Founders Workshops Faculty

Abby McAden

Abby McAden is the paperback publishing director of Scholastic and editorial director of Point. She has worked on many middle-grade and chapter-book series, including Goosebumps, Dear Dumb Diary, Rainbow Magic, Geronimo Stilton, and Poison Apple. As editorial director of Point, Abby is responsible for publishing commercial teen fiction.

Alan Gratz

Alan Gratz's first novel, Samurai Shortstop, was named one of the ALA's 2007 Top Ten Best Books for Young Adults. His second novel, Something Rotten, was a 2008 ALA Quick Pick for Young Adult Readers, and was followed by a sequel, Something Wicked, in October 2008.

Alma Fullerton

Alma Fullerton was born in Ottawa, Ontario, as one of seven children. Her dad was in the military so they moved when his postings changed, first to Trenton when she was two, then to Comox when she was twelve. Having a learning disability, she couldn't read until grade four and didn't enjoy reading at all until grade nine, when she discovered books that she really loved.

Alvina Ling

Alvina Ling is Executive Editor for Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. She edits children’s books for all ages, from picture books to young-adult novels, with some nonfiction mixed in.

Alyssa Capucilli

Alyssa Satin Capucilli is the award-winning author of nearly 100 books for children. Her popular Biscuit book series, with more than fifty books, includes picture books, board books, e-books, and Apps.

Andy Boyles

Andy is the science editor at Highlights magazine and its trade book division, Boyds Mills Press. He used to write about psychiatry and molecules at medical centers in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Galveston, Texas, but he hasn't done that since he joined Highlights seventeen years ago.

Anne Ursu

Anne is the author of The Shadow Thieves, The Siren Song, and The Immortal Fire, all fantasies for young readers. She has also written two books for adults, as well as articles for Glamour, Salon.com, The Washington Post Book World, and ESPN.com.

Barbara Jean Hicks

Barbara Jean Hicks is the author of five critically acclaimed and award-winning picture books that beg to be read aloud! She claims that editors who say they don’t like rhyme really mean they don’t like bad rhyme. And if a story wants to be told in rhyme, who is she to say no?

Barbara Krasner

Barbara Krasner received her MFA in Writing for Children & Young Children from Vermont College in January 2006. She is the author of 100 articles that have appeared in Highlights for Children, Appleseeds, Babaganewz, Calliope, Cobblestone, Footsteps, and Odyssey.

Bobbie Combs

Bobbie’s knowledge of every corner of the children’s book publishing industry is astounding.

Candace Fleming

Candace is an award-winning author of numerous books for children. She discovered the joy and music of children’s books by reading aloud to her two sons.

Carolyn P. Yoder

Carolyn is currently editor of Calkins Creek Books—the U.S. history imprint of Boyds Mills Press. Calkins Creek specializes in nonfiction and historical fiction picture books, chapter books, and novels. Carolyn is also the senior editor of history for Highlights for Children.

Catherine D. Hughes

Catherine began her career at the National Geographic Society (NGS) in 1980, first as a researcher and writer working on NG World magazine (which was renamed NG KIDS magazine in 2001) and Books for Young Explorers. In 1995 she was promoted to her current position as science editor for National Geographic KIDS and, since its inception in 2008, for NG Little Kids magazine.

Cheryl Klein

Cheryl is the senior editor at Arthur A. Levine Books (an imprint of Scholastic, Inc.) In her book, Second Sight: An Editor's Talks on Writing, Revising, and Publishing Books for Children and Young Adults, Cheryl’s experienced voice leads readers to discover what must be done to polish a manuscript for children and young adult readers.

Christine French Cully

Christine French Cully is the editor in chief of all Highlights for Children, Inc. publications, including Highlights magazine, Highlights High Five, books, and digital print. Chris’s experiences in the children’s magazine business are deep and varied.

Clay Winters

Clay Winters has served in almost every job imaginable connected with trade publishing. He has sold and marketed books as a retailer, wholesaler, and representative of trade publishing houses both giant and modest. Clay is a cofounder of Boyds Mills Press with Kent Brown and Larry Rosler.

Coe Booth

Coe Booth is the author of Tyrell, which won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Best Young Adult Novel, and was named an ALA Best Book for Young Adults and a New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age. Her newest book, Kendra, received a starred review from School Library Journal. Coe was born in the Bronx and still lives there.

David L. Harrison

David’s first book for children, The Boy with a Drum, was released in 1969 and eventually sold more than two million copies. In 1972, David won national recognition when he received the Christopher Award for The Book of Giant Stories. Since then David has published seventy-seven original titles that have sold more than fifteen million copies and earned numerous honors.

