Meet the Authors!

Charlotte Agell

Charlotte Agell is the author/illustrator of many books for children including her newest release, Just for Today. Charlotte’s awards include the Maine Literary Award and the Lupine Honor. A longtime teacher, she is originally from Sweden and loves living in Maine.

Tom Booth

Tom Booth is an author and illustrator of children’s books, a game developer, and a designer for screens large and small. Tom grew up outside Philadelphia, studied history at Hamilton College, worked as an art director at Scholastic, and now lives in Maine with his wife and son. Also, his middle name rhymes with broccoli.

Elisa Boxer

Elisa Boxer is an Emmy-winning journalist, two-time Sydney Taylor Honor author, and two-time Maine Literary Award winner for Best Children's Book. Her titles include: Hidden Hope, Dear Younger Me, Full Circle, The Voice that Won the Vote, Pine Cone Regrown (A New York Public Library Best Book of 2025), Tree of Life (winner of the Maine Lupine Honor), and One Turtle's Last Straw (winner of the Maine Chickadee Student's Choice Award). Elisa lives with her family in Southern Maine.
Author Website

Peter Brown

Peter Brown’s children’s books have earned numerous honors, such as a Horn Book Award, a Children’s Choice Illustrator of the Year Award, a New York Times Best Illustrated Book Award, and a Caldecott Honor. Peter’s #1 New York Times bestselling novel for children, The Wild Robot, was the inspiration for the animated film from DreamWorks. He lives in Maine with his wife, X. Fang, who is also an author and illustrator. Visit Peter at www.peterbrownstudio.com.
Author Website

Suzanne Buzby Hersey

Suzanne Buzby Hersey can often be found staring into space, weaving tales for children from her imagination. Space Girl incorporates two of her favorite themes: following your dreams and wondering at nature. Since her 2011 debut, My Maine, Suzanne has written several more picture books, fulfilling her own childhood dream. She lives in Maine with her husband, two children, and their dog. Visit her online at suzannebuzbyhersey.com.
Author Website

Katie Coppens

Katie Coppens is a middle school teacher and the author of science-themed books for kids. Her fictional series “The Acadia Files” is set in Maine and teaches science concepts through 10-year old Acadia’s story-telling, investigations, and drawings. “Underwater Wonders” is a board book that highlights amazing adaptations of sea life through rhyming verse and Mary Post’s vibrant alcohol ink artwork. Go to www.katiecoppens.com for more information on her publications.
Author Website

Betty Culley

Betty Culley writes poetry and young adult, middle grade, and children's books. Her YA verse novels are THREE THINGS I KNOW ARE TRUE (2021 Maine Literary Award for Young People’s Literature) and THE NAME SHE GAVE ME (Golden Kite Finalist) and her middle grade novels are DOWN TO EARTH (Lupine Award winner) and THE NATURAL GENIUS OF ANTS (Green Earth Book Award Long List) and LANDSLIDE, (Junior Library Guild Selection and School Library Journal starred review). She was an obstetric and pediatric hospice nurse and lives in a small town in rural Maine.

2

Melissa Dassori

Melissa Dassori is the author of Greta Ever After, a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection, and J.R. Silver Writes Her World, which was a Bank Street Best Book of the Year and a Washington Post KidsPost Summer Book Club recommendation. Melissa lives in New York City with her husband and three daughters, with whom she especially likes to share books, travel, spend time outside, and eat ice cream. She invites you to visit her at melissadassori.com.

Deva Fagan

Deva Fagan (she/her) is the author of A Game of Noctis, Nightingale and other books for young readers, as well as adult epic fantasy House of Dusk. She lives in Maine with her husband and her dog. When she’s not writing she spends her time reading, playing video games, doing geometry, and drinking copious amounts of tea.

Carrie Finison

Carrie Finison writes children’s books with humor and heart that are fun to read aloud. Her books include Dozens of Doughnuts and the sequel, Plenty of Pancakes; Don’t Hug Doug, an ALA Notable Children’s Book; Even Steven; Lulu & Zoey: A Sister Story; Hurry, Little Tortoise, Time for School; Pigs Dig a Road; and Touch a Truck Day, a lift-the-flap board book. She lives in the Boston area. Visit her at www.carriefinison.com , or follow on social media @CarrieFinison.

Jannie Ho

Born in Hong Kong and raised in Philadelphia, Jannie Ho (pronounced Jane-nee) is the author/Illustrator of the early reader graphic novel series Pumpkin and Beetle, The Lost Mitten, Happy Chinese New Year, and Bear and Chicken. She is also the illustrator of the Fry Guys series by Eric Geron and the Sherlock Roach series by Joe McGee. Jannie is the creator of Super Chicken and Shelly, a regularly featured comic in Highlights for Children High Five Magazine. She runs comic workshops for kids in libraries and schools. Jannie lives near Boston, MA with her family. www.chickengirldesign.com

George Jreije

George Jreije ("jer-age") is the author of many books, including the acclaimed Shad Hadid fantasy series, the Bashir Boutros fantasy series, and upcoming graphic novels. He writes short stories in collaboration with Scholastic, UNICEF, and others. George served as the inaugural author-in-residence for the Concord Library and has been a guest of honor as well as an instructor for Gotham Writer's Workshop, the Boyds Mills Foundation, and more. When not writing or helping other writers, George loves visiting schools as well as scouring the world (especially his native Lebanon) for delicious vegan food. Connect on Instagram at @ByGeorgeJreije.

