2019 Kids Lit Fest Authors

Amy Ignatow is the author/illustrator of the acclaimed series The Popularity Papers and The Mighty Odds trilogy. She is a graduate of Moore College of Art and Design and lives in Chestnut Hill neighborhood of Philadelphia with her husband and their children.

Revenge of the Sis: A Christina Starseeker Story is the 7th book in the New York Times bestselling Star Wars Jedi Academy series. It begins an all-new story arc in the series, written by Amy Ignatow and illustrated by Jarrett Krosockza.

Andrea Tsurumi is an author, illustrator and cartoonist originally from NY who now lives and draws in Philadelphia. The creator of Accident! and numerous comics, she’s also illustrated children’s books, news articles, and book covers. She has an MFA from the School of Visual Arts. When she's not inventing croissant-based animals, she likes reading about ordinary and ridiculous history.

Crab Cake: Turning the Tide Together tells the story of a crab who, following its heart and its calling, brings everyone together in the wake of a disaster. It is perfect for budding environmentalists, kids learning to cope with mishaps, and every young reader in between.

Christine Kendall grew up in a family of artists, the fourth of six children, where everyone studied piano along with one other instrument. She still feels sorry for the neighbors. She has attended Bread Loaf and studied Children’s Literature at the Southampton Writers’ Conference. She lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where she co-curates the Creatives at the Cannery Reading Series.

Riding Chance is set in modern Philadelphia and tells the story of Troy, a kid with passion who takes a wrong turn and is forced to endure something he hates more than any juvenile detention he can imagine -- being "sentenced" to the local city stables where he's made to take care of the horses and learn to play polo.

Dave Engledow, known on the internet as the World’s Best Father, creates humorous photographic imagery enjoyed by millions worldwide. Engledow currently lives in Takoma Park, Maryland, with his wife, Jen, and daughter, Alice Bee, both of whom are featured in his work.

The Little Girl Who Wanted to be Big tells the story of a girl who grew taller than the tallest buildings, larger than the largest mountain, and big enough to reach the farthest plants. But being the biggest person in the universe also makes it hard to go home. What’s the biggest girl in the world to do when she’s grown up a little too fast?

Eric Bell lives and writes in Pennsylvania. He was once in middle school. He survived. You will too. Alan Cole Is Not a Coward is his debut novel, followed by Alan Cole Doesn't Dance. You can find him online at www.iamericbell.com.

In this follow-up novel to Alan Cole Is Not a Coward, Eric Bell deftly explores with nuance and humor how the first step to complete self-acceptance may mean actually putting your feet on the dance floor. This laugh-out-loud and poignant tale is perfect for fans of Gary Schmidt and Jerry Spinelli.

Gail Silver is a former Child Advocate attorney and founder of Yoga Child, a Philadelphia based yoga studio, where she teaches yoga classes, writes yoga music and meditations. Her books about mindfulness for kids include Ahn’s Anger and Steps and Stones. She resides in Philadelphia with her husband and three children where she stumbles every day in her lifetime practice of mindfulness.

In Mindful Bea and the Worry Tree a young girl’s anxiety grows as she waits for friends to show up for her birthday party. The worries start to grow around her like tree branches. Her stomach flip-flops and she tries to run away from the thoughts in the worry tree until she uses deep-breathing exercises and visualization techniques to calm herself down.

Jennifer Robin Barr is the author of two how-to books for adults. Goodbye, Mr. Spalding is her debut middle-grade novel. She lives in Wayne, Pennsylvania.

Goodbye, Mr. Spalding: Set in Philadelphia during the Great Depression, this middle-grade historical novel tells the story of a twelve-year-old boy and his best friend as they attempt to stop a wall from being built at Shibe Park, home of the Philadelphia Athletics, that would block the view of the baseball field from their rooftops.

Kate Garchinsky’s first word was “bird.” Now she illustrates award-winning books about birds and other wild creatures, including The Secret Life of the Red Fox, and Belle’s Journey: An Osprey Takes Flight. She lives with her husband, Brian, her beagle, Maggie May, and two kitties in Edgmont, Pennsylvania.

The Secret Life of the Little Brown Bat is a stunningly illustrated nonfiction picture book for young readers about a year in the life of a little brown bat named Otis as he learns to be a hunter, escape predators, and find a mate

Matt Phelan is the award-winning creator of the graphic novels Snow White, The Storm in the Barn, Bluffton, and Around the World, and the picture book Druthers. He has received the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction and has been nominated for five Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, including best writer/artist and best new graphic album for Bluffton. In 2014, Matt was awarded the Free Library of Philadelphia/Drexel University Children's Literature Citation.

Knights vs. Monsters, the follow-up to Knights vs. Dinosaurs, four daring knights and one intrepid archer face off against legendary monsters. This richly illustrated middle grade adventure is a hilarious tale of derring-do.

Rachel Dougherty is a Philadelphia-based illustrator, children's author, and lifelong knowledge-hunter. She works in acrylic paint, ink, and pencil smudges, using humor and color to inspire curious young minds. Rachel is passionate about US history, scruffy little dogs, and board games.

Secret Engineer: How Emily Roebling Built the Brooklyn Bridge tells the story of the woman who took over supervising the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge after her husband, the chief engineer, fell ill.

Wendy Greenley spent her childhood reading books and climbing trees. In preparation for her career writing books for children, she earned a M.S. in Microbiology before graduating with honors from the Villanova School of Law. She lives in Pennsylvania with her family, pets, books, and a yard of treasured trees.

Lola Shapes the Sky tells the story of a cloud with a mind of her own and a gift for making awe-inspiring shapes. Her beautiful shapes encourage her friends to go beyond their practical functions and expand their imaginative horizons.