Connect with Gwen on Facebook, Twitter, or at gwenjacksonstories.com
Josh Funk is a software engineer and the author of books like the Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast series, the It’s Not a Fairy Tale series, the How to Code with Pearl and Pascal series, the A Story of Patience & Fortitude series, Dear Dragon, Pirasaurs!, Albie Newton, and more.
IT’S NOT LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD: Little Red likes to play by the rules. So when the narrator comes along and asks her to follow the story set out in her fairy tale, she grabs the basket for Grandma and goes. After all, she loves her grandma. But unfortunately, none of the other characters are quite what they’re expecting.
As Little Red attempts to follow the narrator’s directions (which, frankly, seem kind of dangerous!), she is beset by fill-in characters, confusing instructions, and even a fierce battle! Will Little Red ever make it to Grandma’s house? And who will she find when she gets there? Complete with some unusual “guest appearances,” this laugh-out-loud Little Red Riding Hood retelling will have kids giggling all the way to Grandma’s house! Ding-dong!
Josh also has a plethora of “fun stuff” for kids, parents, and educators including Activity KitsColoring Pages Book TrailersCharacter Cards, and Book Songs.
Connect with Josh via his website, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube
Eugenia Chu is an attorney, turned stay-at-home mom, turned award-winning author. She lives on a magical beach in Miami with her husband and son, Brandon, who is the inspiration for her stories. She enjoys reading, writing, traveling, yoga, and drinking too much coffee. She has been a presenter at numerous schools, libraries, and book festivals. When her son was very little, she couldn’t find children’s storybooks to read to him that touched upon Chinese culture and included some Chinese (Mandarin) to teach and/or reinforce his Chinese vocabulary, so she started writing her own.
As of December 2023, Eugenia has published FIVE beautiful diverse books for young readers.
Her first book, Brandon Makes Jiǎo Zi (餃子) is a picture book about a Chinese-American boy who gets a surprise visit from his grandma from China, Pó Po (婆婆). While Brandon and Pó Po (婆婆) are making Chinese dumplings, called jiǎo zi (餃子), they laugh and bond and Brandon creates a “masterpiece” delighting the whole family.
Brandon Goes to Beijing (北京) is her second “Brandon” story and first children’s chapter book. In this story, Brandon and his cousins are on a trip to visit their grandparents in Beijing, China! While bonding with family, practicing Chinese, touring historic sites, and feasting on local dishes, Brandon thinks he sees a tiny panda. However, every time he gets close, the panda disappears! Is Brandon imagining this small creature, or is it real? Will Brandon find out before he has to fly back home?
Sivan Hong is the author and illustrator of the best-selling children’s book series, The Super Fun Day Books. Her popular titles, such as Benny J. and the Horrible Halloween, George J. and the Miserable Monday, Emily D. and the Fearful First Day, and Avery G. and the Scary End of School, celebrate the triumphs of neurodiverse children as they face challenges with determination and courage. The Super Fun Day Books are also available in Spanish and as audiobooks, for all types of learners. Her inspiring work has been recognized by NBC and News12.
Beyond her writing, Sivan is an active Trustee on the Board of the Rita Allen Foundation, where she contributes her expertise and passion for making a positive impact. Outside of her professional life, Sivan takes great joy in being a wife and mother to their two lovely children. Along with their cherished dog and cat, the family resides in Connecticut.
You can follow Sivan’s social media account at @sivan_hong_author where she shares all things neurodiversity related.
Marta is a former Creative Writing and Composition professor now writing nonfiction children’s books full time. She was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and immigrated to this country at the age of seven. Several of her books have received positive reviews from Booklist, SLJ, Kirkus, and several others. She was the long-time adviser to an award-winning literary arts magazine at Miami Dade College, and she is now volunteering as a Florida SCBWI critique group leader.
Visit her on her website, Amazon, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Pinterest.
Clara Anganuzzi was raised in the Seychelles Islands, where she would draw on every surface she could find. She has always had a fond love for the sea and all types of critters, who often inhabit her drawings. Clara now spends her days doodling in her plant filled studio overlooking Bristol.
