PAT BRODERICK
Pat is the vice-president, editorial director, and cofounder of Teaching PreK-8 (formerly Early Years), a respected and award-winning periodical for educators. For the past nineteen years, the faculty at Chautauqua has been enhanced by her unlimited store of knowledge and heightened awareness of how best to encourage writers and readers.

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KENT L. BROWN JR.
Kent is the Editor in Chief of Highlights for Children magazine and has been publisher of Boyds Mills Press since its introduction in 1990. A past-president of the Educational Press Association of America, Kent has served on the publications committee of the International Reading Association and is a member of the National Council of Teachers of English, the American Society of Magazine Editors, and the National Press Club.

Kent was recently appointed to the Board of Trustees of the Roger Tory Peterson Institute, a national, non-profit nature education organization located in Jamestown, NY.

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CHRISTINE FRENCH CLARK
Chris is the editor of Highlights for Children, responsible for the magazine in all its formats, including HighlightsKids.com, a subscription-based Web site for kids. Her twenty-plus-year career in children’s publishing includes stints as editor of Humpty Dumpty’s Magazine, Turtle, Jack and Jill, and Children’s Digest. She has also written more than one hundred stories, poems, and lesson segments.

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CAROLYN COMAN
Carolyn is the author of Body and Soul: Ten American Women, Losing Things at Mr. Mudd’s, Tell Me Everything, What Jamie Saw, Bee and Jacky, and Many Stones. What Jamie Saw received a 1996 Newbery Honor Award from the American Library Association and was also named a 1996 National Book Award Finalist. Many Stones received a 2001 Printz Honor Award and was also a 2000 National Book Award Finalist.

Carolyn graduated from Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts, where she studied writing. She has worked as a bookbinder, as an editor for Heinemann (an educational publisher), and as a writing instructor at Harvard Extension and Harvard Summer School. She is currently on the faculty of Vermont College, in its MFA Writing for Children Program.

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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. Among her most recent titles are The Rusty, Trusty Tractor; Big Moon Tortilla; Agapanthus Hum and the Eyeglasses; Red-Eyed Tree Frog; Starbright and the Dream Eater; Mrs. Goodstory; and Where Horses Run Free. Her book The Silent One received the New Zealand Children's Book of the Year award and has been made into a film shown on the Disney Channel. In 1990, New Zealand awarded its Commemorative Medal to Joy for her service to Children's Literature. In 1992, she received the Order of the British Empire, which acknowledges her distinguished service to the arts and sciences.

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BERNICE E. CULLINAN
Bee is a professor emeritus of reading and children’s literature at New York University, and since 1990 she has served as editor in chief of the Wordsong poetry imprint at Boyds Mills Press. Bee has served as president of the International Reading Association and on numerous award committees, including those for the Caldecott Award and the Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Award. In addition, Bee has received many awards and honors of her own. In 1989 she was inducted into the Reading Hall of Fame and received the Arbuthnot Award for Outstanding Teacher of Children’s Literature. She is the 2003 recipient of the NCTE Outstanding Educator in Language Arts award. Bee is the author of the classic text Literature and the Child, as well as many other books, including Read to Me: Raising Kids Who Love to Read.

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HEATHER DELABRE
Heather is the editor of the award-winning Spider magazine for children. She also works as an editor for Cricket Books, is a contributing editor for Cricket magazine, and is the editor of “The Slam,” Cicada magazine’s online writers’ forum for teens. She has edited books, stories, and articles by such esteemed authors as Polly Horvath, Geraldine McCaughrean, and Kate DiCamillo. Heather’s own stories, articles, recipes, and crafts have appeared in several children’s magazines. She is a popular speaker at conferences because of her great passion for literature and the exuberant spirit of childhood.

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ROD EBRIGHT
Rod has spent his career finding creative solutions to problems. He has given workshops in a variety of venues, helping others develop their creative identity and market their ideas. A graduate of Bowling Green (OH) State University, Rod holds a bachelor's degree in fine arts. He has extensive experience in concept development, design, and marketing in print and other media. He formerly served as Senior Director of creative and production services for Highlights for Children.

