Alumni Authors | Authors in April

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Dedicated to Bringing Children, Authors, and Illustrators Together Through the Magic of Books.

Alumni Authors 2023

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David LaRochelle and Mike Wohnoutka

This dynamic duo, David LaRochelle (left) and Mike Wohnoutka (right), have achieved individual publishing success as well as literary achievements collectively. Five fantastic books have been the result when this talented team comes together. Jointly, David has written and Mike has illustrated Moo!, This is Not a Cat, How to Apologize, See the Cat: Three Stories About a Dog, See the Dog: Three Stories About a Cat and we know there is more on the way! They have been honored with a Theodor Seuss Geisel Award, Minnesota Book Awards, Michigan’s Great Lakes, Great Books Award, the Bulletin’s Gryphon award and many more. This pair visited Rochester for Authors in April individually in 2016 and 2017 and “are delighted to be returning to see old friends and make some new ones!"

Kelly Starling Lyons

Kelly Starling Lyons is an award winning children’s author. Kelly’s work includes chapter books, easy readers, and picture books. Her wildly popular Jada Jones and Miles Lewis books have earned praise for celebrating an African-American girl and boy who love science, friends, and family. She is a 2021 Geisel Honor Award winner for her early reader book, Ty’s Travels Zip, Zoom! Kelly’s picture books are filled with hope, love, history, and family.

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Barbara O'Connor

Barbara O’Connor is the author of award-winning novels for children, including Wonderland, How to Steal a Dog, and the New York Times bestseller, Wish. Drawing on her South Carolina roots, Barbara’s books are known for their strong Southern settings and quirky characters. In addition to seven Parents Choice Awards, Barbara’s distinctions include School Library Journal Best Books, Kirkus Best Books, Bank Street College Best Books, American Booksellers Association Best Books and ALA Notables. She has had books nominated for children’s choice awards in 38 states and been voted the winner by children in ten states. Barbara is a popular visiting author at schools and a frequent speaker at conferences around the country.

Christina Soontornvat

Christina Soontornvat is an award-winning author, engineer, and STEM educator. Her last name is pronounced SOON-TORN-VAT. (It rhymes with “Moon”-“Born”-“Lot".) Her many works for children include picture books and the Diary of an Ice Princess chapter book series. Her middle grade fantasy novel, A Wish in the Dark, and All Thirteen: The Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Boys’ Soccer Team were both named 2021 Newbery Honor Books.

2023
Author Videos

More Alumni

2021 Author Videos

2020 Author Videos

2022

2021

2020 - Our virtual year

K-1: Erica S. Perl

2-3: Jame Burks

4-5: Gennifer Choldenko

MS: Varian Johnson

K-1: Beth Ferry

2-3: Jennifer Holm

4-5: Jeffrey Brown

MS: Victoria Jamieson

K-1: Angela Dominguez

2-3: Mary Amato

4-5: J.J. and Chris Grabenstein

2022 Author Videos

2019

2018

2017

2-3: Erin Soderberg Downing

4-5: Kirby Larson

2019 Author Videos

K-1: Lita Judge

2-3: Jason Chin

4-5: Jewell Parker Rhodes

MS: Jennifer Nielsen

2018 Author Videos

K-1: Mike Wohnoutka

2-3: Lenore Look

4-5: Cynthia Lord

MS: Neal Shusterman

2016

2015

2014

K-1: David LaRochelle

2-3: Sara Pennypacker

4-5: Kate Messner

MS: Margi Preus

K-1: Daniel Kirk

2-3: Lynne Jonell

4-5: Chris Grabenstein

MS: Nora Raleigh Baskin

K-1: Laurie Keller

2-3: Brian Floca

4-5: Lisa Graff

MS: Adrian Fogelin

2013

2012

2011

K-1: John Rocco

2-3: Betty G. Birney

4-5: Sarah Weeks

MS: Jordan Sonnenblick

K-1: Maryann Cocca-Leffler

2-3: Mary Casanova

4-5: Barbara O'Connor

MS: Shelley Pearsall

K-1: Loren Long

2-3: Matthew McElligott

4-5: Gennifer Choldenko

MS: Sara Holbrook

2010

2009

2008

K-1: Brian Lies

2-3: Tony Abbott

4-5: Mark Crilley

MS: David Lubar

K-1: Jim LaMarche

2-3: Sara Pennypacker

4-5: Jim Murphy

K-1: Lisa Wheeler

2-3: Laurie Keller

4-5: Gary D. Schmidt

MS: Christopher Paul Curtis

2010

2007

2006

2005

K-1: Chris Raschka

2-3: Barbara M. Joosse

4-5: Jack Gantos

MS: Adrian Fogelin

K-1: Judith Bryon Schachner

2-3: Robert San Souci

4-5: Anna Myers

MS: Suzanne Fisher Staples

K-1: Denys Cazet

2-3: Megan McDonald

4-5: Ashley Bryan

MS: Neal Shusterman

2004

2003

2002

K-1: Eileen Christelow

2-3: Stephanie Greene

4-5: Bruce Coville

MS: Ben Mikaelsen

K-1: Denise Fleming

2-3: Eric Kimmel

4-5: Wendelin Van Draanen

MS: Kimberly Willis Holt

K-1: Floyd Cooper

2-3: Nina Laden

4-5: Cynthia DeFelice

MS: Neal Shusterman

2001

2000

1999

K-1: Judith Caseley

2-3: Cheryl Harness

4-5: David Wisniewski

MS: David Almond

K-1: Peter Catalanotto

2-3: Betsy Duffey

4-5: Vicki Cobb

MS: Theresa Nelson

K-1: James Ransome

2-3: Natalie Kinsey-Warnock

4-5: Elvira Woodruff

MS: Donna Jo Napoli

2000

1998

1997

1996

K-1: Jim Aylesworth

2-3: Rafe Martin

4-5: Joseph Bruchac

MS: Tim Wynne-Jones

K-1: Peter Catalanotto

2-3: Betsy Duffey

4-5: Vicki Cobb

MS: Theresa Nelson

K-1: Megan McDonald

2-3: Deborah Nourse Lattimore

4-5: Jean Little

MS: William Sleator

1995

1994

1993

K-1: Chris Raschka

2-3: Jan Reynolds

4-5: Ivy Ruckman

MS: Gordon Korman

2-3: Robert San Souci

4-5: Dean Hughes

MS: Theresa Nelson

K-1: Denys Cazet

2-3: Ashley Bryan

4-5: Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

MS: Paula Danziger

1992

1991

1990

K-1: Joanne Ryder

2-3: George Ancona

4-5: Candy Dawson Boyd

MS: Bruce Brooks

K-1: Tomie DePaola

2-3: Arthur Dorros

4-5: Claudia Mills

MS: Grace Chetwin

K-1: José Aruego

2-3: Ashley Bryan

4-5: Dean Hughes

MS: Paula Danziger

1990

1989

1988

1987

K-1: David Small

2-3: Eve Merriam

4-5: Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

MS: Cynthia Voigt

K-1: Denys Cazet

2-3: Seymour Simon

K-1: Trinka Hakes Noble

2-3: Mary Blount Christian

4-5: E.L. Konigsburg

1986

1985

1984

K-1: Robert Quackenbush

2-3: Byrd Baylor

4-5: James Lincoln Collier

K-1: George Shannon

2-3: Sid Fleischman

4-5: Thomas J. Dygard

K-1: Lorna Balian

2-3: Judy Delton

4-5: Avi

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