Rajani LaRocca

Rajani LaRocca was born in India, raised in Kentucky, and now lives in the Boston area, where she practices medicine and writes award-winning books for young readers, including the Newbery Honor winning middle grade novel in verse, Red, White, and Whole. She’s always been an omnivorous reader, and now she is an omnivorous writer of fiction and nonfiction, novels and picture books, prose and poetry. She finds inspiration in her family, her childhood, the natural world, math, science, and just about everywhere she looks.

Sara Levine

Sara Levine is a veterinarian, science educator, and award-winning picture book author of over a dozen books. She lives with her daughter in Stony Creek, CT.

Megan Litwin

Megan Litwin is a children's book author, a former classroom teacher, and a forever believer in book magic. She holds a master’s from the Center for the Study of Children’s Literature at Simmons University and lives in Massachusetts with her family. Her current books include GATHER GRATEFUL (an ALA Notable, Golden Kite nominee, and one of Bank Street’s “Best Books of the Year”), TWINKLE, TWINKLE, WINTER NIGHT (a Massachusetts Must-Read and New England Crystal Kite finalist), and the expanding DIRT AND BUGSY series. Visit Megan at www.meganlitwinbooks.com.

Kristi Mahoney

Kristi Mahoney is the award-winning author of Alpacas Make Terrible Librarians and Owls Make Terrible Teachers – a series of books that combine humor, animal facts, and an appreciation for all “human” librarians and teachers. She lives in Massachusetts with her family and seven fur-family members.

Christy Mihaly

Christy Mihaly is an award-winning children’s author and poet who has published more than forty books, primarily nonfiction. Her two 2026 books are the picture book biography Music and Silence: The Passion and Protest of Pablo Casals; and middle grade nonfiction America’s Founding Myths … And What REALLY Happened! Both received starred reviews. A former lawyer, Christy has written extensively about civics and democracy. Christy lives in Vermont, surrounded by forests and fields.

Anica Mrose Rissi

Anica Mrose Rissi is the award-winning author of more than a dozen books for kids and teens, including picture books, chapter books, middle grade, and YA. Her most recent books are the short, sharp YA novel GIRL REFLECTED IN KNIFE and the middle grade novel WISHING SEASON, which is set on the Maine island where Anica grew up. Anica plays fiddle in and writes lyrics for the band Owen Lake and the Tragic Loves, and has a very good dog named Sweet Potato. She loves visiting schools and getting readers of all ages excited about books and writing. Find out more at anicarissi.com.

Lynn Plourde

Lynn Plourde (www.lynnplourde.com) is the author of more than forty children’s books from board books to picture books to middle grade. She worked as a speech-language therapist in public schools for twenty plus years. Lynn does numerous author visits to schools, teaching students writing mini-lessons. She is a Maine native who currently lives in Winthrop.

Dan Poblocki

Dan Poblocki is an American author of mystery, horror, and adventure novels for young people. He is the co-author with Neil Patrick Harris of the #1 New York Times bestselling series The Magic Misfits (writing under the pen-name Alec Azam). He's also the author of My Brother’s Butt is Haunted, Tales to Keep You Up at Night, More Tales to Keep You Up at Night, the Shadow House series and many more. Jackson Bright in the Spotlight, a joyful middle-grade collaboration with drag-superstar Eureka O’Hara (RuPaul’s Drag Race, HBO’s We’re Here) was given a starred review in Kirkus, whose editors called it: “A fierce and fabulous read . . .” Dan’s novels were Junior Library Guild selections and made the American Library Association’s Best Fiction for Young Adults list. Other books have been honored with multiple state-reading awards. His work has been translated into French, Spanish, Greek, Russian, German, Polish, Czech, and Farsi. Dan writes in New York's Hudson Valley, where he lives with two scaredy cats in a creaky old house. He's probably working on something new this very minute . . .

Sarah Sax

Sarah Sax grew up in St. Louis on Uncle Scrooge and Sailor Moon comics. She studied storytelling and sequential imagery at Hampshire College and worked in education and gaming in the Bay Area before starting her publishing journey. She is the illustrator of the first three books (Escape This Book: Titanic; Escape this Book: Tombs of Egypt; and Escape This Book: Race to the Moon) in the interactive Escape This Book series. She is the author and illustrator of Picture Day, Tryouts, and School Dance the first three graphic novels in the Brinkley Yearbooks series, as well as the upcoming Class Trip. Sarah lives and works in Portland, Maine with her husband and a small menagerie of pets.

