Experts in the Field

Kathleen T. Horning,
Director of Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC), School of Education, University of Wisconsin-Madis
Angela Johnson
  She is an African American author of multicultural books for children and young adults.

 Louis Sachar
 An award-winning author of over twenty-one fiction and educational books for children. Louis's book, Holes, won the prestigious National Book Award and the Newbery Medal.

 Deb Caletti
 An award-winning author and National Book Award finalist. Her many books for young adults include The Nature of Jade, Stay, The Last Forever, and Honey, Baby Sweetheart, winner of the Washington State Book award, the PNBA Best Book Award, and a finalist for the California Young Reader Medal and the PEN USA Award. Her first book for adults, He’s Gone, was released from Random House in April of 2103, and will be followed with The Divorce Ranch in 2015.

Meg Medina
 An award-winning Cuban-American author who writes picture books, middle grade, and YA fiction.

Malinda Lo
 Critically acclaimed author of several young adult novels, most recently the duology Adaptation, a Bank Street College Best Children’s Book of 2013, and Inheritance, winner of the 2014 Bisexual Book Award. She is the co-founder of Diversity in YA, a project that celebrates diversity in young adult book

Marcin Żyła
Polish journalist and an op-ed columnist, currently working for Tygodnik Powszechny weekly.  He is the author of numerous articles, interviews, and reports from countries of former Yugoslavia and South-East Europe. His main area of interest includes issues of multiculturalism, migration, and contemporary history.

Joseph Bruchac
He is the author of more than 120 books for children and adults. The best-selling Keepers of the Earth: Native American Stories and Environmental Activities for Children

Jacqueline Woodson
The author of "Brown Girl Dreaming"; She is a multicultural, African American writer of young adult literature.

Tracey Baptiste
She has written 100 books that are well-known throughout as New York City's favorite author of librarians.  She is a former teacher and textbook editor.

Kathleen Benson
is the coauthor of many picture books, including "John Lewis in the Lead".

Tonya Bolden
She has won the Coretta Scott King Honor Award, the James Madison Book Award, School Library Journal Best Book of the Year, YALSA Best Book of the Year, and CCBC Best Book of the Year.

Tricia Brown
is an author, editor, and book developer. She travels often and is a popular speaker in schools. Her multimedia presentations, which include lessons on Alaska natural history and culture.