The Twelve Days of Christmas in America Books

Laura Rader has illustrated many popular books for children, including A Book of Hugs, A Book of Friends, and A Book of Kisses, all by Dave Ross. She is also the author and illustrator of Who’ll Pull Santa’s Sleigh Tonight? and Santa’s New Suit, which Publishers Weekly called, in a starred review, a “holiday outing [with] plenty of panache.” Ms. Rader lives in Southern California.

Constance Van Hoven received her MFA in writing for children and young adults from Vermont College. She is the author of The Twelve Days of Christmas in Minnesota and Hello! Minnesota.

I’ve been writing books for children for 38 years and have published 150 books in every category from picture books to biographies, middle grade novels to board books, easy readers to nonfiction. I have an MFA in writing for children from Vermont College, and an MA in children’s literature from Hollins University. I teach in Hollins University’s graduate program in children’s literature. I’m a ninth generation Virginian on both sides, and many of my books are set in my native state. My husband and I live in Fredericksburg, Virginia, with our two cats, Faulkner and Edison. I love cats but seem to wind up with the worst ones! Both of these rescues are food-obsessed, raiding the cupboards and trash cans, and even stealing bread from the toaster. I always have my current reading book and a notebook with me. I read everywhere, even in the movie theater!

Linda Ashman’s picture books have been included on the “best of the year” lists of The New York Times, Parenting, and Child magazines, the New York Public Library, and many others. In addition to more than 30 children’s books, including Sterling’s Hey, Coach!, Over the River & Through the Wood, and The Twelve Days of Christmas in Colorado, she is the author of the self-published The Nuts & Bolts Guide to Writing Picture Books. She lives with her family in Chapel Hill, NC. Visit her online at lindaashman.com. Sara Sanchez creates illustrations for children’s books (mostly published in Spain) in her art studio in Madrid with the radio playing in the background and her pet rabbit sleeping near her feet. See more of her work at sanchezsara.blogspot.com.es.

Tammi Sauer is a full-time children’s book author who presents at schools and conferences across the nation. Getting kids excited about reading and writing is her passion. Her other passion is tropical tea. Tammi and her family live in Edmond, Oklahoma, with one dog, two geckos, and a tank full of random fish. Tammi currently has 25 published picture books. In addition to winning awards, her books have gone on to do great things. Nugget & Fang was made into a musical and is currently on a national tour, Wordy Birdy was named a Spring 2018 Kids’ Indie Next pick, an Amazon Best Book of the Month, and a Barnes & Noble Best Book of the Month, and Your Alien, an NPR Best Book of the Year, was recently released in Italian, Spanish, Korean, and French which makes her feel extra fancy.

Gina Bellisario is an ordinary grown-up who can do many extraordinary things. She can make things disappear, such as a cheeseburger or a grass stain. She can create a masterpiece out of glitter glue and shoelaces. She can even thwart a messy room with her super-cleaning power! Gina lives in Park Ridge, Illinois, not too far from Winkopolis, with her husband and their super kids.

Greetings! I am the author of nearly two dozen picture books, early readers and chapter books. I have also worked as a high school and middle school English teacher, an adjunct professor of journalism at Ohio State, a marketing director, editor of a company magazine, a member of creative teams at an ad agency and a hospital, a contributing editor to a computer magazine, and – finally! – as a freelance writer of hundreds of elementary textbooks, magazine articles, speeches, annual reports, and patient education materials.

Children’s book author Toni Buzzeo is the creator of The Sea Chest and Dawdle Ducking, two picture books for young readers.

Ann is a writer of both adult and children’s books, including The Little Piano Girl: The Story of Mary Lou Williams, Jazz Legend.

Laura Huliska-Beith is an illustrator living in Kansas City, MO. with her husband and their two small dogs. Every morning she climbs the pizza-shaped stairs to her attic studio where she tries to create engaging images that help tell stories and connect with children of all ages. You can usually find one of her dogs, Sigmund, on the back of her chair while she’s working, while Charlotte, the other dog, works on her own projects in another corner of the room. When not in the studio, Laura can be found visiting schools and talking about the creative process with students, drinking coffee with her husband and good friends, or walking with Sigmund and Charlotte in the neighborhood.

