling World Award, NAPPA Gold Award and Green Earth Honor Book Award. Michael has worked closely with many indigenous peoples, including the Abenaki of Vermont and New Hampshire.

Pub: TP | Book Types: PB | Genres: F | Grades: PK, K, LE | Visit Range: 100 miles of Elmore, VT | Susan Drew currently lives in Northern Vermont with her husband and hungry dog, but she grew up all over the world as a military brat. All her traveling led her to a life of imagination. What do the squirrels say to each other as they race around her yard? Are all the bees in her flower garden busy, or is there a lazy one reading the current issue of Hive Beautiful somewhere? It’s also what feeds her picture books and middle grade novels. Susan is the author of Sadie Does Not Like Sorries, illustrated by Zonaisha Arshad, and a Finalist in the 2024 American Fiction Awards from the American Book Fest, Children’s Fiction Division. She is a member of Society of Children’s Books Writers and Illustrators, Women Fiction Writers Association, and Sisters in Crime. Susan is represented by Terrie Wolf, AKA Literary Management.

Pub: SP | Book Types: PB, CB, MG, YA | Genres: F | Grades: PK, K, LE, UE, MS, HS | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT | Adam B. Ford writes silly books, plays ultimate Frisbee, and teaches snowboarding, usually not all at the same time. he lives in upper-middle-southern-central Vermont with his two high-energy dogs.

Pub: SP | Book Types: PB, CB | Genres: F, P | Grades: LE | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT | Maggie Keefe is the author of two silly poetry books for kids, Day Dreaming and One Little Voice. Her latest chapter books, Trouble's Tale and Whiskers in the Wild, are heartwarming stories of family, friendship, and a very clever cat, sure to resonate with children and adults alike. Maggie lives in the northeast kingdom of Vermont for half the year, escaping to Sarasota, Florida, when the long, cold Vermont winter sets in. What could be better than spending summer in the mountains, winter by the beach, and writing silly, quirky children’s books?

Pub: TP | Book Types: PB | Genres: F, NF | Grades: LE, UE, MS, HS, HE | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT + USA | Angela Burke Kunkel is the author of Digging for Words: José Alberto Gutiérrez and the Library He Built, an ALA-ALSC Notable Children’s Book and winner of both the Américas Award and International Latino Book Award. She is also the author of Penguin Journey (Abrams Appleseed, 2021) and Make Way: The Story Robert McCloskey, Nancy Schön, and Some Very Famous Ducklings (Random House Studio, 2023). Look for her next book, World More Beautiful: The Life and Art of Barbara Cooney, in August 2024. Angela lives with her family in Vermont, where she works as a school librarian.

Pub: SP | Book Types: PB, CB, MG, YA | Genres: F, NF | Grades: PK, K, LE, UE, MS, HS, HE | Visit Range: VT | I’m a retired consulting forester for 41 years and was the first woman consulting forester in the northeast. As a naturalist I have taken thousands of people into nature.

Pub: TP | Book Types: MG, YA | Genres: F | Grades: UE, MS, HS | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT + USA | Dayna Lorentz is the author of Wayward Creatures and Of a Feather (Clarion Books), the No Safety in Numbers trilogy (Speak), and the Dogs of the Drowned City trilogy (Scholastic). Wayward Creatures won the 2023 NCTE Charlotte Huck Award for Outstanding Fiction for Children and has been selected for multiple state award lists. Of a Feather was a finalist for the 2021 New England Book Award and was a 2023 Magnolia Book Award nominee. No Safety in Numbers was selected by the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) as a 2013 Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers, and the second book in the trilogy, No Easy Way Out, was a Barnes & Noble Bookseller’s Pick for Teens. Dayna holds an MFA in Creative Writing and Literature from Bennington College. She is also a staff attorney with the Vermont Judiciary and lives with her husband, two kids, and two cats in Vermont.

Pub: TP | Book Types: PB, MG, YA | Genres: F, NF, P | Grades: PK, K, LE, UE, MS | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT | Christy Mihaly writes for young readers because she believes our best hope for the future is raising kids who love reading. She especially enjoys nonfiction. Christy wrote the informational picture book Hey, Hey, Hay!, the fictional Patience, Patches!, and the award-winning middle grade nonfiction Barefoot Books WATER: A Deep Dive of Discovery. The high school nonfiction Diet for a Changing Climate, co-written with Sue Heavenrich, explores changing our diet to help the planet. A former lawyer, Christy often writes about democracy and government. Her informational picture books include Our Congress; The Supreme Court and Us; and "FREE FOR YOU AND ME: What Our First Amendment Means." Christy also loves writing poetry for—and with—kids. Her poems have appeared in many anthologies and magazines. She lives in Vermont where she enjoys walks in the woods and playing cello (not simultaneously). She loves the questions kids ask at school visits.

Pub: TP | Book Types: MG | Genres: F | Grades: UE, MS, HS | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT + USA | Darcy Marks is a lifelong reader who learned to walk quite well with a book in front of her face, thank you very much. She lives in Vermont with her husband, three genre-defying kids, a very needy cat and an extremely friendly former racehorse, where she writes rebellious fantasy books for kids. When she’s not reading or writing she explains math and science to lawyers as a forensic toxicologist and used her several black belts to help found The Safety Team, a non-profit changing the world and smashing the patriarchy one step at a time. She is the author of GROUNDED FOR ALL ETERNITY and other snarky books for kids.

Pub: TP | Book Types: PB | Genres: F, NF | Grades: PK, K, LE, UE, MS, HS, HE | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT + USA | Laurel Neme has a passion for wildlife. As a young girl, she wanted to be a veterinarian or animal scientist, like Jane Goodall, but eventually started to help animals in her own way—by telling their stories. She’s the author of ANIMAL INVESTIGATORS: How the World’s First Wildlife Forensics Lab is Solving Crimes and Saving Endangered Species, ORANGUTAN HOUDINI, THE ELEPHANT’S NEW SHOE, and GiRAFT (coming in 2026). She also writes regularly for National Geographic and Mongabay.com.

Pub: TP, SP | Book Types: BB, PB, MG | Genres: F, NF, P | Grades: PK, K, LE, UE, MS | Visit Range: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT + USA | Steve Swinburne worked as a national park ranger and is the author of more than 40 children’s books. His extensive travels to faraway lands such as Africa, Borneo, Bangladesh, and Dubai along with treks through Yellowstone and the highlands of Scotland, have influenced his book projects. Steve researched sea turtles in the Caribbean Islands for Sea Turtle Scientist and Run, Sea Turtle, Run, and he went on safari in Kenya for his title, Giraffe Math. Other titles include: Once a Wolf; Ocean Soup-Tide Pool Poems; Safe in a Storm; Lots and Lots of Zebra Stripes- Patterns in Nature; and Big Truck Super Wash. Steve visits nearly 70 schools a year across the United States as well as many international schools. He lives in Vermont with his wife, Heather. For more information, visit his website.