Connect with her via Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
BOOK RIOT lists THE LAST CHERRY BLOSSOM as one of “30 Fascinating Historical Fiction Books for Middle School Readers – October, 2018″
Yuriko was happy growing up in Hiroshima when it was just her and Papa. But her aunt Kimiko and her cousin Genji are living with them now, and the family is only getting bigger with talk of a double marriage! And while things are changing at home, the world beyond their doors is even more unpredictable. World War II is coming to an end, and Japan’s fate is not entirely clear, with any battle losses being hidden from its people. Yuriko is used to the sirens and the air-raid drills, but things start to feel more real when the neighbors who have left to fight stop coming home.
When the bomb hits Hiroshima, it’s through Yuriko’s twelve-year-old eyes that we witness the devastation and horror.
Kathleen Burkinshaw is a Japanese American author and the daughter of a Hiroshima survivor residing in Charlotte, NC. She’s a wife, mom, and owns a dog who is a kitchen ninja. She has presented her mother’s experience in Hiroshima to middle and high schools for the past 9 years. Writing gives her an outlet for her daily struggle with chronic pain from Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy(RSD). The Last Cherry Blossom (Sky Pony Press,2016), is now a United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs Resource for Teachers and Students. And is recently nominated for the NC School Library Media Association YA book award and 2019-2020 VSBA, 2018& 2016 Scholastic WNDB Reading Club selection, and Finalist for NC Sir Walter Raleigh Fiction Award, 2018 Sakura Medal, Japan, and SCBWI Crystal Kite Award(Southeast region).
In April 2020 NHK World-Japan, an international news station based in Japan did a short segment on The Last Cherry Blossom in both Japanese and English. The English segment was on its Newsroom Tokyo TV program and the Japanese segment was on its Today’s 2020 TV program. Listen to both programs HERE.
The Japanese translation from Holp Shuppan Publishing released August 12, 2022. The audiobook version (English) of The Last Cherry Blossom (Dreamscape Media) released on September 27, 2021.
Learn more about Kathleen through her Blog – Creating Through the Pain or connect with her on Twitter and Facebook.
Angela H. Dale writes picture books for children, former children and children at heart. Her debut picture book, BUS STOP (Cameron Kids, 2022), illustrated by Lala Watkins, is available in stores and libraries everywhere (including the Museum of Modern Art store in NYC). Visit www.angelahdale.com for more information (and where to find signed copies). Angela lives in Maryland with her family and Harry the cat.
Colombian poet, writer, translator, speaker, and publisher, lives in Florida. Founder of Proyecto de Escritura LuzDelMes, to create bridges of communication and collaboration between authors around the world. Cultural Promoter of “Desayuno Literario Internacional LuzDelMes” and Tri-Anthology LuzDelMes. For her service to the community, she is the recipient of the Crystal Apple Award 2006. Maritza received the Virtues Christian Poetry Award 2015, Latino Book Awards for Best Translation English to Spanish, and Best eBook non-fiction 2016. Nominated to the Carmen Luisa Pinto 2016. Received Gremio Poético Colombiano, 2022, for Best International Colombian Author.
Ten bilingual books published, Vanilla and Chocolate (2012), Grandma’s Treasure (2014), Poems, Thoughts and more (2015), Hazel Eyes (2010), Ojos Avellana (2016), Luz del mes (2018), Luz Del Mes Tri-Anthology (2019-2020), In Him, I Rest (2021) and The Purple Shell (2022).
Graduated from Colegio Mayor de Cundinamarca in Commerce and Foreign Language, A.S. in Travel Industry Management from Broward State College, Obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Humanities and Certificate in Women’s Studies from Florida Atlantic University. Obtained Master’s degree in Theology and Educational Ministry at Catholic Distance University.
Member of Florida Writer’s Association, Multicultural Children’s Book Board of Advisor, Delegate Academia Norteaméricana de Literatura Moderna Internacional, FL, and Ambassador Read to Me! Day Maritza writes to inspire others to be better people.
