Author & Illustrator Bios

Browse Books

TOPIC

AGE LEVEL

FORMAT

Authors

Barroux is a Paris-based author and illustrator whose works have received many international awards. He was born in France, raised in Morocco, and has lived in Canada and the United States. His sensitivity to the problems facing humanity and the natural world is reflected in many of his books for children. For more information, visit www.barroux.info.

Flyaway books: I Love You, Blue

Kitty Black studied psychology and education prior to becoming an author of children’s books. Her research, including many hours talking with children, reinforced that stories are invaluable for helping process emotions. She lives in Western Australia. For more information, visit www.kittyblackauthor.com.

Flyaway books: Max and the Purple Worry

Kathleen Long Bostrom is the author of more than forty books, many for young children. Collectively, her books have sold more than two million copies, and many have been translated into other languages. For more information, visit www.kathleenlongbostrom.com.

Flyaway books: The Worst Christmas Ever

Elizabeth F. Caldwell is a noted Christian educator, author, coeditor of Growing in God’s Love: A Story Bible, and an editor of the Common English Bible. She is Professor Emerita of Pastoral Theology at McCormick Theological Seminary and Visiting Professor in Religious Education at Vanderbilt Divinity School.

Flyaway books: Growing in God's Love, God's Big Plan, and God's Big Plan (Board Book)

Canizales has been creating works for children for more than twenty years. He currently devotes his time to the creation of books that stimulate children’s imaginations while helping them deal with sensitive issues. His works have been published in Spanish, English, Italian, French, Polish, and Korean.

Flyaway books: Bruno's Hat

Sharmila Collins was inspired to write Binkle's Time to Fly by the bravery of her daughter and other children who face ongoing medical challenges. She is the founder of Cure EB, a charity dedicated to researching her daughter’s rare skin disease. Originally from Sri Lanka, she lives in the United Kingdom. For more information, visit www.cure-eb.org.

Flyaway books: Binkle's Time to Fly

Ian De Haes is a Belgian artist and painter who illustrates picture books. Learn more at his website http://iandehaes.com/.

Flyaway books: Simon and the Big, Bad, Angry Beasts

Barbara DiLorenzo’s first picture book was Renato and the Lion, which received a starred review from Booklist and was named a Bank Street Best Book of the Year, a Junior Library Guild selection, and a CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People. She is also the author and illustrator of Quincy: The Chameleon Who Couldn’t Blend In, a finalist for the Crystal Kite Award. A graduate of Rhode Island School of Design, she has taught at the Arts Council of Princeton and the New York Institute of Art + Design. She lives with her family in central New Jersey. For more information, visit www.barbaradilorenzo.com.

Flyaway books: One Thursday Afternoon

Laura Gehl is the author of Grandpa's Window and Apple and Magnolia as well as many other popular and acclaimed children's books. Apple & Magnolia received three starred reviews and was named a best book of 2022 by Kirkus Reviews. She lives in Chevy Chase, Maryland. For more information, visit www.lauragehl.com

Flyaway books: Saving Delicia, Apple and Magnolia, Grandpa's Window

Maria Girón spent her childhood immersed in art. Since studying fine arts and illustration in Seville and Barcelona, she has illustrated ten children’s books. In 2010, the Bologna Children’s Book Fair selected her work for a collective exhibition. For more information, visit www.mariagiron.com.

Flyaway books: Arthur and the Forgetful Elephant

Nicki Greenberg’s many works for children include fiction, nonfiction, and picture books. Her favorite activity is making books, but Nicki also loves to roller skate and crochet bizarre sea creatures. She lives in Australia. For more information, visit www.nickigreenberg.com.

Flyaway books: I’m Fabulous Crab

Siska Goeminne is a full-time author of numerous books for children and youth. She lives in Leuven, Belgium.

Flyaway books: No One Else like You

Theodore Hiebert is Francis A. McGaw Professor of Old Testament Emeritus at McCormick Theological Seminary, where he served as a member of the faculty and academic dean, and was an editor and translator of the Common English Bible. A leading scholar among theological educators, he has done groundbreaking work in the study of Genesis.

Flyaway books: God's Big Plan and God's Big Plan (Board Book)

Tim Hopgood is an award-winning picture book author and illustrator of more than thirty works for children, several of which are international best sellers. He lives with his wife and cats in North Yorkshire, England. For more information, visit www.timhopgood.org.

