Who Was . . . ? Books

Jess Brallier is the publisher of Planet Dexter and the author of more than 20 books. He lives in Reading, MA.

Dennis Brindell Fradin is the author of Let It Begin Here! Lexington & Concord: First Battles of the American Revolution and The Signers: The 56 Stories Behind the Declaration of Independence, which won numerous awards, including an ALA Notable, an ABC Choice Award, and an IRA Teacher’s Choice Award. The New York Times Book Review called it “fascinating for young historians and just about anyone else.” Dennis lives in Evanston, Illinois, with his wife, Judith.

Stephanie Spinner has written many highly praised children’s books, including Alex the Parrot, Aliens for Breakfast (with Jonathan Etra), It’s a Miracle! A Hanukkah Storybook, and the novels Quiver, Quicksilver, and Damosel. She lives in Sherman, Connecticut. To learn more about Stephanie and her books, please visit stephaniespinner.com.

Yona Zeldis McDonough is a longtime doll lover and collector. She is also an award-winning author who has published numerous books for children and adults. She presently lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two children.

April Jones Prince created her first book, The Adventures of David, using markers, printer paper, and staples, when she was just five. By the time she was eight, she had decided she wanted to be a writer when she grew up. But it wasn’t until April graduated from college that she realized she wanted to write for children. “”The books we love as children affect us like no other books we read in our lifetimes,” she says. “They stay with us and shape us. Plus, they give kids the perfect opportunity to crawl into the lap of someone who loves them and listen to a good story. What could be better?”” Before becoming an author, April worked in the editorial departments of William Morrow Books for Young Readers and HarperCollins Children’s Books. Today, she works as an editor at Studio Goodwin Sturges in Providence and teaches part-time at Rhode Island School of Design. April is the author of 11 books, with three more on the way. Her books span the range from board books to chapter-book nonfiction and have been designated a New York Public Library’s 100 Books for Reading and Sharing, a CBC-NCSS Notable Social Studies Trade Book, an Oppenheimer Toy Portfolio Gold Seal, a Child Magazine Best Book of the Year, and Amazon Best Books of the Month and Year. She writes, visits schools, and lives with her family in Massachusetts.

Joyce Milton has written several books for Penguin Young Readers, including Bats and Pocahontas: An American Princess.

Deborah Hopkinson is the award-winning author of numerous critically acclaimed picture books, middle grade fiction, and nonfiction. She lives in Oregon with her family and menagerie of pets.

Roberta Edwards lives in New York, New York. Ken Call lives in Northbrook, Illinois.

Joan Holub has authored and/or illustrated over 140 children’s books, including the Goddess Girls series, the Heroes in Training series, the New York Times bestselling picture book Mighty Dads (illustrated by James Dean), and Little Red Writing (illustrated by Melissa Sweet). She lives in North Carolina and is online at JoanHolub.com. (Bio via http://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Joan-Holub/1440894)

Margaret Frith is the author of numerous children’s books, including several titles in the Who Was? series, such as Who Was Thomas Alva Edison?, Who Was Louis Braille?, Who Was Franklin Roosevelt? and Who Was Woodrow Wilson? She lives in New York City.

Ann Abramson lives in New York, New York. Nancy Harrison lives in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Bonnie Bader lives in Brooklyn, New York. Elizabeth Wolf lives in Boise, Idaho. Nancy Harrison lives in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Whitney Stewart is a children’s book author, meditation teacher, and a born adventurer. She has traveled to Tibet, Nepal, and India and teaches mindfulness at Tulane University and to children and teens. Her most recent children’s book is A Catfish Tale: A Bayou Story of the Fisherman and His Wife. Whitney lives in Louisiana, with her husband and son. Sally Rippin has written and illustrated over 50 books for children and young adults. She was born in Australia and studied art in China. She lives in Melbourne.

Pamela Pollack and Meg Belviso are authors of several books in this series, including Who Is George Lucas?, Who Was Alfred Hitchcock?, and Who Was Susan B. Anthony?

Patricia Brennan Demuth is the author of several Who HQ titles, including Who Was Bill Gates?, What Was Pearl Harbor?, and What Was D-Day?

Megan Stine has written several biographies for young readers, including “Who Is Michelle Obama?” and “Who Was Sally Ride? “She lives in Clinton, Connecticut.

Jim O’Connor is the author of What Was Pompeii?, What Was the Battle of Gettysburg?, and Who Is Bob Dylan?

Michael Burgan has written numerous books for children and young adults. Many of his books have focused on US history, geography, and the lives of world leaders. He has also written fiction and adapted classic novels. Michael has won several awards for his writing, and his graphic novel version of the classic tale Frankenstein (Stone Arch Books) was a Junior Library Guild selection. Michael graduated from the University of Connecticut with a bachelor’s degree in history. When not writing for kids, he enjoys writing plays, and his works have been staged across the United States. He lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico, with his cat, Callie.

Nico Medina is the author of Where Is Mount Everest? and Who Was Julius Caesar? He lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Heather Alexander was born in New York City, and now lives in New Jersey. She began her career editing children’s books such as Goosebumps and Fear Street, before moving into writing. She has written over 40 books for children.

Jane O’Connor is an editor at a major publishing house who has written more than seventy books for children, including the New York Times bestselling Fancy Nancy series. She resides (that’s fancy for lives) with her family in New York City.

Brian Elling is the author of Knock! Knock! Who Was There? and many Mad Libs. He lives in Los Angeles, California.

Jody Jensen Shaffer is an award-winning poet and the author of more than 30 books of fiction and nonfiction for children, including THE WAY THE COOKIE CRUMBLED, A CHIP OFF THE OLD BLOCK, IT’S YOUR FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, BUSY BUS! and PRUDENCE THE PART-TIME COW, Missouri’s pick for the National Book Festival in Washington D.C. September 2, 2017. PRUDENCE is also a nominee for Missouri’s 2019-2020 Show Me Award! Jody’s poetry has been published in magazines like Highlights, Ladybug, and Clubhouse Jr. Jody lives with her husband and kids in Liberty, Missouri, and is a member of the Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. When she’s not writing, Jody can be found watching baseball or walking her rescue dog, Sophie. Visit Jody at jodyjensenshaffer.com or on Twitter @jodywrites4kids.

Author David Stabler and illustrator Doogie Horner have created several books together, including Kid Presidents (Quirk, 2014), Kid Athletes (Quirk, 2015), Kid Artists (Quirk, 2016), and Kid Authors (Quirk, 2017).

John O’Brien is also the author and illustrator of Mother Hubbard’s Christmas, which Booklist calls “a yuk-filled read-aloud.” He lives in Delran, New Jersey.

Larry Day has been illustrating children’s books for the last twelve years. He lives in Oak Park, Illinois.

Ann Abramson lives in New York, New York. Nancy Harrison lives in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Jill Weber doubles as a children’s book illustrator and designer. Her favorite projects are the ones where she wears both hats. She has illustrated numerous books for children and adults. She has three new books coming out next year—Pippa’s Passover Plate by Vivian Kirkfield (Holiday House, NY), What Is The Story of Hello Kitty? by Kirsten Anderson (Penguin Workshop, NY) and Goodnight Bubbala by Sheryl Haft (Dial Books for Young Readers, NY). When she is not in her studio drawing or at NHIA teaching, she can found working in her garden.

Tim Foley is a Michigan based illustrator who has drawing pictures for a living for the past three decades.