​​JILANNE HOFFMAnn

Choose-Your-Prize!*

Jilanne Hoffmann is the author of A River of Dust: The Life-Giving Link Between North Africa and the Amazon (Chronicle), which received a PW starred review, a Junior Library Guild Gold Selection, and a Crystal Kite, was named an ALA Notable and Bank Street Best for 2024, and received the Louis J. Battan Author Award (K-12) from the American Meteorological Society. She’s also the author of two nonfiction board books for young explorers, Happy Camper (Amazon editor’s pick) and The Honey Bear Hive. The Ocean’s Heart, a nonfiction picture book illustrated by Khoa Le, is forthcoming from Lerner/Millbrook in March 2026. HeartLand, a middle grade historical/contemporary novel in verse/prose is forthcoming from Little Brown in Summer 2026. Jilanne lives in San Francisco with her husband, son, and rescue dog. 

 

​Follow Jilanne on Twitter: @Jill_SF and Instagram: @jilanne2694 and BlueSky @jilanne.bsky.social.

​​

*Choose between a 30 Minute AMA or a 30 Minute Virtual School Visit (a reading/Q+A)!

​​

ROB SANDERS 

Rob is a teacher who writes and a writer who teaches. He is known for his funny and fierce fiction and nonfiction picture books and is recognized as one of the pioneers in the arena of LGBTQIA+ literary nonfiction picture books. Rob’s nonfiction books continue to break new ground, including the first picture books about the Pride Flag, the Stonewall Uprising, a transgender Civil War soldier, a gay presidential candidate, and the first gay marriage in America. His work also continues to introduce readers to heroes of the LGBTQIA+ community—from Harvey Milk to Gilbert Baker, from Cleve Jones to Bayard Rustin, and more.  His fiction explores friendship, relationships, standing up for others, and being allies. Blood Brothers, his first middle grade novel, (July 2022.)  And Rob pays it forward. He is a frequent speaker, teacher, mentor, coach, and critiquer. He is also a member of the SCBWI Impact and Legacy Fund Steering Committee. Rob is represented by Rubin Pfeffer.

 

Website: robsanderswrites.com; Blog: robsanderswrites.blogspot.com; Facebook: RobSandersWrites; Twitter: RobSandersWrite; Instagram: RobSandersWrites

​

JYOTI GOPAL

Growing up, Jyoti lived in Thailand, Indonesia, Myanmar, China and India. She finally settled in New York where she raised two daughters with her husband (who also grew up all over the world). As a child, she adored and devoured books but did not enjoy writing. At all.  As a grown up, she is a forever kindergarten teacher and mom. She still adores and devours books. But now, she likes to write! She has two books releasing this summer, Over in the Mangroves and The Power of Your Name.

 

Find out more about her and her books at jyotirajangopal.com.

​​​

​​

JOLENE Gutiérrez 

Jolene Gutiérrez is an award-winning neurodivergent teacher librarian who has been working with neurodivergent learners since 1995. Her books include Bionic Beasts: Saving Animal Lives with Artificial Flippers, Legs, and Beaks, The Ofrenda That We Built (co-authored with her daughter Shaian), Mamiachi and Me: My Mami’s Mariachi Band (co-authored with her son Dakota), the upcoming Unbreakable: A Japanese American Family in an American Incarceration Camp (co-authored with Minoru Tonai), and Too Much! An Overwhelming Day, which has been printed in 9 countries and 8 languages.

 

Find her online at www.jolenegutierrez.com or on Facebook, Bluesky, Instagram, or Threads @writerjolene.

 

​

PICTURE BOOK MECHANICS W/LYNNE MARIE

(3 AMAs)

Creator of The Picture Book Mechanic, Lynne Marie is also an editor at The Little Press and  an award-winning author of 9 picture books including The Palace Rat and Broommates co-written with Brenda Reeves Sturgis. She’s also the Director of RateYourStory.org, a Mentor at ThePictureBookMechanic.com, the Creator of March On With Mentor Texts (www.rateyourstory.org/march-on) and Mentor Text Talk, a Co-Host of #SeasonsOfKidLit (www.seasonsofkidlit.com) and a Feature Columnist at Children’s Book Insider (www.writeforkids.org).  

 

Click here for more about Picture Book Mechanics.

​

​

NANCY CHURNIN 

Nancy is an award-winning author of more than 20 children's books, including The William Hoy Story, on the Texas 2X2 list, Manjhi Moves a Mountain, a South Asia Book Award winner and Dear Mr. Dickens, a Sydney Taylor Honor and winner of the National Jewish Book Award. Her latest book, A Teddy Bear for Emily -- and President Roosevelt, Too is the true story of the immigrant family that created the first "Teddy's Bear" to thank the kind President Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt. A former theater critic for The Dallas Morning News, Nancy lives in North Texas. She provides free teacher guides, resources and activities on her website nancychurnin.com.

 

Visit her on Facebook at Nancy Churnin Children's Books, on Twitter @nchurnin and Instagram @nchurnin​​​​​

​

​​​​​​​​​​KAREN M. GREENWALD

Karen M. Greenwald is an award-winning children's author with experience in international law, government, and branding. Her book, A VOTE FOR SUSANNA, THE FIRST WOMAN MAYOR, was named a KS Notable Book (2022). The state also chose it to represent KS at both the Library of Congress National Book Festival, and in the Library of Congress Center for the Book Great Reads from Great Places initiative--a permanent honor on their website. In 2024, THE MUD ANGELS: HOW STUDENTS SAVED THE CITY OF FLORENCE launched to an international audience. It has received praise from the American Library Association's publication, Booklist. The book has been featured in domestic and international magazines, by various Italian and conservation-focused organizations, and in Tuscan news. Her next picture book, THE CABBAGE SEED'S COLOSSAL SECRET launches September 2025. Dedicated to helping increase literacy, Ms. Greenwald holds at least two "new book" drives annually for under-resourced school libraries. Professionally, her strategic branding efforts have earned 19 international awards, including a 2024 BEST IN CATEGORY for Educational Marketing and a SILVER (same category) international MEA. Ms. Greenwald is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Georgetown University and holds her JD from Georgetown's Law Center. 

 

Greenwald is a 12x12 NF "Elf," member of the Children's Book Guild, and co-founded #SunWriteFun. She oversees brand-new/free book donations to underserved elementary school libraries (in conjunction with 501(3)c charity, Reader to Reader). 

​

You can follow her on Instagram at: @karenmgreenwald, on GoodReads by clicking HERE, and on BlueSky at: @kmgreenwald.bsky.social