David Paterson

An award-winning playwright and screenwriter, David has penned more than two-dozen plays, twelve of which are published through Samuel French Inc. David has served as a panelist for numerous film festivals in the United States and abroad and is in great demand as a guest lecturer and motivational speaker at colleges and universities.

David Richardson

Besides working as a book buyer and accounts manager for The Blue Marble Children’s Bookstore, Dave Richardson, a former junior high language arts teacher, writes a regular book review column for Reading Today (put out by the IRA) and teaches Children’s Literature at a local college in Cincinnati, OH.

Deborah Gonzales

Debbie Gonzales is the author of eight “transitional” readers for Giltedge and a contributor for ReaderKidZ, a website dedicated to the advancement of literacy for the K–5 set. A Montessori teacher, former school administrator, and curriculum consultant specializing in academic standards annotation, Debbie now devotes her time to teaching at St.

Deborah Heiligman

Deborah Heiligman’s work spans picture books to novels, fiction and nonfiction. Deborah began her career writing for children at Scholastic News. Charles and Emma: The Darwins’ Leap of Faith, published in January, 2009, received five starred reviews, as well as a National Book Award finalist, Michael L. Printz Honor book, and won the first ever YALSA excellence in nonfiction award.

Deborah Underwood

Deborah’s picture books include The Quiet Book, The Loud Book!, A Balloon for Isabel, Granny Gomez & Jigsaw, and the forthcoming Part-Time Princess and The Christmas Quiet Book. Deborah is the author of the easy reader Pirate Mom, and she co-writes the Sugar Plum Ballerinas chapter-book series with Whoopi Goldberg.

Dianna Hutts Aston

Dianna Hutts Aston is the author of many books for children, including the award-winning An Egg Is Quiet and A Seed Is Sleepy, both illustrated by Sylvia Long. The Moon Over Star, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney, received a Coretta Scott Honor, 2009.

Donna Jo Napoli

Donna Jo Napoli is an award-winning writer of children's fiction, from picture books to young adult novels. She’s won the Golden Kite, the Sydney Taylor, the NJ Reading Association, and the Kentucky Bluegrass awards.

Doug Wechsler

Doug is a wildlife biologist and photographer who takes his inspiration from forests, swamps, and seashores as well as his own backyard. By showing the wonders of nature and its humorous side, he hopes to motivate his readers to deepen their interest in their natural surroundings.

Eileen Robinson

Eileen has helped many writers become first-time authors during her years at Scholastic. For almost ten years, she acquired, developed, and edited children’s books for both Scholastic, as executive editor, and Harcourt Publishers, as editorial manager. She has also worked on projects for National Geographic, Santillana USA, Marshall Cavendish, Weekly Reader, and others.

Eileen Spinelli

Eileen is an award-winning author and poet whose work includes the 1991 Christopher Award winner, Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch. Eileen has published over 30 books for children. Some of her recent titles include The Dancing Pancake, Do You Have A Cat, The Best Story, Miss Fox's Class Earns a Field Trip, and How To Clean Your Room.

Elizabeth Bird

Elizabeth Bird, children’s librarian at the Children’s Center at the 42nd Street branch of the New York Public Library system, has served on the Newbery Award committee, written reviews for Horn Book, and contributes to the School Library Journal.

Elizabeth Partridge

Elizabeth Partridge graduated with a degree in Women's Studies from the University of California at Berkeley, and later studied traditional Chinese medicine. She was an acupuncturist for more than twenty years before closing her medical practice to write fulltime.

Eric Rohmann

Eric Rohmann is a painter, printmaker, and author. His work includes the Caldecott Award winning book, My Friend Rabbit; the Caldecott Honor book, Time Flies; and most recently, the highly praised, Bone Dog.

Floyd Cooper

Floyd Cooper is the Coretta Scott King award-winning illustrator of more than 60 books for children. Floyd started his career in illustration at Hallmark, after a successful career in the industrial side of art, he made the leap into picture books with Eloise Greenfield’s Grandpa’s Face.

Harold Underdown

Harold is an independent editor who works with authors and publishers. He has worked at Macmillan, Orchard, and Charlesbridge, and has experience in trade and educational publishing.

Helen Hemphill

Helen Hemphill’s debut novel Long Gone Daddy won the Teddy Award and was named to the New York Public Library’s Books for the Teen Age, 2007. Booklist named her second novel Runaround a 2007 Top Ten Youth Romance, and The Adventurous Deeds of Deadwood Jones, her most recent novel, was the recipient of the 2008 Virginia M.