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PATRICIA LEE GAUCH
Patti is vice president and editor at large of Philomel Books as well as a respected author in her own right. She holds a doctorate in English literature, and has taught children’s literature on the college level and reviewed for The New York Times. Patti has written thirty-nine books for young readers, among them the highly acclaimed Thunder at Gettysburg and This Time, Tempe Wick? Her most recent title, Tanya and the Red Shoes, part of the celebrated Tanya ballet series, was published in spring 2002.

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She holds master’s degrees in teaching writing and in literature. A prolific writer and committed editor, Kim has published more than two hundred short stories, articles, and columns. Her children’s book, Carnivorous Plants, was recently published by Kidhaven Press.

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ANDREW GUTELLE
Andrew is a writer, editor, and editorial consultant who has participated in the development of many publishing projects for children. He has written non fiction books for many publishers, including Random House, Putnam, Workman, and Time-Life Books for Children. Andy received five Emmy nominations for his work on the television show Reading Rainbow.

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DAVID HARRISON
David has published sixty-five books for young people, eight of poetry. His work has been anthologized, translated, presented on television and radio, produced on cassette and CD-ROM, and set to music. His poetry inspired the play Somebody Catch My Homework. Awards include The Christopher Medal (The Book of Giant Stories), Bank Street College Book of the Year (When Cows Come Home), and several IRA/CBC selections. His most recent poetry book, Connecting Dots, presents poems about memorable moments throughout his life. David has been a musician, scientist, editor, and businessman. His master’s degree is in parasitology. He lives in Springfield, Missouri, with his wife, Sandy.

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PETER P. JACOBI
Peter is professor emeritus of journalism at Indiana University and a consultant with magazines and corporations, helping CEOs, writers, and editors learn to express their ideas more effectively. His articles have appeared in World Book, The New York Times, Highlights for Children, and others. His two guidebooks, The Magazine Article: How to Think It, Plan It, Write It and Writing with Style: The News Story and the Feature, are standard reference sources for journalists.

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YOLANDA LEROY
Yolanda is the editorial director at Charlesbridge (www.charlesbridge.com), an independent publisher of children's books since 1989. She currently works with Linda Sue Park, Eve Bunting, Kathryn Lasky, Tony Johnston, Caroline Arnold, Iza Trapani, and Jerry Pallotta, among others. She began her career in publishing at Charlesbridge and has also worked as an editor at Candlewick Press. She is a former executive board member of the Foundation for Children's Books, a Boston-based nonprofit organization for children's literacy, and is the founder of the Boston Children's Publishing Group, a social and networking organization for children's publishing professionals. Yolanda studied Russian language and literature at Harvard College, and she enjoys performing as a singer and actor in the Boston area.

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FREDRICK McKISSACK
Before Fredrick began to collaborate on books with his wife Pat (see below), he worked as a civil engineer for the city of St. Louis and the U.S. Army, and later owned his own general contracting company in St. Louis. Now he devotes his time to the family business, All-Writing Services.

The McKissack’s award-winning titles include Black Hands, White Sails: The Story of African-American Whalers, a 2000 Coretta Scott King Honor Book; Days of Jubilee: The End of Slavery in the United States, their 2003 Coretta Scott King Honor Book; and The Dark-Thirty: Southern Tales of the Supernatural, a 1993 Newbery Honor Book.

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PATRICIA McKISSACK
Patricia and her husband, Fredrick (see above), have written more than one hundred books about the African American experience. They have won countless awards and received much critical acclaim, all the while bringing enjoyment and information to young readers. Before becoming a full-time writer, Patricia worked as a teacher and then as an editor of children’s books.

In addition to the many titles written with Fredrick, Pat has written several novels on her own, including Color Me Dark: The Diary of Nellie Lee Love, The Great Migration North and Nzingha: Warrior Of Matamba (both from Scholastic).

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SUSAN PEARSON
Susan Pearson got her first job in publishing in 1972 and has since held positions as editor in chief of Carolrhoda Books, editor in chief of Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Books, and currently editor-at-large of Chronicle Books. She is also the author of more than twenty-five books for children, and the anthologist of The Drowsy Hours: Poems for Bedtime (Harper 2002). The first collection of her own verse, Squeal and Squawk: Barnyard Talk, was published in March 2004, followed by Do Goldfish Pee? and Other Poems about Pets due out in March 2005 (both Marshall Cavendish). Her first collection of limericks, Grimericks, will be published in Fall 2005.

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MARILETA ROBINSON
Marileta made her first sale to Highlights in 1976 and joined Highlights in 1988 as an assistant editor. Currently a senior editor, Marileta edits fiction and nonfiction for young readers and writes each month’s installment of the popular "TheTimbertoes" feature. She holds a master’s degree in bilingual education and is a regular speaker at SCBWI conferences around the country.

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STEPHEN ROXBURGH
Stephen has been involved with children’s books and publishing for more than twenty-five years, first as an academic, then as senior vice president and publisher, Books for Young Readers, at Farrar, Straus and Giroux; and as the president and publisher of Front Street Books, a small, independent press he incorporated on April 1, 1994. In 2004, Stephen added the title of associate publisher of Boyds Mills Press when Front Street Books became part of the trade publishing division of Highlights for Children.

Stephen has worked with such authors and artists as Felicia Bond, Nancy Eckholm Burkert, Brock Cole, Carolyn Coman, Roald Dahl, Madeleine L’Engle, An Na, Marilyn Nelson, Adam Rapp, Alvin Schwartz, George Selden, Uri Shulevitz, Isaac Bashevis Singer, Garth Williams, and Margot Zemach.

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PAM MUÑOZ RYAN
Pam has written more than twenty-five books for young people, including the novels Becoming Naomi León and Esperanza Rising (winner of the Pura Belpre Medal, the Jane Addams Peace Award, an ALA Top Ten Best Book for Young Adults, and the Americas Award Honor). Other award winners include Amelia and Eleanor Go for a Ride, Riding Freedom, Mice and Beans, and When Marian Sang. Pam was born and raised in Bakersfield, California, and received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at San Diego State University. She now lives in north San Diego County with her husband and children.

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CYNTHIA FABER SMITH
Cindy is the art director of Highlights for Children. She has enjoyed designing publications for diverse audiences for more than 20 years, including positions at Science magazine, Insight magazine, The Executive Office of the President, and the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Cindy’s award-winning designs are based on the intimate connection she sees between the designer and the reader.

Cindy earned an MFA from Vermont College, a BA from Furman University, and a publication specialist certificate from George Washington University.

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CLAY WINTERS
Clay, president of Boyds Mills Press, has been in publishing since 1960. Before coming to Boyds Mills Press, he was president of Putnam/Grosset Books for Young Readers, the children's book group of G.P. Putnam & Sons. Clay has taught the rudiments of publishing to aspiring writers and an entrepreneurial course in marketing for several different institutions.

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CAROLYN YODER
Carolyn is senior history editor at Highlights. She has written extensively on research and writing history for children. George Washington: The Writer, edited and compiled by Carolyn, was recently released by Boyds Mills Press, and her latest book John Adams: The Writer will soon be released by Calkins Creek Books.

Carolyn also reviews juvenile books for the Civil War Book Review and has been a writer and editor for the New Jersey Historical Society. She has served as the award-winning editor in chief of Cobblestone: The History Magazine for Young People; Calliope, Faces, Odyssey, and as assistant publisher of Cobblestone Publishing, Inc., overseeing development of its book division. She has also been the executive director of the New Hampshire Antiquarian Society, and a writing tutor at New England College.

Carolyn was recently named editor of Calkins Creek Books, a new history and historical fiction imprint of Boyds Mills Press.

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