Social Media: @luzdelmes ~ Website: www.luzdelmes.com
“The writing flows, the story moves, and the characters will win your heart.”
Mother and Yonsei daughter pair up to tell this middle-grade story of a girl’s survival in a Wyoming concentration camp during WWII. Fueled by their family’s long silence about their experiences in camp, J.C. and J.C² use actual events to introduce young readers to a hard time in history with delicate prose.
FINDING MOON RABBIT is recipient of the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award for best Young Reader’s Novel of 2022, and a recommended read by The Historical Novel Society.
J.C. Kato Kato is recipient of the SCBWI Karen and Philip Cushman Award for Finding Moon Rabbit, a member of The Historical Novel Society, and participating activist for the Florida Chapter of Make Us Visible.
J.C.² is Yonsei and the proud daughter of hakujin, J.C. She is recipient of both the 2022 IPBA Benjamin Franklin Book Award for Young Readers, and Finalist in the Eric Hoffer Award for her debut novel, Finding Moon Rabbit. Aside from her fulltime gig of counting beans, she devours sci-fi books and devotes time to the study of Yoga, which works out when you’re really twisted.
Connect with these two amazing authors via their website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.
Charnaie Gordon is a Diversity and Inclusion Expert, author of A Kids Book About Diversity, blogger, podcast host, and digital creator. She also serves as a member of the National Advisory Board for Reading is Fundamental for their Race, Equity and Inclusion (REI) initiative. More than anything else, she cares about connecting people with great books they’ll love. In her world, books are an absolute necessity. Charnaie is passionate about instilling a love of reading, lifelong learning and curiosity in her kids. She hopes to inspire others to do the same with their children.
Find her online at her website, hereweeread.com, and on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
Alva Sachs is the founder of Three Wishes Publishing Company. She is a former elementary school teacher with sixteen years of classroom experience and a Master’s Degree in Education. Her award-winning titles include Sam & Sadie Super Sleuths, Circus Fever, Dancing Dreidels, I’m 5, Dear Master Dragon, The Pirate Princess, and On Your Mark, Get Set Go!
Alva writes stories to engage, excite, and empower young children at an early age for the sheer joy of reading.
She serves as President on the Board of Reading Is Fundamental of Southern California, (RIFSoCal) to expand efforts to support literacy by helping to build home libraries in the greater Los Angeles/Orange County areas for underserved children while fostering literacy through the efforts of RIFSoCal’s motivational reading program.
Connect with Alva via her website, Facebook, and Instagram
Amanda Hsiung-Blodgett inspires children to fall in love with learning the Chinese language and culture. She is the author of the “Let’s Learn Mandarin Chinese with Miss Panda!” audio album and the host of the Playful Chinese podcast. She has also released a children’s picture word book First Mandarin Sounds. Amanda is also a trained Chinese language instructor and the mother of two bilingual children. She has extensive Mandarin Chinese and ESL teaching experience with kids and business professionals in Taiwan, Morocco, Canada, Ecuador, and the United States. Her students call her “Miss Panda!” You can find Miss Panda’s engaging, playful, and interactive Chinese language learning resources at MissPandaChinese.com. She currently lives in Washington D.C. with her family, including two lovely trilingual cats, Qwerty and Bella, as well as a bilingual bird, Lemon.
Lisa Chong is a mom who spent many years interacting with kids as a parent volunteer in her son’s charter school when he was growing up. She introduced a program, Reading with Animals, which encouraged less–proficient and reluctant readers to practice and strengthen their desire to read. When Words Have Power is her first traditionally published book. It explores the power of words while dealing with sensitive topics such as bullying, race, and culture. When Words Have Power helps children learn about this complex issue in an easily digestible and relatable way. She is also the author of the self-published book, I am NOT a Bear, which was featured at the San Francisco Zoo’s Teddy Bear Festival in 2013. Illustrated by a 13 year old student, this story helps you learn some interesting facts about different animals while appreciating the importance of not making premature assumptions about others.