Melissa Stewart

Melissa Stewart is a leading voice in children’s nonfiction, with more than 200 science books to her name. Her work has been translated into more than a dozen languages and garnered such awards as the Sibert Honor, two Green Earth Book Awards, and four ALA Notables. Melissa is a popular presenter at schools and libraries, and her highly-regarded website features a rich array of nonfiction reading and writing resources.

Melissa Sweet

Melissa Sweet is the Caldecott Honoring–winning author and illustrator of many fine children's books, including Goldfinches by Mary Oliver, Balloons Over Broadway and Some Writer! The Story of E. B. White. Her newest book is The Duck Can't Sleep, also by E. B. White. Reviewers have described her unique mixed–media illustrations as "exuberant," and "a creative delight."a "In addition to making books Melissa is an avid birder and Maine Master Naturalist.

Ryan Tahmaseb

Ryan Bani Tahmaseb is an author, academic coach, and curriculum developer who specializes in supporting twice-exceptional (“2e”) students, particularly those with ADHD. His debut picture book, Rostam’s Picture-Day Pusteen (Charlesbridge, 2024), was selected for the Bank Street College of Education’s Best Children’s Books of the Year 2025 and chosen by the Maine Humanities Council to represent the state of Maine at the Library of Congress’ National Book Festival. His debut middle grade book, Persian Mythology: Epic Stories of Gods, Heroes, and Monsters (Running Press Kids, 2025), was selected for the Children’s Book Council’s 2026 OMG: Only for Middle Graders Recommended Book List. His next picture book, I Want to Eat (With) You, is forthcoming from Eerdmans Books for Young Readers in 2027. He lives in Southern Maine with his wife and two young children.

Nancy Tandon

Nancy Tandon is the author of The Way I Say It, a Junior Library Guild Selection and Indies Introduce Kids Pick. Her novel The Ghost of Spruce Point, a companion to The Haunting of Walker Pond, was nominated for the Texas Bluebonnet and Hawaii Nēnē state book awards. A transplant from the Midwest, Nancy now lives in Connecticut with her family and enjoys spooky summers on the coast of Maine.

Alexandra Thompson

Alexandra Thompson is the creator of A Family for Louie and the illustrator of Ben & Emma’s Big Hit by California governor Gavin Newsom and I Am a Masterpiece! by actress and Down syndrome advocate Mia Armstrong. When she’s not in the studio, she can be found exploring the great state of Maine, where she lives with her family. Visit her online at alexandraco.com and follow her on Instagram @alexandraco_illustration.

Phuc Tran

PHUC TRAN—writer, tattooer, and classicist—has a train wreck résumé. His memoir SIGH, GONE won the 2020 New England Book Award and the 2021 Maine Literary Award. He has been a high school Latin teacher and tattooer for over twenty years, for which he has won no awards. Phuc’s 2012 TEDx talk was featured on NPR’s TED Radio Hour. He has a children’s book series with bestselling illustrator Pete Oswald entitled CRANKY and has been occasionally seen on The Moth's MainStage as a storyteller. He lives in Maine with his wife and two daughters.

Wendy Ulmer

Wendy is a former music and English teacher from Arrowsic, Maine. She has written ten books for children including several award winners. Her books include titles from newborn to middle grade.

Andres Vera Martinez

A central Texas Tejano, Andrés Vera Martínez is the co-creator and illustrator of the award winning graphic novel series, Monster Locker. He is also the illustrator of Neal Shusterman’s Courage to Dream: Tales of Hope in the Holocaust and the co-author and illustrator of the memoir Little White Duck: A Childhood in China. His latest releases include Monster Locker: Nine-Tail Trouble. A recipient of the ALA Sydney Taylor Honor and the Texas Institute of Letters Frederick Luis Aldama Award, Andrés’s work has been recognized by The New York Times, NPR, and the Society of Illustrators. He now resides in coastal Maine with his family.

Lisa Wentzell

Lisa Wentzell is a full-time mom living in North Yarmouth, Maine, with a full-time career caring for Scotty, her special-needs son. Together with her husband, Scott, they are dedicated to assuring Scotty enjoys all that life has to offer. Everyone's life journey is different, and although their family journey is challenging, Lisa triumphs in uncovering hidden joys. She feels blessed with loving and supportive family, friends, teachers and community, and the amazing programs that allow Scotty to downhill ski, ride horses and surf. Lisa's empowering message in A Dog and His Boy is inclusion for children like Scotty.

Lauren Wolk

Lauren Wolk is best known for her novels, including the New York Times bestselling and Newbery Honor-winning WOLF HOLLOW, its sequel, MY OWN LIGHTNING, the Scott O’Dell Award-winning BEYOND THE BRIGHT SEA, the “6-star” ECHO MOUNTAIN, and CANDLE ISLAND, which won the 2026 Lupine Award and is a 2026 Judy Lopez Award Honor Book. Dutton published her first picture book, THE OUTERMOST MOUSE, in May 2026. Wolk is also a published poet, filmmaker, magazine writer, educator, arts advocate, and visual artist represented by the Larkin Gallery (Harwich Port and Provincetown, MA). She lives with her family on Cape Cod.

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse