2025 Children’s Authors
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Rachelle Burk is the author of over 20 fiction and nonfiction books for children ages 1-14, including picture books, chapter books, toddler board books, and an award-winning middle grade novel. Her newest release is the picture book, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU: THE SISTERS WHO WROTE THE MOST FAMOUS SONG IN THE WORLD. Rachelle has presented at hundreds of elementary, middle, and pre-K schools around the country with her dynamic (and often hilarious) Author Visit Programs.
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Andrea Denish writes picture books that both educate and entertain young readers. She is the author of The Way We Say Hello (Starry Forest Books, 2023) and Everyone Loves a Parade! (Astra Young Readers, 2020). Andrea works in the children’s department of her neighborhood library where she delights in leading science-themed storytimes to introduce preschoolers to the wonders of nature. Andrea serves as the PAL coordinator for the Eastern Pennsylvania chapter of SCBWI. She is always happy to talk with aspiring authors about writing picture books and navigating current trends in publishing. Andrea lives in Ambler, Pennsylvania with her husband and their very cute dog, Fozzie.
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I was born in Philadelphia PA December 16. I was given the name Earl Bradley Lewis. I started drawing at a very young age, I was inspired by my two uncles who were very artistic. My uncle Earl(who I was named after)changed my life forever when he first recognized that I had a gift. Since my parents saw that I had so much talent, they allowed me to attend the Saturday morning art lessons at Temple University School of Art League to study with Clarence Wood. After many years I was discovered. My big break came in 1992 when Elizabeth O’Grady saw samples of my work and gave them to her co-worker Jeff Dwyer, who was looking for an Afro-American artist. He explained to me about the dynamics of illustration for children’s books. Aside from being an children’s book illustrator, I have a large fan base for my fine art pieces which are shown in France where I teach, I also have my work in galleries in Charleston, South Carolina, Martha’s Vineyard.
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Ann Magee is an elementary school educator, children’s writer, and lifelong learner. She lives in NJ, is mom to three grown children, and is an active member of SCBWI. Stories that especially interest her are ones of unknown, yet significant people and historical events. She also is drawn to stories that reveal the positive ways people (and children) impact the environment. Her debut picture book, BRANCHES OF HOPE: The 9/11 Survivor Tree, was published in May 2021 with Charlesbridge.
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Heather Stigall uses her experience with children and her degrees in Child Development, Psychology-based Human Relations, and Social Work to create stories that speak to kids. She is an active volunteer for the Eastern PA Chapter of the Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators, a member of the 12x12 Picture Book Challenge, and wife and parent to five children and one pup. When she’s not writing, you can find Heather hanging out with her kids (hopefully at the beach), reading, eating chocolate, baking, or creating all sorts of treasures. She is the author of GILBERT & THE GHOST (Beaming Books, 2025) which Kirkus Reviews praised as "a surefire hit for readers looking for seasonal fun." Her debut picture book, PAISLEY’S BIG BIRTHDAY (Clavis Publishing, 2023), was a 2023 Keystone to Reading Elementary Book Awards nominee and is available in six languages.
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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 has done creative work in all of those fields. Tim is the author/illustrator of 16 books including I Hate Picture Books!, The Angry Little Puffin, Do Not Open The Box! and the unusually titled untitled. He recently published his first middle grade, Mac and the Millstone of Time. He has designed toys, worked in animation and done other creative jobs including working on the Penny cartoons for Pee-Wee’s Playhouse, building Muppets and sculpting the very first Simpsons toys. Tim also created the pool toy The Chicken Fight Game. He has visited hundreds of schools and has said “Visiting schools is to most fun and satisfying thing an author gets to do!”
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Colleen Rowan Kosinski received her BA from Rutgers University and is an alumna of Moore College of Art. Colleen is enchanted with picture books and is the author/illustrator of Lilla’s Sunflowers (Sky Pony Press), author of A Home Again (Two Lions), Love Made Me More (Two Lions) and Little Star (Apples and Honey Press, 2026) A Home Again, has been translated into seven languages along with English. Colleen was very excited to see her Chinese translation of A Home Again endorsed by the Taiwanese pop star, Peggy Hsu! Love Made Me More was selected to be included in The Pizza Hut Book It! program and garnered a star review from School Library Journal. Colleen is best known for writing heartfelt stories that resonate with readers of all ages. In addition to her writing, Colleen is an editor at Reedsy.com, teaches classes on picture book writing, and is an a member of The Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). She also serves on the council of the Rutgers University Council on Children’s Literature. Colleen works from her Cherry Hill, NJ studio with her loyal canine assistant, Sage.
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Berrie Torgan-Randall is an author/illustrator working from her home studio in Media, PA. Berrie’s illustrations have appeared in Ladybug Magazine, and her debut early reader graphic novel, Bella & Blue: Bella Meets Blue was published by The Little Press Publishing in 2022. The second book in the Bella & Blue series is to launch in October 2026 titled Bella & Blue: Times Two. In addition, Berrie’s debut picture book Just Ducky: A Friendship Takes Flight is set to soar in October 2025 published by Cardinal Rule Press. Berrie is Cardinal Rule Press’s first author/illustrator.
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Anne Lambelet earned a bachelor’s degree in illustration from the University of the Arts longer ago now than she cares to admit. Since then she has worked with notable clients such as Scholastic, Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins, Hachette Book Group, and many more.
She has illustrated several children’s books and has even written a few of her own including The Poisoned Apple (Page Street Kids, October 2020) and I'm a Dumbo Octopus: A Graphic Guide to Cephalopods (Graphic Universe, March 2025).
She currently lives in Philadelphia with her husband, her two sons, and her exceptionally fluffy dog, Eevee. She loves long jogs, listening to fantasy audiobooks, and she highly recommends that everyone attend the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire at least once in their lives.
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Alyssa Reynoso-Morris is a queer Afro-Latine/x Dominican and Puerto Rican award-winning storyteller, author, and motivational speaker. She is also a mother and community organizer. During the day, she works with community members, non-profit organizations, and government officials to make the world a better place. Then she puts on her writer’s hat to craft heartfelt stories. Alyssa was born and raised in The Bronx, New York, and currently lives in Philadelphia, PA, with her family. She is the author of Plátanos Are Love & Los plátanos son amor (a NCTE Charlotte Huck Recommended Read); The Bronx Is My Home; Gloriana Presente: A First Day of School Book & Gloriana Presente: De la República Dominicana al Bronx; Bold, Brilliant and Latine: Meet 52 Latine and Hispanic Heroes from Past and Present; and Pieces of Home. She hopes you enjoy her stories.
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Nancy Viau is the award-winning author of the following picture books: Splish, Splash! First to Last (2024 Northern Lights Book Award, 2024 Moonbeam Children’s Book Award), Pruett and Soo, Today Is a Beach Day!, First Snow, (2019 IPPY/Independent Publisher Book Award), City Street Beat, Storm Song (Amazon Best Seller), and Look What I Can Do! Her novels for grades 3-6 include: Something Is Bugging Samantha Hansen (2020 Skipping Stones Honor Award for Nature and Ecology), Samantha Hansen Has Rocks in Her Head, Just One Thing! (2016 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year), and Beauty and Bernice (2018 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Finalist). A former teacher and librarian, and forever a kid-at-heart, she loves to visit schools, libraries, and bookstores across the globe to lead story times, workshops, and assemblies.