Janet Fox

Janet Fox is a former high school English teacher. She became a children’s author in the mid-90s, when her son’s learning differences led her to develop her award-winning book for Free Spirit Publishing, Get Organized Without Losing It (2006). Other work for children includes fiction (Spider Magazine) and science nonfiction (Highlights for Children).

Jeanette Ingold

Jeanette Ingold is the author of seven novels for young readers. They include Hitch, a Christopher Award winner, and The Big Burn, historical fiction that VOYA called, "A must-read for adrenalin junkies.” Burn also won the 2003 Spur Award for juvenile fiction from the Western Writers’ of America.

Jerry Spinelli

With titles like Do the Funky Pickle, There’s A Girl in My Hammerlock, and Who Put That Hair in My Toothbrush?, Jerry Spinelli has won the hearts of many young readers. His 1991 release Maniac Magee won the Newbery Medal, and his eighteenth book, Wringer, received a Newbery Honor.

Jillian Sullivan

Jillian Sullivan is an award-winning author for children, young adults, and adults. Her work in fiction deals with difficult issues facing her audience. Jillian’s books for early readers include Two Homes for David and Sophie’s Mum and the Dinosaur, both dealing with struggles between child and parent.

Joni Sensel

Joni Sensel is the author of four novels for young readers, two clandestine picture books, and several nonfiction books for adults. The Farwalker’s Quest is her best-known work for kids.

Joy Cowley

Joy’s love for children’s literature is “a commitment that borders on obsession.” Her novels and picture books regularly receive top honors. Countless children know her classic Mrs. Wishy-Washy.

Juanita Havill

Juanita’s picture book Jamaica’s Find (illustrated by Anne Sibley O’Brien) turns twenty-five in 2011. Still in print, the book has won numerous awards and was a Reading Rainbow Review Book. Juanita has gone on to write six more books about Jamaica and her friends, as well as more than thirty additional books for children.

Judy Schachner

Judith Byron Schachner is the #1 New York Times best-selling author and illustrator of the wildly popular Skippyjon Jones series. While Judy is best known for creating this lovable Spanish-speaking cat, her twenty-year career in children’s books spans many different genres. Judy tells her readers, “The great thing about my job is that one day I can be writing about history, as I did in Mr.

Jules Danielson

Jules Danielson is the co-creator of the wildly popular children’s book blog “Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast.” She studied children’s literature and librarianship at The University of Tennessee. Jules is penning a book with fellow librarians and bloggers, Elizabeth Bird and Peter D. Sieruta, about children's literature.

Karyn Henley

Award-winning author and speaker Karyn Henley has written more than one hundred titles for children, parents, and teachers. She received her MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. Her first novel, Breath of Angel, a fantasy for young adults, was released in 2011. The second in the series comes out in March 2012.

Kate Messner

Kate Messner is the author of middle grade novels The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z and Sugar and Ice. She writes the Marty McGuire book series for Scholastic and penned a resource book for teachers, Real Revision for Stenhouse Publishers.

Kate O’Sullivan

Kate O’Sullivan is the executive editor at Houghton Mifflin Books for Children. Kate edits books for children of all ages, including Deborah Underwood’s The Quiet Book. Kate fell in love with Deborah’s unique and authentic “quiets” and knew that the book would resonate with young readers.

Kathi Appelt

Kathi is the author of more than thirty books for children and young adults. Her award-winning books include Miss Lady Bird’s Wildflowers: How a First Lady Changed America (Growing Good Kids Award), Bubba and Beau, Best Friends (Irma and Simon Black Award), and My Father’s Summers: A Daughter’s Memoir (Paterson Prize for Young Adult Poetry).

Kathleen Hayes

Kathleen Hayes, currently editor of Highlights High Five™, has taught graduate courses in early childhood education at Bank Street College, has worked as a staff developer with New Jersey and Albuquerque public school teachers, and was the primary consultant and project manager of Bank Street’s collaboration with Macmillan/McGraw-Hill’s 2008 science program (PreK–Grade 2 materials) and

Kathryn Erskine

Kathy spent fifteen years as a lawyer before turning to her first love: writing. Her debut novel, Quaking, was one of YALSA’s Top Ten Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers. Her novel Mockingbird won the 2010 National Book Award, Young People’s Literature. She has published two other novels, Ibhubesi: The Lion and The Absolute Value of Mike.

Katie Davis

Children’s author/illustrator Katie Davis has published nine books and appears monthly on the ABC affiliate show, Good Morning Connecticut, recommending great books for kids. She produces Brain Burps About Books, a podcast about kidlit; a blog; and a monthly newsletter.

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