Been There, Done That
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NATE EVANS has illustrated more than thirty-five kids’ books and written a few more. The latest of these is a graphic novel for middle-grade readers titled Tyrannosaurus Ralph, with art by Vince Evans. Nate has also coauthored several picture books with Laura Numeroff, including Ponyella and the Jellybeans series. Ponyella and two of the Jellybeans books appeared on the New York Times Best Seller list. Visit www.nateevans.com.
VINCE EVANS has been belch battling for years. Showing great promise at an early age, he quickly won the junior title and went professional. Unable to gain weight and compete in the more lucrative heavyweight category, Vince was eventually forced to supplement his income fighting in Back Alley Burp Battles. It was during one of these bouts that he was injured by a Bouncing Betty Blast and forced to retire. He now lives in a home for aging belch boxers, where his brother, Nate, visits him every Tuesday night, bringing him warm, shredded cabbage and reading him kids’ books. Vince is only interested in the pictures, but listens politely. Missing the excitement of belch boxing, Vince followed Nate into the dangerous world of children’s books, where he writes and illustrates and still struggles to become a heavyweight.
VARIAN JOHNSON is the author of six novels, including The Great Greene Heist, an ALA Notable Children’s Book Selection, a Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year, and a Texas Library Association Lone Reading Star List selection. Varian was born and raised in Florence, South Carolina, and attended the University of Oklahoma, where he received a BS in civil engineering. He later attended the Vermont College of Fine Arts, where he received an MFA in writing for children and young adults. Varian now lives outside of Austin, Texas, with his family. Visit him at www.varianjohnson.com.
DON TATE is an award-winning author and the illustrator of numerous critically acclaimed books for children. Books he’s authored include It Jes’ Happened: When Bill Traylor Started To Draw (Lee and Low Books), an Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Honor winner; and Poet: The Remarkable Story of George Moses Horton (Peachtree). He is the illustrator of Whoosh! Lonnie Johnson’s Super Stream of Ideas (Charlesbridge); The Amazing Age of John Roy Lynch (Eerdmans); Hope’s Gift (Putnam); and Ron’s Big Mission (Dutton). Don is a founding host of The Brown Bookshelf—a blog dedicated to books for African American young readers—and a member of the #WeNeedDiverseBooks campaign, created to address the lack of diverse, nonmajority narratives in children’s literature. He lives in Austin, Texas, with his family. Visit him at www.dontate.com.
KELLY STARLING LYONS is a children’s book author whose mission is to transform moments, memories, and history into stories of discovery. Her books include the CCBC Choices– honored picture book One Million Men and Me; Ellen’s Broom, a Junior Library Guild selection and Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor winner; and Tea Cakes for Tosh and Hope’s Gift, Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People. Her title One More Dino on the Floor debuted in 2016 and Jada Jones: Rock Star debuts in 2017. Find out more at www.kellystarlinglyons.com.
A former textbook writer, STEVE SHEINKIN is now making amends by writing history books kids and teens actually want to read. Recent titles include Bomb, The Port Chicago 50, The Notorious Benedict Arnold, Lincoln’s Grave Robbers, and the newest, Most Dangerous, a finalist for the 2015 National Book Award. His books have won numerous awards, including a Newbery Honor, the Siebert Medal, and the YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults. Read more at stevesheinkin.com.
ELLEN YEOMANS is the ghostwriter of a middle-grade series published by Penguin. She is the author of a young adult novel, Rubber Houses (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2007), as well as the picture book Jubilee (Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2004) and the upcoming picture book The Other Ducks (Neal Porter Books/Roaring Book Press, 2017). She is the New York State Regional Advisor Emeritus for the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. Ellen received her MFA in writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts and teaches a number of writing classes throughout central New York.
HOLLY GOLDBERG SLOAN is a New York Times best-selling author, screenwriter, and film director. Among her books are Counting by 7s, Appleblossom the Possum, and I’ll Be There. She has written a number of successful feature films, including Angels in the Outfield and The Big Green. Holly was born in Michigan and spent her childhood in Holland, Turkey, Washington DC, Berkeley, California, and Eugene, Oregon. She is a graduate of Wellesley College and the mother of two sons. Holly lives with her husband, Gary A. Rosen (the illustrator of Appleblossom the Possum), in Santa Monica, California. Her website is www.hollygoldbergsloan.com/.
TOMMY GREENWALD is the author of the Charlie Joe Jackson series and the Crimebiters! series for children, among other books. He is a cofounder of Spotco Advertising in New York and the lyricist of John and Jen, an off-Broadway musical. Tommy has also contributed humor pieces to the New York Times. For occasionally updated information, please visit tommygreenwald.com.
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