2023 Children’s Authors
More authors will be added as we get closer to the festival.
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Amanda Rowe is a freelance writer, an academic administrator, an amateur chef, a travel enthusiast, a blogger, and a book hoarder. She has published greeting cards, slogans, nonfiction articles, and poetry. If There Never Was a You is Amanda's first children's book. Her second children's book, There Goes My Heart, is forthcoming with Familius in 2024.
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MIKE CICCOTELLO is an award-winning author-illustrator of the picture book BEACH TOYS VS. SCHOOL SUPPLIES (from FSG/Macmillan). He is also the illustrator of Bridget Heos’s TREEMENDOUS and her picture book series SCIENCE BUDDIES (all from Crown/Penguin Random House), as well as CHEESE AND QUACKERS, an early graphic chapter-book series written by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen (forthcoming from Aladdin/S&S), and CROC AND GATOR, a chapter book series written by Lisa Katzenberger (forthcoming from Pixel+Ink/Holiday House). In addition, Mike is the host of DRAW WITH MR. MIKE, a drawing show for children, and is a member of the Rutgers University Council on Children’s Literature, SCBWI, the Children’s Book Illustrator Group, and the Children’s Media Association.
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Berrie Torgan-Randall has been passionate about children’s literature since she was a little girl and has fed her desire by becoming a children’s librarian and by pursuing a career as an illustrator and writer of children’s books. Berrie majored in art as an undergraduate and later pursued a Master’s Degree in Information Studies which enabled her to become familiar with current trends in publication related to children’s literature. It also confirmed her desire to write and illustrate books for children. Berrie's illustrations have appeared in Ladybug Magazine (May/June 2022 and Nov/Dec 2022), and Bella & Blue: Bella Meets Blue, her debut early reader graphic novel, was released on October 1, 2022 by The Little Press.
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Dr. Marisa Castronova is an author, educator, and professor with almost two decades of teaching experience. Being in the classroom has taught Marisa to write stories focused on building confidence, compassion, and curiosity so that children can become the best versions of themselves. Her debut book, Gigi Feels Jumbled, was featured on the Emmy Award® winning television program, Classroom Close-Up, and NJEA’s social media outlet, “Making the Grade.” She has also shared her book internationally at the Inquiry Educators Summit as an invited speaker. Marisa is excited to introduce her second picture book, Meena & Monty. Marisa holds a Ph.D. in educational leadership and master’s degrees in both biology and education. She currently resides in New Jersey with her husband and two children.
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Anyta Elaine Thomas-Burwell has been a professional mesh sculptress since 2006, selling works nationally through established galleries, professional art conferences, private commissions and numerous art exhibits. She has been featured on TV, in newspaper articles and online sites.
AT Burwell is Anyta Thomas redefined. She is an artist, a wife and a mother of an 8 year old. Her focus is not only to create art with a story, but to create lasting memories of family and ancestry through literature. Part of achieving this goal is to launch a series of books for both children and parents that are inspired by her experiences as a mother. She is the author of Hey! I’m A Brave Girl Now! Available on Amazon.com and BN.com
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A former Collingswood resident, Ziyad, works as bartender in Cherry Hill NJ. He has a passion for writing and for children. He spent seven years working for the Pop Shop in Collingswood. Ziyad found a creative spark and began writing children's books that deliver a positive message in a cheerful, silly and imaginative way.
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Steph Ox is a children's book author as well as a motivational poet. Her work is rooted in her ability to understand many different perspectives and point of views. Her writing catalog includes variations of poetry, informative articles, stories, think pieces, songs and an evolving children's book series. In 2018, Steph published Ketchup or Syrup? the first book in her children's book series aiming to provide engaging lessons that shape our children's values in the right direction. In 2021, Don't Draw On Mommy's Wall has become the latest rhyme along bed time story aiming to teach children about "miscommunication". The excitement around the story has allowed Steph to earn 'Amazon Best Seller' in July 2021. Her third book Background: What You Can Be When You Grow Up stars an African American Boy and his dad. Steph is passionate about changing the world through the art of writing and storytelling. Her mission is to create and provide literature that invites readers to be open-minded and compassionate in a world often filled with judgment.
