Best in Show

David Elliott is the award-winning author of many books for children, including the New York Times best-selling And Here’s to You! as well as On the Farm, In the Wild, In the Sea, and On the Wing. He is also the author of Baabwaa and Wooliam, illustrated by Melissa Sweet; Nobody’s Perfect, illustrated by Sam Zuppardi; and The Two Tims, illustrated by Gabriel Alborozo. David Elliott lives in Warner, New Hampshire.

Leo Espinosa is an award-winning illustrator and designer from Bogotá, Colombia, whose work has been featured in The New Yorker, Wired, Esquire, The New York Times, The Atlantic, and more. Leo’s illustrations have been recognized by American Illustration, Communication Arts, Pictoplasma, 3x3, and the Society of Illustrators. Leo lives with his family in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Charles Santoso (Chao) loves drawing little things in his little journal and dreaming about funny, wondrous stories. He gathers inspiration from his childhood memories and curiosities he discovers in his everyday travels. He has illustrated several picture books, including The Snurtch and I don’t Like Koala—both written by Sean Ferrell, Ida, Always—written by Caron Levis, which was mentioned in the New York Times as “an example of children’s books at their best,” Peanut Butter & Brains—written by Joe McGee, and Penguin & Tiny Shrimp Don’t Do Bedtime—written by Cate Berry. Also a New York Times bestseller Wishtree by Katherine Applegate and A Boy Called Bat by Elana K Arnold.

Oge Mora graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design with a BFA in illustration. When not painting in her studio, Oge is in the kitchen cooking her late grandmother’s recipes. Her first picture book, Thank You, Omu!, was a Caldecott Honor, a New York Times Notable Book and Editors’ Choice, and a Junior Library Guild selection. She lives in Providence, Rhode Island, and invites you to visit her website at www.ogemora.com.

Catia Chien is an avid painter whose work is known for its whimsy, colors, and energy. She has produced work for the children’s book market, film and animation industries, comic book anthologies, and galleries. Visit her at catiachien.com and on Instagram @catia_chien.

Raúl the Third is the winner of the Pura Belpré Award for Illustra-tion for his work in Lowriders to the Center of the Earth . Raul visits classrooms throughout the country where he spreads his love of drawing and comic books to students of all ages. He lives in Massachusetts.

Cindy Derby is an author, illustrator, and puppeteer. She has been a Grand Prize Winner of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Portfolio Award and her debut picture book How to Walk an Ant publishes this spring. She lives in San Francisco, California.

Rebecca Green is an illustrator of many children’s and middle grade books, including The Unicorn in The Barn, Iqbal and His Ingenious Idea, Madame Saqui, and From Far Away. She is also the author and illustrator of How to Make Friends with a Ghost. This is her second collaboration with Sy Montgomery, their first being How to Be a Good Creature. She resides with her husband, and their lovely animals, Mori and Junie B. Website: www.rebeccagreenillustration.com Instagram: @rebeccagreenillustration.

Ebony Glenn is an illustrator and artist living on the quiet outskirts of Atlanta, Georgia. With an arts degree in drawing and painting from UNG, she aspires to bring stories to life with fanciful illustrations that are filled with whimsy and charm to provide rich literary experiences for readers.

Julie Flett studied fine arts at Concordia University in Montreal and Emily Carr University of Art + Design in Vancouver. She received the Christie Harris Illustrated Children’s Literature Prize and was nominated for the Governor General’s Award for Children’s Literature for her book Owls See Clearly at Night: A Michif Alphabet / Lii Yiiboo Nayaapiwak lii Swer: L’alphabet di Michif. Julie is Cree-M&eacutetis and currently lives in Vancouver, British Columbia. For more information, visit julieflett.com. Follow her on Twitter @julie_flett.

Antoinette Portis attended the UCLA School of Fine Arts and is a former creative director at Disney Consumer Products. Among her many books for children are Froodle, Best Frints in the Whole Universe, Wait, and the forthcoming Now. She lives in Studio City, California.

DAVID EZRA STEIN received a Caldecott Honor for Interrupting Chickenand the Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Award for Leaves, which was also a Publishers Weekly Best Book, a Kirkus Reviews Editor’s Choice and a School Library Journal Best Book. He also wrote and illustrated Tad and Dad, Ol’ Mama Squirrel, Pouch!, The Nice Book and Love, Mouserella

Emily Hughes is an internationally recognized author and illus-trator who was born in Hawaii and now lives and works in the United Kingdom.

Matthew Cordell is author and illustrator of Wolf in the Snow, winner of the Caldecott Medal, Trouble Gum, Another Brother, hello! hello!, and Wish. He has illustrated the books of renowned authors including Philip Stead (Special Delivery), Rachel Vail (the Justin Case series), and Gail Carson Levine (Forgive Me, I Meant To Do It). He lives outside of Chicago with his wife, the novelist Julie Halpern, and their two children.

Kenard Pak is an illustrator, animation artist, and author. He likes to draw and think about rolling hills, windy roads, bicycles, snow, and funny animals. San Francisco is home with his talented wife and sleepy cats.