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2025 Author Sponsors

Read Your World / 2025 Author Sponsors

Stephanie M. Wildman

Stephanie Wildman, author of five children’s books, Miri’s Moving Day (2024) (co-authored with Adam Chang, illustrated by Dream Chen); Ghost Writer (2024) (co-authored with Cecilia Pópulus-Eudave and illustrated by Estefanía Razo – available in Spanish as Escritor Fantasma); Breath by Breath (2024) (illustrated by Estefanía Razo – translated into Spanish as Respiro a Respiro by Cecilia Pópulus-Eudave); Treasure Hunt (2022) (illustrated by Estefanía Razo – translated into Spanish as Búsqueda del Tesoro by Cecilia Pópulus-Eudave); and Brave in the Water (2021) (illustrated by Jenni Feidler-Aguilar – translated into Spanish as Valiente en el Agua by Cecilia Pópulus-Eudave), became a Professor Emerita after serving as the John A. and Elizabeth H. Sutro Chair at Santa Clara Law. She directed the school’s Center for Social Justice and Public Service. Stephanie is a grandmother, mother, spouse, friend, good listener, and she can sit “criss-cross apple sauce” thanks to her yoga practice. Learn more about her at www.stephaniewildman.com.

Ghost Writer (co-authored with Cecilia Pópulus-Eudave and illustrated by Estefanía Razo – available in Spanish as Escritor Fantasma): Twins Flor and Roberto and their big brother Luis are back again, just in time for Halloween and Dia de los Muertos. But Halloween reminds them of Julio, their beloved Boston Terrier who’d passed away. From conjuring La Catrina for a Halloween costume to decorating the altar with treats that Julio loved, the twins and Luis combine holiday traditions and come back in touch with happy memories of their pet. Bonus content provides directions for creating papel picado, a Dia de Los Muertos tradition, representing the wind and fragility of life.

Connect with Stephanie via her website, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.


Martha Seif Simpson

Martha Seif Simpson grew up in New Bedford, Massachusetts and now lives in Connecticut. She recently retired after 28 years as Head of Children’s Services at the Stratford Library. The best part about her job was seeing all the new books and sharing them with kids. During her library career, she wrote five resource books for librarians.

Martha’s first picture book was What NOT to Get Your Mom on Mother’s Day.

After that came Esther’s Gragger: A Toyshop Tale of Purim  and The Dreidel That Wouldn’t Spin: A Toyshop Tale of Hanukkah.

Her new book, A Ring for a King, will be published in 2025.

In addition to writing and reading books, Martha loves to promote Jewish literature for children and teens. She is a 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 www.Martha-Seif-Simpson.com to arrange a visit. That’s also where you can read her monthly newsletter, The Simpsonian Muse.

Martha is on Twitter @MarthaSimpMLS and Instagram martha_kidlit­­_author. She has a Facebook page, too. Find her at Martha Kidlit Author and send her a message saying you saw her on the Read Your World website!


Gwen Jackson

Lump Lump and the Blanket of Dreams
Inspired by Navajo Culture and Folklore
*Two ALA reviews
*In the library and the bookstore at the Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian*
Winter is coming, but the little black bear, Lump Lump, isn’t ready to go to sleep!  With the help of his mother, the wise Bluebird, and his forest friends, Lump Lump gathers materials for Spider Woman to weave him a Blanket of Dreams.   Inspired by Navajo/Diné culture and folklore, and featuring the blanket of famed Navajo weaver Barbara Teller Ornelas, this beautiful tale of family and friends takes the reader on a journey through the spectacular traditions and landscapes of the Southwest.
Gwen Jackson graduated magna cum laude from Lincoln University with a B.A. in psychology.  She won a Ford Foundation and attended the University of Michigan, where she received an M..A. in psychology.
Because of Gwen’s background as an educator, she wanted to ensure that her book was accurate.  She frequently consulted with Navajo weaver Barbara Teller Ornelas, who allowed Gwen to use her “Child’s Blanket” in the book. Ms. Ornelas wants more people to know about Navajo weaving.  Ms. Ornelas’ blankets are in the British Museum and many other galleries.
Gwen also received advice (pro bono) from Dr. Paul Apodaca of Chapman University, a past-regional advisor to the Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian.  Dr. Apodaca, a Navajo, made many suggestions, including the title of the book.
Navajo weaver Lynda Teller Pete, whose work is in many museums and galleries, did a lesson based on the book SMART Exchange.  Western Wildlife Outreach (Washington) generously consulted on the pictures.  This book is also in the Nanticoke Indian Museum, which is especially meaningful to Gwen because of family ties.
The author’s website has many educational activities.

Connect with Gwen on Facebook, Twitter, or at gwenjacksonstories.com 


Afsaneh Moradian


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.


Josh Funk

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