Picture, Early Reader, & Chapter Books

Megan Hoyt first fell in love with reading on a cozy branch of the crabapple tree outside her home in Dallas, Texas. Megan's award-winning picture book biography, Bartali's Bicycle, came out in February 2021 with Harper Collins' new imprint, Quill Tree Books. Three more non-fiction picture books quickly followed: The Greatest Song of All: How Isaac Stern United the World to Save Carnegie Hall, Kati's Tiny Messengers: Dr. Katalin Kariko and the Battle Against Covid 19, and A Grand Idea: How William J Wilgus Created Grand Central Terminal. When she's not writing, Megan enjoys traveling to Italy and spending time with her husband, children, grandchildren, and two feisty little dogs. You can follow her on social media at @meganhoytwrites. 

Amanda Maynard loves writing stories with an old-school twist. Derived from her treasured childhood days in Denver, CO, she incorporates her lifelong passion for music and animals in her storytelling adventures set in the 1980s. Her award-winning picture/chapter book series includes Norman the Squirrel: Adventures in Happiness and Norman the Squirrel: Adventures in Wonderment Book 2. Stay tuned for the third book in the series featuring Norman’s Adventures in Heritage. She has worked over ten years in the veterinary field, which continues to make her very heart happy. She lives in Fort Collins, CO with her son, dog, and cat. You can follow her book series @norman.the.squirrel.

Jo Renfro is an author and illustrator who has a love of mixing color, pattern, and whimsy in her somewhat quirky, often amusing, and always upbeat work. She is always game for the next adventure, and believes that we only get one shot at this life, so go for it! She uses her sense of humor — cultivated from raising three kids, several dogs, numerous cats, and a potbellied pig named Matilda, to create pieces that are lighthearted, yet inspirational. Her love of the outdoors, animals great and small, and her amazing kids (and now grandkids!) are often reflected in her work. She loves sharing her stories with kids of all ages and is energized and inspired by their curious nature.

Ann Suk Wang graduated from UCLA (BS) and Boston University (MS) in mass communication, and is a former journalist. She’s an advocate for adopting children (and dogs) and is a mentor for teen girls. When Ann’s not writing, reading or listening to podcasts, she’s most likely jazz dancing, roller skating, praying with moms, tending her butterfly garden or eating doughnuts in California with a husband, two sons and a canine son. Her debut picture book “The House Before Falling into the Sea” has received starred reviews (from Kirkus, Booklist, The Horn Book) and is also a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection book.

Kimberly Wilson is the author of A Penny’s Worth (Page Street Kids, 2022), a Bill Martin Jr. Award finalist; A Dollar’s Grand Dream (2023); and the forthcoming A CREDIT CARD TAKES CHARGE (October 1, 2024). As a full-time writer, she enjoys combining humor and heart and sprinkling educational fun facts and wordplay into her writing. When not writing, Kimberly shares her passion for books by visiting schools and volunteering with local literacy nonprofits through their Title I outreach programs. She lives in Charlotte, NC, with her husband, two daughters, and their two furry family members. You can also find her on Instagram, X, and Bluesky.

Stan is an award-winning, first generation American-born-Chinese, Denver-based writer, illustrator, caricature artist and instructor. He helped to co-found the Squid Works comic creator cooperative, and is currently the co-Regional Advisor for the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the  Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (RMC-SCBWI). He currently teaches illustration at the Rocky Mountain College of Art & Design and via the Cuddlefish Academy. His late middle-grade graphic novel, THE MANY MISFORTUNES OF EUGENIA WANG is being published by Atheneum (S&S), scheduled for Fall '25.

Natasha Yim is a children’s author and freelance writer. She has published eleven picture books including, Goldy Luck and the Three Pandas (Charlesbridge Publishing, 2014), a Junior Library Guild and Scholastic Book Club selection, Luna's Yum Yum Dim Sum (Charlesbridge Publishing, 2020) and Mulan's Lunar New Year (Disney Press, 2018). She has also written for the children's magazines, "Highlights for Children", "Appleseeds", "Faces", and "Muse". Natasha grew up in Malaysia, Singapore, and Hong Kong and loves to write about people and cultures from around the world.

Growing up in the DC area, Olivia devoured books and hid in empty classrooms during school to finish them. Her debut novel, Perfectly Parvin, was published in 2021 by Penguin Random House Putnam Books For Young Readers, receiving the SCBWI Golden Kite Honor, and YALSA Odyssey Honor, and numerous starred reviews. Her sophomore novel, Azar on Fire, was published in August 2022. Her middle grade debut, Rostam and the Red Dwarf, is forthcoming from Simon & Schuster in 2026, along with her Picture Book debut from Kokila in the same year. She currently lives in Denver, Colorado, with her husband and daughter.