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J. Donnini is a children’s book author, professional daydreamer, and mother, which she considers her most important job. She spent many years studying and writing music and transitioned to strictly writing for children when her son was born in 2007. Musical and lyrical quality can always be found in her picture books. Her stories focus on kindness, empathy, diversity, and love and respect for each other and this beautiful planet that we all share. She also addresses social emotional issues such as anxiety and worry. Joy not only wants to entertain but empower the young readers. Joy spends her time writing, traveling to schools for readings and volunteering her time teaching both children and adults how to write picture books and tell their story they have inside of them.
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Karen Rostoker-Gruber is a multi award-winning author of many picture books with hundreds of thousands of copies sold. She is an active member of The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, and she has twice co-chaired the Rutgers University Council on Children's Literature's One-on-One Conference.
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Colleen Rowan Kosinski writes picture books and middle grade novels. Her picture books include LOVE MADE ME MORE, A HOME AGAIN, and LILLA'S SUNFLOWERS. Her middle grade novel is titled, A PROMISE STITCHED IN TIME. Her picture book, A HOME AGAIN, was an Amazon First Reads pick and has been translated to seven languages along with English.
Her picture book, LOVE MADE ME MORE, was selected to be included in the Book It! program sponsored by Pizza Hut. Colleen works as an editor at Reedsy.com and teaches classes on picture book writing. Colleen is also a council member and acts as a mentor for the Rutgers University Council on Children’s Literature. Along with book launches, school visits, and signings, she also participates in many invitation-only children’s book festivals including the Warwick Children’s Book Festival, Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival, Rye Children’s Book Festival, Collingswood Book Festival, Chesapeake Children’s Book Festival, Poughkeepsie Children’s Book Festival and the Sullivan County Children’s Book Festival—just to name a few. She belongs to the Kidlit Author’s Club, which is a group of talented writers and illustrators who work together to promote members’ work. Colleen is a graduate of Rutgers University, as are her husband and sons. Her daughter followed the bright lights to work in the film industry in LA. Colleen works from her Cherry Hill, NJ studio with her canine assistant, Sage.
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Formerly an elementary school teacher of 20 years, Adrienne Purnell Brown is a Learning Disabilities Teacher-Consultant for a southern New Jersey school district. After becoming a teacher, she developed a love for children’s books, promising to write her own one day.
Penelope Takes Her Power Back is Adrienne’s inaugural book from her upcoming Penelope… series.
When not working, Adrienne spends time participating in church activities, volunteering in community service events with her sorority, watching movies, reading novels, having long distance chats with her son, and spending time with her family and friends.
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Mike Missanelli is a long-time Philadelphia journalist who has spent more than 30 years employed in various media areas such as radio, television, newspapers, and magazines. He spent many years as a sports talk host in Philadelphia radio after serving as a reporter with The Philadelphia Inquirer. Mike is also an attorney licensed in Pennsylvania. Previously, he has written a book on Penn State football titled The Perfect Season. His children’s book is The Adventures of Shima the Shiba.
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Keosha Sath is not new to the author world. Her first book Just Like You, encouraged young girls to think about obtaining science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics careers. She has since done book signings at Barnes and Noble, storytelling at local libraries, been invited to school events, and has been featured on Neuse News, NBC, CBS, and Fox.
Quest Like You, exceeds her first book and is a clever way to begin her Just Like You book series. It is clear that this book will create similar breakthroughs as her first book and she will continue encouraging young girls to strive for S.T.E.A.M. careers and to be the person in charge.
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Lynnette Mawhinney is Chair of the Department of Urban Education and Professor of Urban Education at Rutgers University-Newark. She is also affiliated faculty in the Africana Studies Department. Her love for teaching has always been a deep passion. Aside from academic books, Dr. Mawhinney is also a children’s book author. Her book, Lulu the One and Only, received an acclaimed starred Kirkus Review. Imagination Soup labeled the book as one of the best picture books of 2020. The book has received a Mom’s Choice Award in 2020 , the Notable Social Studies Trade Book Award by the National Council for Social Studies and the Children’s Book Council, and the Multicultural Children’s Publication Award from the National Association for Multicultural Education.
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Kathleen D. Lindsey A.K.A. Miss Kat is an author of eight children’s books plus her inspiring autobiography titled, Piecing It All Together. Along with her award-winning quilts, she exhibits them in her performances. She writes and performs Black history plays and has given presentations over a span of thirty years, in eighteen states, on the East Coast. Kathleen was given a proclamation from her home town for her numerous achievements. Miss Kat lives in Clayton, NJ with her husband, David and Dog, Yoda.
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NANCY VIAU is the award-winning author of Pruett and Soo, Today Is A Beach Day!, First Snow, Storm Song, and other picture books. Her middle-grade novels include Something Is Bugging Samantha Hansen, Samantha Hansen Has Rocks in Her Head, and others. A former teacher and kid-at-heart, Viau loves to visit schools, libraries, and bookstores across the U.S. to present assembly programs and writing workshops. She resides in New Jersey and always finds time to go on new adventures across the globe.
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Tara F. Mozee is a first grade teacher who loves to tell stories that help little people build self confidence and skills for navigating the big world. Along with a master of education degree in curriculum and instruction, Tara possesses the ability to inspire and motivate students to take the first steps on the journey to becoming lifelong learners. A practical person, Tara also enjoys expressing her creative side through art, music, and fashion. She lives to repurpose thrift-shop treasures and dreams of designing an entire line of handbags specifically for teachers and working moms.
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Alicia Guide spent 17 years as an award-winning newspaper journalist before she decided to pursue a new career as an educator. A Massachusetts native, Alicia now lives in New Jersey with her family and teaches at Haddonfield Friends School. She often sees bats flying at dusk as she walks her beagle rescue, Auggie the Doggie, around her Cherry Hill neighborhood. Nine New Jersey Bats is her first book.
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Rachelle Burk writes fiction and nonfiction books for children ages 2-12, and presents at schools around the country with her Author Visit program. She is a retired social worker who enjoys traveling, hiking, scuba diving and making mosaic art. Rachelle, who resides in New Jersey, is incredibly proud to have co-authored a book with her daughter Alana called, She's a Mensch!: Jewish Women Who Rocked the World.
Alana Barouch is a registered nurse in New Jersey specializing as a clinical organ donation coordinator. Alana enjoys travel, rock climbing, acrobatics, and singing. This is her first book.
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As a child, Timothy Young, always wondered who made the toys he played with, who wrote and illustrated the books he read, and who made the cartoons he watched. He grew up to be someone who got to do all of them. Tim is the author/illustrator of 15 books including I Hate Picture Books!, The Angry Little Puffin, and the unusually titled, untitled. He has designed toys, worked in animation and in other creative jobs, including illustrating books for other authors. Career highlights include working on the Penny cartoons for Pee-Wee’s Playhouse, building Muppets and sculpting the first Simpsons toys. He also created the pool toy “The Chicken Fight Game.” Tim has visited hundreds of schools and libraries and finds that doing presentations with students is one of the most fun and rewarding things he get to do.
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All Dogs Don't Bite is author Marie Hernandez's first book. The story is loosely based on events that happened in her own family. Marie is the mother of two grown children and MImi to her 2 young grandsons & 1 granddaughter. She spent 6 rewarding years as a Girl Scout Leader, as well as four amazing years as "band mom" to her son's Ska Band! Happily retired after working for more than two decades in Women's Health. Marie enjoys spending time with her family, trying new recipes, listening to 70's music, traveling and of course, walking her beloved Rescue Dog, Tessa. Marie was thrilled to be working on her first book with illustrator Stephanie Weinger whose creativity, enthusiasm and love of animals has helped bring this project to life.