Diana Huang was born in Southern California to Chinese-American immigrant parents, she struggled academically and socially in her k-6 years. But ever since kindergarten, she had developed a strong interest and passion for the visual arts. Eventually, she went on to study at the University of Southern California with a BFA in Fine Art (2001) & MAT Multiple Subject (2015), and OTIS College of Art and Design with a BFA in Digital Media (2007). She has been working in various art and non-art industries while also creating her own story worlds. She is also the author and illustrator of multiple books including Intrepids: A Sci-fi Fantasy Novel for 5-8th graders (2020), Cooking the Books: A Cartoon Humor Book About Idioms (2019), and The Elemental Horses book series (2012-2023).
An urgent call for help came to Chang. The other animals are out with their riders taking on all kinds of adventures. So he takes off on his own across the ocean to give aid. What will he see? Who will he meet? Let’s go!
Book 5 in the Elemental Horses series introduces the 12 Animals of the Chinese Zodiac as a new carousel. It introduces two stories in the realm of the Jade Emperor’s mythological world. This book is also about the history of Chinese writing by using oracle bone, small seal script, traditional, and simplified styles of Chinese writing for the names of each animal.
Connect with Diana via her website, Facebook, Twitter, DeviantArt, Instagram, and YouTube
Martha Seif Simpson grew up in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Her father, Sam, was a Holocaust survivor. From 1964 to 1982, her parents owned a small store, Dotty’s Variety (named after her mother) where she and her brother often worked. The store had a penny candy counter, back when you could actually buy Bazooka bubble gum and red licorice for a penny. That experience helped her write Esther’s Gragger: A Toyshop Tale of Purim and The Dreidel That Wouldn’t Spin: A Toyshop Tale of Hanukkah.
Martha’s first picture book was What NOT to Get Your Mom on Mother’s Day.
She also published 5 resource books for librarians. Her books are listed on the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators page.
Martha recently retired after 28 years as Head of Children’s Services at the Stratford Library in Stratford, CT. The best part about her job was seeing all the new books and sharing them with kids.
In addition to writing and reading books, Martha loves to promote Jewish literature for children and teens. She is the immediate past Chair of the Sydney Taylor Book Award committee, sponsored by the Association of Jewish Libraries.
Martha enjoys talking about her books at conferences, libraries, schools and community centers. You can contact her via her website to arrange a visit. That’s also where you can read her monthly newsletter, The Simpsonian Muse, and find activities to go with her books.
Martha is on Twitter and Instagram. She has a Facebook page, too. Find her at Martha Kidlit Author and send her a message saying you saw her on the Multicultural Children’s Book Day website!
Bunmi Emenanjo is an attorney and entrepreneur. Born in the United States and raised in Nigeria, her childhood and culture inspire her writing. In 2019, she founded Atlas Book Club, a company focused on curating diverse children’s books in an intentional manner. When she is not practicing law or working on Atlas Book Club, Bunmi is reading, traveling, and writing stories that fill the heart and move the spirit. Bunmi lives in Maryland with her husband, her three children, and a devoted Black Russian terrier named Shadow. She is represented by Ellen Goff of HG Literary.
I’ll See You in Ijebu is now available for pre-order.
Singer, Songwriter, Author and Educator DARIA (Daria Marmaluk-Hajioannou) has spent almost four decades performing and sharing world music in the USA and around the world. Hailed as “an ambassador of song” she has represented the USA in Seville Spain’s World Expo and been featured in the Huffington Post for her musical work with children around the world. The Christian Science Monitor commented: “When Daria Marmaluk-Hajioannou makes music, the world listens – literally!”
Author of over 400 educational resources from her award-winning Teacher’s TPT site, DARIA’s first formally published book is BEAUTIFUL RAINBOW WORLD, a book whose dazzling images of multicultural and mixed race children are matched with the lyrics of this song which is popular around the world as well as in the USA.
Connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.
Gea is passionate and creative, original ideas give her a jolt of energy.