Flyaway books: Sidney the Lonely Cloud

Franz Hübner is a longtime author and publisher known for writing stories that address children’s questions about God. He lives in Germany.

Flyaway books: God’s Coming to Visit!

Kathleen Krull, known for her innovative biographies of adventurous and inspiring people, was the author of more than 100 books for young readers. She received many accolades for her work, including the Jane Addams Children’s Book Award, the Christopher Award, numerous best-of-the-year citations and ALA awards, and many body-of-work honors. For more information, visit www.kathleenkrull.com.

Flyaway books: Walking toward Peace

Amy-Jill Levine, the author of numerous acclaimed books, is Rabbi Stanley M. Kessler Distinguished Professor of New Testament and Jewish Studies at Hartford Seminary and University Professor of New Testament and Jewish Studies Emerita as well as Mary Jane Werthan Professor of Jewish Studies Emerita at Vanderbilt. She has cowritten many children’s books with Sandy Eisenberg Sasso, including A Very Big Problem, Who Is My Neighbor?, The Marvelous Mustard Seed, and Who Counts?

Flyaway books: Who Counts?, The Marvelous Mustard Seed, ¿Quién cuenta?, Who Is My Neighbor?, Who Counts? (Korean Edition), The Marvelous Mustard Seed (Korean Edition), A Very Big Problem, El maravilloso grano de mostaza, 100 Sheep, and The Good for Nothing Tree

Michael G. Long has written books for all ages on civil rights and peacemaking in mid-century America, including the stories of Martin Luther King Jr., Bayard Rustin, Jackie Robinson, and Mister Rogers. He lives in Pennsylvania.

Flyaway books: Three Lines in a Circle

Nicola O’Byrne wrote her first children’s book at age five and has been writing and illustrating children’s stories ever since. She now works full-time as an author and illustrator, basing her characters on people she knows. Her works have received numerous awards and nominations. For more information, visit www.nicolaobyrne.com.

Flyaway books: Where Is Home, Daddy Bear?

Katherine Paterson is the internationally acclaimed author of more than thirty-five books for children and young adults. She has twice won the Newbery Medal and the National Book Award, as well as the Hans Christian Andersen Award and the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award. The Library of Congress has named her a National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature and a Living Legend. For more information, visit www.katherinepaterson.com.

Flyaway books: The Night of His Birth

Judith L. Roth is a poet and the author of several children's books. She has a Master of Arts in Theology and has been a musician, youth minister, curriculum writer, and editor. She lives in Indiana with her family. For more information, visit www.judithlroth.com.

Flyaway books: Hiding Baby Moses

Sandy Eisenberg Sasso is the author of many popular books for children and adults, the Director of Religion, Spirituality and the Arts Initiative at Indiana University–Purdue University at Indianapolis (IUPUI) Arts and Humanities Institute, and Rabbi Emerita of Congregation Beth-El Zedeck. Her children’s books include The Story of AND, When God Gave Us Words, and, co-written with Amy-Jill Levine, A Very Big Problem, Who Is My Neighbor?, The Marvelous Mustard Seed, and Who Counts? For more information, visit www.allaboutand.com.

Flyaway books: Who Counts?, The Marvelous Mustard Seed, ¿Quién cuenta?, When God Gave Us Words, Who Is My Neighbor?, The Story of AND, Who Counts? (Korean Edition),The Marvelous Mustard Seed (Korean Edition), A Very Big Problem, El maravilloso grano de mostaza, 100 Sheep, and The Good for Nothing Tree

Yoeri Slegers is a Belgian author and illustrator known for his imaginative stories and expressive art. In addition to creating picture books, he designs CD covers, draws comics, and leads workshops for aspiring illustrators. For more information, visit www.kunstman.be.

Flyaway books: Crocodile's Crossing

Paul Stewart is the author of many books for children, including the best-selling Edge Chronicles and Far-Flung Adventures series, both cocreated with Chris Riddell.

Flyaway books: Brian the Brave

Melinda Szymanik is an author of picture books, short stories, and novels for children and young adults. Her works have received numerous honors. She lives in Auckland, New Zealand, where she loves watching movies, eating out with her favorite people, and traveling.