Kate Albus writes historical fiction for young readers. Her first novel, A Place to Hang the Moon, was a NY Public Library Best Book for Kids, a Kids Indie Next List pick, an SCBWI Crystal Kite winner, an ALSC Notable Children's Book, a CCBC Choice, a JLG Gold Standard Selection, and has been included on multiple state reading lists. Her most recent novel, Nothing Else But Miracles, was a JLG Gold Standard selection as well as a NY Public Library Best Book for Kids. Originally from New York, Kate now lives with her family in rural Maryland, where she loves reading, knitting, baking, and other activities that are inherently quiet.

Chris Baron is the award-winning author of novels for young (and young at heart) readers, including All Of Me, an NCTE Notable Book, The Magical Imperfect, a Sydney Taylor Book Award Notable Book and a SLJ Best Book of 2021. In addition, Chris is the author of The Gray, a ProjectLIT 23-24 Selection, The Secret of the Dragon Gems, a Middle Grade novel co-authored with Rajani LaRocca from Little Bee Books, and editor of On All Other Nights: A Middle Grade Passover Anthology. Though Chris grew up in New York City, he now lives in San Diego with his family and is a Professor of English at San Diego City College and the director of the Writing Center. 

Alyssa Colman is the author of heartwarming middle grade novels for kids and the grown-ups that love them. Her titles include THE GILDED GIRL, THE TARNISHED GARDEN, and the forthcoming WHERE ONLY TROUBLES GROW (2025), all from Farrar, Straus & Giroux Books for Young Readers. Her debut novel won the 2021 Northern Lights Book Award for middle grade fantasy and was selected as a best book of the year by Bank Street College of Education and A Mighty Girl. Alyssa now lives with her family in Virginia where she enjoys making messes in her kitchen, reading, and hiking with her dog, Daisy. 

Melissa Dassori writes novels for young readers. Her middle grade debut, J.R. Silver Writes Her World, was a Bank Street Best Book of the Year and a Washington Post KidsPost Summer Book Club recommendation. Her next book, Greta Ever After, will be out in the summer of 2025. Melissa lives in New York City with her husband and daughters, with whom she especially likes to share books, spend time outside, and eat lots of ice cream.

In an alternate universe, Lori Snyder is in the circus—probably as a very glittery aerialist. In this universe, she's had many careers: marine biologist, fourth grade teacher, dancer, yoga teacher and studio owner, speaker, book editor, and writer. Her debut mg, The Circus at the End of the Sea, is a love letter to magic, delight, and the sea, and her second novel, coming in 2025, is a mg fantasy adventure about the nature of time. Lori leads writing retreats and is the founder of the writers happiness movement Splendid Mola, offering a revolutionary refuge for writers. You can find her at lorirsnyderauthor.com or writershappiness.com.

Jessica Speer is the award-winning author of BFF or NRF (Not Really Friends)?, Middle School -  Safety Goggles Advised, and The Phone Book - Stay Safe, Be Smart & Make the World Better with that Powerful Device in Your Hand. Blending social science, stories, and activities, her writing guides readers through the tricky stuff that surfaces during childhood and adolescence. She has a Master's Degree in Social Sciences and a knack for writing about complex topics in ways that connect with kids and teens. Jessica regularly contributes to media outlets on content related to kids, parenting, digital safety, friendship, and social-emotional learning.

Sam Subity loves writing stories that explore the magic and wonder of being a kid. He’s still a little stunned every time he sees his words on a bookstore’s shelf for a kid to discover. His novels include: The Last Shadow Warrior, a modern retelling of Beowulf via Percy Jackson; and Valor Wings, a historical fantasy that reimagines the evacuation at Dunkirk…with dragons.  When he’s not writing, you might find him running the trails of northern California where the endless, winding miles past fog and ocean inspire stories of adventure and mystery. 

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.

J.E. Thomas spent her early summers stuffing grocery bags with books at the local library, reading feverishly, then repeating the process week after week. She loves inspiring students to read for pleasure and write their own stories. Her debut middle grade novel, Control Freaks, (Booklist starred review) was a People Must Read selection. Her forthcoming middle grade novel, The AI Incident, is scheduled for June 2025. J.E. is an award-winning writer with BA degrees in mass communications and political science, and an MA in public communications. She began writing full-time in 2021. Prior to that, she had a long career in corporate, health care and education communications. A dedicated fan of teachers and librarians, J.E. believes educators are superheroes. You can follow her Instagram at @jethomasauthor.