A storyteller, marketeer, parent mentor, and artist with a passion and a mission. As the mother of a dyslexic son, she researched dyslexia better than an FBI agent would, and witnessed the dyslexia struggle and the gift it can be, upfront and personal. Gea volunteered as a parent mentor for the special education department of her local school district and is a dynamic dyslexia advocate. Over the years she saw many kids and their parents struggling to find out why the school wasn’t going well. Reason to write a children’s book that offers kids and families the opportunity to identify with the different characters, make visible the learning struggles some students go through, and bring dyslexia awareness to the community.
Gea grew up in the Netherlands and is now living in SoCal.
Hacking the Code. The Ziggety Zaggety Road of a Dyslexic Kid
Written by Gea Meijering and illustrated with more than 80 illustrations by Mads Johan Øgaard (he is dyslexic)
Revealing the heart of an upbeat, boisterous fifth grader working hard to hack the reading code.
Hacking the Code is a fun, friendship-centered story that shows how every brain works differently, and how we all have different strengths.
This relatable, illustrated chapter book, brings to life the journey of a dyslexic kid in a story that highlights perseverance, creativity and, the power of true friendship.
Hacking the Code is available as an audiobook to make it accessible to all types of learners.
Targeted for children ages 6 – 12, adults also cherish the book and everyone learns from the empowering fun-to-read story.
A free Lesson Plan & Activity Guide is downloadable on www.icarepress.com.
The Paperback, Hardcover and Ebook are available on Amazon. The audiobook on many apps such as Audible, Chirp, Kobo, Scribd, Audiobooks, iTunes and more.
You can follow and get in touch with Gea on @hacking.the.Code Instagram and Facebook.
Author Stephanie M. Wildman served as John A. and Elizabeth H. Sutro Chair at Santa Clara Law and directed the school’s Center for Social Justice and Public Service before becoming Professor Emerita. Her books include: the newly released Treasure Hunt (2022); Brave in the Water (2021); Privilege Revealed: How Invisible Preference Undermines America 2d (2021) (with contributions by Armstrong, Davis, & Grillo); Race and Races: Cases and Resources for a Diverse America 3d (with Delgado, Harris, Perea, & Stefancic) (2015); Social Justice: Professionals Communities and Law (with Mahoney & Calmore) (2013); Women and the Law Stories (with Schneider) (2011). She is a member of the Writers Grotto and can sit criss-cross applesauce, thanks to her yoga practice.
BRAVE IN THE WATER (illustrated by Jenni Feidler-Aguilar) (translated into Spanish as Valiente en el Agua by Cecilia Populus-Eudave): Are you afraid to put your face in the water? So is Diante. He would like to play in the pool with other children. He’s not afraid to hang upside down, though, and he’s surprised to learn his grandma is. Can Diante help Grandma and become brave in the water? This book is best for 4-7 year-olds and is available in ebook format as well as paperback.
Connect with Stephanie via her website, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.
Tracey Kyle is the author of six rhyming picture books including GAZPACHO FOR NACHO and THE LUCKY GRAPES: A NEW YEAR’S EVE STORY. She taught Spanish for 30 years at the secondary level and in her spare time enjoys reading and practicing yoga. She lives in Virginia with her husband and their two cats.
Connect with Tracey via her website, Instagram, and Twitter.
Afsaneh Moradian has loved writing stories, poetry, and plays since childhood. After receiving her master’s in education, she took her love of writing into the classroom where she began teaching children how to channel their creativity. Her passion for teaching has lasted for over two decades. Afsaneh now homeschools her child and coaches homeschooling parents who are struggling to homeschool their neurodiverse and high-needs children.
Afsaneh Moradian is the author of the picture books, Jamie is Jamie: A Book About Being Yourself and Playing Your Way, Jamie and Bubbie: A Book About People’s Pronouns, and Jamie’s Class Has Something to Say: A Book About Sharing with Grown-Ups (Free Spirit Publishing).
