Jennifer Fosberry

Jennifer Fosberry is a science geek turned children' book writer. After working in the high tech industry in Silicon Valley and running away to Costa Rica for a few years, she returned to the San Francisco Bay area to read, write, and try to get out of housework.

Learn more about Jennifer on her website

Commander Chris Hadfield

Commander Chris Hadfield was the Commander of the International Space Station for expedition 35. He was the first Canadian to Command an ISS expedition, and spent nearly six months aboard the ISS. While traveling in low-earth orbit, he achieved a remarkable level of international popularity through social media. Commander Hadfield was tweeting, and streaming, and sharing as much as he could of his experience with the world below. His “Space Oddity” video has been viewed more than 100,000,000 times since its posting back in May on various social media feeds.

Learn how Commander Hadfield took "The Dot" into space! 

Commander Hadfield has a book coming out in October.

Mrs. P. (Kathy Kinney)

MrsP.com endeavors to expose young people to great books and stories through a celebrity storyteller and to spark their imaginations and creativity with on-line games and the annual Be-a-Famous Writer contest. Mrs. P stars T.V. actress, Kathy Kinney, who before Mrs. P was best known as Mimi on “The Drew Carey Show.”  www.MrsP.com is always free, contains no ads and new video stories are added to the magic library monthly. The website also shows the words to help early readers and ESL students and has free coloring sheets and activity guides to download.  It won the distinction of the American Library Associations Great Site for Kids.

Mrs. P does many visits to schools across the country each year using technology. 

Visit Mrs. P at http://www.MrsP.com 

Nina Laden

Nina Laden is the author and illustrator of many books for children including Peek-a Who?, Button Nose, and many others. Nina has a new book, Once Upon A Memory coming out December 3rd from Little Brown.

Learn more about Nina on her website.

A Peek-a-Who? Owl Doll is available from Merrymakers!

Jon Klassen

Jon Klassen won the 2013 Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished picture book for This Is Not My Hat published by Candlewick Press. His collaboration with Mac Barnett, Extra Yarn, was a 2013 Caldecott Honor Book.

Jon grew up in Niagara Falls, Canada, and now lives in Los Angeles, California. He is the author and illustrator of I Want My Hat Back, as well as the illustrator of Cats’ Night Out by Caroline Stutson, Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett, and the other books in the Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place series. He also created concept art for Coraline, the stop-motion animated film based on the book by Neil Gaiman. Source 

Timothy Young

Timothy Young has had a very creative career. Aside from being an author/illustrator, he has been an animator, sculptor, toy designer, and art director. He has worked on fun and exciting projects like Pee-Wee’s Playhouse, Jim Henson Presents and many others. His latest book, I HATE PICTURE BOOKS! (Schiffer 2013), has been getting great reviews, especially amongst teachers and librarians. He really enjoy's school visits where he gets to read his books and demonstrate drawing to students.

Tim’s dot is a sneak-peek at the main character from his next book, THE VERY ANGRY PUFFIN, which will be released in summer 2014. Why is the puffin angry? You’ll just have to wait and see. 

Speaking of round things like dots, Tim is also the creator of a line of characters called HEDZZ™. The first HEDZZ™ toys will be in stores this coming spring. They’re wacky ball-shaped guys that include SEAFUDD, who likes to show off what he’s eating, TREXX, who has a pretty toothy grin and UNDDAWHERE, who has trouble dressing himself.

You can see more of Tim’s creativity and find information about his books, toys and artwork at his website.

Here is the book trailer for "I Hate Picture Books!"

Bren Bataclan

Bren Bataclan's textbook was just published by Heinemann.

Bren gives away paintings around the world. The notes attached to his free artwork says, "This painting is yours if you promise to smile at random people more often." He also gives school presentations about his street art project and he paints murals. You can find out more about his cartoon inspired acrylic paintings via his website: www.bataclan.com