Flyaway books: My Elephant is Blue

Barbara Brown Taylor is a New York Times best-selling author, teacher, and Episcopal priest. Her first memoir, Leaving Church (2006), won an Author of the Year award from the Georgia Writers Association. Her last book, Learning to Walk in the Dark (2014), was featured on the cover of TIME magazine. She has served on the faculties of Piedmont College, Columbia Theological Seminary, Candler School of Theology at Emory University, McAfee School of Theology at Mercer University, and the Certificate in Theological Studies program at Arrendale State Prison for Women in Alto, Georgia. In 2014, TIME included her on its annual list of Most Influential People; in 2015 she was named Georgia Woman of the Year; in 2016 she received The President’s Medal at the Chautauqua Institution in New York. She currently serves on the Board of Trustees for Mercer University and is working on her fourteenth book. For more information, visit www.barbarabrowntaylor.com.

Flyaway books: Home by Another Way

Robert Tregoning performed in London’s renowned West End theaters before he began writing children’s books. Robert writes the stories he wishes he’d read as a child, hoping to provide a voice of recognition, validation, and kindness. He lives in the United Kingdom. For more information, visit www.roberttregoning.com.

Flyaway books: The Dress in the Window, What the Crow Saw Below

Denise Turu is the illustrator of Who Is My Neighbor? by Amy-Jill Levine and Sandy Eisenberg Sasso, as well as both author and illustrator of numerous picture books and graphic novels. Her work has been exhibited around the world. For more information, visit www.deniseturu.com.

Flyaway books: Babbit and Joan, a Rabbit and a Phone

Séverine Vidal is a French author who writes for all ages, in genres ranging from picture books to novels and comics. Her books have been widely translated and have won numerous awards, including the 2021 Prix des Incorruptible (ages 7-8) for the French edition of The Coat. She also leads writing workshops. She lives in France, near Bordeaux.

Flyaway books: The Coat

Carey Wallace is a writer of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, including Stories of the Saints: Bold and Inspiring Tales of Adventure, Grace, and Courage and the novel The Ghost in the Glass House. She is the founder of several innovative organizations that offer encouragement and connection for artists of all kinds. Raised in small towns in Michigan, she now lives in New York City. For more information, visit www.careywallace.com.

Flyaway books: Psalms of Wonder, Salmos de asombro

Michael W. Waters is an award-winning author, activist, professor, and pastor. For Beautiful Black Boys Who Believe in a Better World, illustrated by Keisha Morris, won the 2020 Goddard Riverside CBC Youth Book Prize for Social Justice and was named a Must-Read Book about Race by Essence. A sought-after speaker, he is a frequent commentator for major media outlets and has been honored for his work in peace and justice. Michael W. Waters lives in Dallas, Texas. For more information, visit www.michaelwwaters.com.

Flyaway books: For Beautiful Black Boys Who Believe in a Better World and Liberty's Civil Rights Road Trip

Jochen Weeber is an author, poet, and musician in Reutlinger, Germany.

Flyaway books: What in the World Is Wrong with Gisbert?

Carol A. Wehrheim is author of The Baptism of Your Child; Getting It Together: Spiritual Practices for Faith, Family, and Work; and Giving Together: A Stewardship Guide for Families. She is an award-winning Christian educator in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and served as co-editor of Growing in God’s Love: A Story Bible and general editor for the Feasting on the Word Curriculum. She was on the editorial board for the Common English Bible and named APCE Educator of Year in 2001. In 2014, she was named Distinguished Alumna by McCormick Theological Seminary.

Flyaway books: Growing in God's Love, Baptism Promises, and Dedication Promises

Elisabeth Zartl has studied religious education, psychology, philosophy, and graphic design. She is currently a teacher and freelance artist in Vienna, Austria, and has authored and illustrated several children's books.

Flyaway books: Where Are You Hiding, God?

Illustrators

Lisa Aisato is a Norwegian artist and children’s book author whose distinctive work has been published in books and magazines around the world. For more information, visit www.lisaaisato.com.

Flyaway books: The Night of His Birth

Roberta Baird is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. Her work has been featured in magazines, books, and educational resources with clients such as Scholastic and McGraw-Hill.