Her book Homeschooling Out of the Box: A Child-Centered Approach to Teaching Your Unique Child is available on Amazon.
Connect with Afsaneh via her website or on Instagram and Twitter.
Kim C. Lee is a children’s book author and literacy advocate. As a mother, she can attest to the importance of diverse representation in literature and the impact that its absence and presence can have on children. While Kim’s publishing journey began with a gift of love for her son, she continues to write to ensure that all children know their perspectives and experiences are valued.
Kim has written three books and co-authored a fourth. In early 2023, she released The Night Owl Goes to Space as a follow-up to her debut story, The Night Owl. In this new book, readers follow the beloved sleep adverse character up a tall stack of stairs as he pursues his dream of experiencing all that outer space has to offer.
When Kim is not writing, she enjoys providing creative support to others in the author community and spending time with family and friends. Kim is also a member of the Society and Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) and the Maryland Writer’s Association. A native of the DC-Maryland-Virginia area, she lives in Baltimore.
Rochelle Melander wrote her first book at seven and has published 11 books for adults, including Write-A-Thon: Write Your Book in 26 Days (and Live to Tell About It) and Level Up: Quests to Master Mindset, Overcome Procrastination and Increase Productivity. She’s a professional certified coach, an artist-educator, and the founder of Dream Keepers, a writing workshop for young people. Mightier Than the Sword: Rebels, Reformers, and Revolutionaries Who Changed the World through Writing is her debut book for children.
Throughout history, people have picked up their pens and wielded their words–transforming their lives, their communities, and beyond. Now it’s your turn! Representing a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences, Mightier Than the Sword connects over forty inspiring biographies with life-changing writing activities and tips, showing readers just how much their own words can make a difference. Readers will explore nature with Rachel Carson, experience the beginning of the Reformation with Martin Luther, champion women’s rights with Sojourner Truth, and many more. These richly illustrated stories of inspiring speechmakers, scientists, explorers, authors, poets, activists, and even other kids and young adults will engage and encourage young people to pay attention to their world, honor their own ideas and dreams, and embrace the transformative power of words to bring good to the world.
Rochelle lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with her husband, children, and two dogs. Visit her online at writenowcoach.com or rochellemelander.com. Connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube.
Shifa Saltagi Safadi is the author of the forthcoming Middle Grade verse novel KAREEM BETWEEN (Putnam 2024), the AMINA BANANA chapter books (Putnam 2025), picture book THE GIFT OF EID (Holiday House 2025), and three published picture books (SPELL IT LIKE SAMAR, HEAVEN AT MAMA’S FEET, and PEPPERONI, PITCHES, and OTHER PROBLEMS) with indie Muslim publisher Ruqaya’s Bookshelf. Shifa is a Syrian American Muslim author and ELA teacher with a passion for reading and writing and reviews books on her bookstagram @muslimmommyblog. She can be found online at www.shifasafadi.com.
Alina Chau 周曉芬 is an acclaimed author and illustrator. She worked in the animation and gaming industries for a decade, with credits including best-selling games, and most notably the Emmy Award-winning Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated series.
Alina’s unique cultural heritage strongly influences her artistic and storytelling voice. Having grown up in Hong Kong in an Indonesian-Chinese family during the British colonial era, her creative vision is a fusion of diverse cultures. She creates stories inspired by the natural world, which turn childhood daydreams into immersive environments full of distinctive flora and fauna.
Her debut graphic novel, Marshmallow and Jordan, received the Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Award. It was selected for the Read Across America 2022 and the Texas Library Association’s 2023 Maverick and Little Maverick Reading Lists. She also illustrated numerous acclaimed children’s picture books, such as The Rise (And Falls) of Jackie Chan, Lunar New Year, The Nian Monster, which received the 2018 APALA Picture Book Honor. Alina also developed In the Spirit Of a Dream, a collaborative project, which she also illustrated.
Visit her online at alinachau.com, or on Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube
Michael Genhart, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist in private practice in San Francisco, CA.