Alice Faye Duncan is the author of several books, including the classic NAACP Award–nominated board book, Honey Baby Sugar Child, and Just Like a Mama. Ms. Duncan is a school librarian in Memphis, Tennessee, and conducts writing workshops for parents and educators. Her latest picture book, Memphis, Martin and the Mountaintop, received a starred review from Kirkus Reviews.

Lynne Avril has illustrated all the stories about young Amelia Bedelia. The artist lives in Phoenix, Arizona.

Erin Eitter Kono has written and/or illustrated ten previous picture books. She studied art history and writing through UCLA. She works at her studio in a cottage surrounded by citrus trees and lavender, and spends her non-work time with her husband and daughter.

Frank Remkiewicz has illustrated numerous books for children, including the popular Froggy books by Jonathan London (Viking and Puffin). He lives in Sarasota, Florida.

Ever since Mike can remember he knew he wanted to be an artist. His dad, who was an engineer at the Hiway Department, would bring home reams of paper that had hiway plans on one side and were blank on the other. He would be so excited to have all that paper to draw on and would fill each sheet with race cars, snowmobiles, baseball players, super heroes - everything he was interested in. In high school his art teacher, Mr. Chase, encouraged Mike to pursue art as a career. This, along with a scholarship, led him to the Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, Georgia. Since graduating with a B.F.A. in Illustration, Mike has illustrated over 20 books for children. He has worked with various clients including Random House, Dutton Children’s Books, Clarion Books, Holiday House, Scholastic Books, Bloomsbury Publishing, Walker & Co., Hyperion Books, Sterling Books, Cricket Magazine Group, General Mills, 3M, and Peaceable Kingdom Press.

Henry Cole was a celebrated science teacher for many years before turning his talents to children’s books. He has worked on over one hundred fifty books for children, including his own Unspoken, Big Bug, A Nest for Celeste, Jack’s Garden, Brambleheart, and On Meadowview Street. He lives in Fort Lauderdale, FL. You can visit Henry online at www.henrycole.net.

Illustrator Dawn Beacon lives with her husband and son in the beautiful mountains of Colorado. During the winter months she loves snowboarding with her family at their local resorts, while summertime finds her biking and gardening. Inspiration for her artwork is found directly out her back door with the abundance of wildlife and breathtaking views of the Vail Valley. Visit Dawn Beacon online at www.dawnbeacon.com.

Jeffrey Ebbeler, a graduate of Art Academy of Cincinnati, has been creating art for children for almost a decade. His books include Snow Day for Mouse, April Fool, Phyllis, and Jingle Bells.

TROY CUMMINGS has written and illustrated a pile of picture books, including The Eensy Weensy Spider Freaks Out! (Big-Time!), Little Red Gliding Hood (written by Tara Lazar), and The Notebook of Doom chapter book series. In addition to books, Troy’s illustrations have appeared on: Animated backdrops for an opera A package of fish sticks Jigsaw puzzles iPad pop-up books A poster warning people about germs A poster warning people about a film festival A cookbook for dogs A thing for the humane society A card game about hiking Newspapers, magazines and greeting cardsHe lives in Greencastle, Indiana with his wife and kids. Dig up more of Troy’s work at www.troycummings.net.

Kim Smith has illustrated two picture books, including the upcoming Raven and Loon, which have been published in English and Inuktitut. She studied illustration at the Alberta College of Art and Design in Calgary, Alberta, where she currently resides.

Liza Woodruff is the illustrator of over twenty books for young readers, including If It’s Snowy and You Know It, Clap Your Paws by Kim Norman and The Biggest Pumpkin Ever by Elizabeth Bennett. She lives in an old farmhouse in Vermont with her family and their two dogs. Emerson Barks is the first book that she has both written and illustrated.

Jess Golden resides in Massachusetts with her family. She has illustrated several picture books and an early reader series called LANA’S WORLD (Houghton Mifflin). When she’s not busy drawing and painting, Jess enjoys long walks with her tiny tot and scruffy mutt, Martha.