Shannon Stocker
Shannon Stocker is a writer, musician, and advocate for the immunocompromised. She’s authored such picture books as LISTEN: HOW EVELYN GLENNIE, A DEAF GIRL, CHANGED PERCUSSION (Dial/Random House, 2022), CAN U SAVE THE DAY (Sleeping Bear Press, 2019), and WARRIOR (Sleeping Bear Press, 2023), as well as the 21st Century Junior Library: TOGETHER WE CAN: […]
Kirsti Call
Kirsti Call is the co-host of the Picture Book Look Podcast. She has judged the Cybils award since 2015 and is a therapist trained life coach for creatives. Kirsti’s the author of MOOTILDA’S BAD MOOD (Little Bee) COW SAYS MEOW (HMH), COLD TURKEY (Little Brown) and THE BIG SCREAM (Little Simon). Kirsti is represented by Charlotte Wenger at Prospect Agency.
Kari Lavelle
Kari Lavelle is the author of WE MOVE THE WORLD (HarperCollins), the BUTT OR FACE series (Sourcebooks, 2023), and an unannounced picture book biography. Her debut was honored with the Writers’ League of Texas Best Picture Book award in 2022. She has always had a love for words: as a kid reading books, as a […]
Sophia Gholz
Sophia Gholz is an award-winning children’s book author, music lover, magic seeker and avid reader. Sophia enjoys writing fiction with humor and heart. When writing nonfiction, she pulls on her love of science and her strong family background in ecology. Since 2017, Sophia has helped oversee the Henry L. Gholz SEEDS National Field Trip Endowment […]
Nell Cross Beckerman
Nell Cross Beckerman writes books for children, inspired by the magic of free play and exploration in nature. Nell has been a 12×12 member for many years and finds it an invaluable hub of information, support, and friendship. And just look at all the members’ successes! Her books include: DOWN UNDER THE PIER, explores the […]
Nadia Salomon
Nadia Salomon is the author of two forthcoming picture books. MYRLIE: A VOICE OF HOPE, a non-fiction biography of civil rights activist, Myrlie Evers Williams. This title won the 2019 SCBWI Work of Outstanding Progress Award. And she has a yet to be announced title due out in 2024. Her debut, GOODNIGHT GANESHA, is a Bank Street […]
Lindsay Leslie
A diary keeper, a journalism major, a public relations executive, now a children’s author—Lindsay Leslie has always operated in a world of written words. She likes to bring her unique outlook on life, quirky humor, and play with words to the page in picture books. Lindsay is the award-winning author of THIS BOOK IS SPINELESS (illustrated […]
Kim Chaffee
Kim Chaffee used to hold the Guinness World Record for the largest game of pick-up sticks ever played. (It’s true! Check out pg. 111 of the 2005 edition) She is a former second-grade teacher who loves coffee, chocolate, and writing picture books that kids will want to read again and again. Don’t ask her to […]
Julie Rowan-Zoch
Author, illustrator, bookseller, and activist Julie Rowan-Zoch grew up collecting freckles and chasing hermit crabs in New York, and spent years slicing rich breads in Germany before waking up to 300 days of blue Colorado skies. If she doesn’t answer the door, look in the garden! She is the illustrator of Louis, written by Tom Lichtenheld (Clarion, […]
Jess Townes
Jess Townes is a picture book author and bookseller. A lifelong storyteller, Jess has worked in public education, non-profit development, birth and lactation services, as a freelance writer, an actress, and currently works as a bookseller at Main Street Books in St. Charles, Missouri, but her favorite part of any job is the connections she […]