He is the author of numerous picture books – covering themes such as bullying, friendship, homelessness and compassion, uniqueness, LGBTQ+families, and multicultural families. He lives with his family in Marin County.
Michael’s latest book is SPANISH IS THE LANGUAGE OF MY FAMILY –To prepare for the school Spelling Bee en Español, young Latine boy gets a much-needed boost from his cherished Abuela. During their lessons together, she shares stories from her childhood, when the “rule at school was ‘English only.’ ” On the day of the spelling bee, Manolo stands tall on stage thanks to Abuela’s strength. A measured reckoning with an oft-overlooked period in U.S. history, Genhart and Parra’s poignant collaboration explores the echoes of generational trauma and the power of societal change and hope.
Activities tied to the book: https://holidayhouse.
Michael’s books also include MAY YOUR LIFE BE DELICIOSA – Abuela shows her nieta, Rosie, how to make a delicious tamale and along the way she shares what ingredients are important to make a delicious life.
and THEY’RE SO FLAMBOYANT – A flamboyance of flamingos flies into town looking very pink, proud and pretty. The other bird groups don’t know what to make of them. A story of judging others turns into an opportunity to look inward at one’s own biases.
Connect with Michael via his website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Award-winning children’s author of books for all kinds of readers (especially neurodivergent ones). We all shine with different lights.
Connect with Sally via her website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
Ajuan Mance is a Professor of African American literature at Mills College in Oakland, California. A lifelong artist and writer, Ajuan has participated in solo and group exhibitions as well as comic and zine fests, from the Bay Area to Brooklyn. In her art, illustration, and comics, Ajuan uses humor and bright colors to explore race, gender, power, and the people and places in which they intersect. Her work has appeared in a number of digital and print media outlets, including, most recently, The Women’s Review of Books, Blavity.com, BET.com, Transition Magazine, Buzzfeed.com, KQED.org, the San Francisco Chronicle, NYTimes.com, KPIX News, and Publisher’s Weekly.
Connect with Ajuan via her website, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest.
K. Marcus is dedicated to fostering a love for reading and sparking the imaginations of young readers everywhere. Through her stories, Marcus hopes to instill values such as kindness, courage, and a sense of wonder in the hearts of children. With each turn of the page, K. Marcus invites readers laugh out loud, learn some science, and discover the magic that books hold.
Connect with K. Marcus via her website, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest.
Do you know a kid who likes to wiggle? 1 in 6 children struggles daily with sensory processing challenges. You probably know one or two! Maybe that is even you?
Get ready for a heartwarming journey through the world of sensory differences with the highly anticipated second installment of the award-winning picture book series, “Wiggles, Stomps, and Squeezes: Calming My Jitters at School.” Written by Lindsey Rowe Parker, a neurodivergent mom, and beautifully illustrated by Rebecca Burgess, an autistic illustrator and advocate, this book offers a unique and profound understanding of sensory experiences.
Parents, educators, and children with sensory processing challenges will find this book an invaluable resource, empowering them to embrace their unique selves and embrace neurodiversity. This inclusive and heartwarming tale is a must-have addition to any library, school, or home bookshelf, providing a safe and loving space for children to feel seen, known, and loved just as they are.
Books in the Series:
Wiggles, Stomps and Squeezes Calm My Jitters Down
Also available in Spanish: Meneos, Pisotones, Y Apretones Para Calmar Mi Cosquilleo
Wiggles, Stomps and Squeezes: Calming My Jitters at School NEW in 2024!
Wiggles, Stomps and Squeezes: Sensory Activity Book
About the Author
Lindsey Rowe Parker is the author of the award-winning book series about sensory differences, Wiggles, Stomps, and Squeezes Calm My Jitters Down. A mom with a home full of neurodivergent minds, she is embracing the next phase of parenting while learning to navigate and advocate for her autistic daughter. With a recent adult diagnosis of ADHD, and a new deeper understanding of her own sensory experiences, she has begun to delve into the neurodiversity community, learning all she can from neurodivergent voices.
Connect with her on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
