Meet the Hosts

Meet Amy Doslich!  She's a children’s book author, illustrator, retirement actuary, and mom to two imaginative girls, Hannah and Mary, who inspired The Hannah Banana and Mary Berry series.

Amy’s books capture the everyday adventures of childhood through humor and heart which encourages kids to explore and see the world in wonderfully creative ways. Her stories include favorites like Sneaky Pinky, a playful search-and-find tale about a mischievous pink bunny, and other imaginative adventures starring Hannah Banana and Mary Berry themselves.

As the co-host of Kids Ask Authors Answer, Amy brings her love for storytelling and family life to each episode, creating a space where children can connect directly with the authors who spark their imaginations. When she’s not writing or illustrating, you’ll find her reading picture books with her daughters, testing out new crafts and games, or dreaming up the next big adventure for her book characters and her kids.

Meet Samantha Howard-Els!  She's a children’s book author, co-host of Kids Ask Authors Answer, and proud mom of twin boys. Originally from the U.K., Samantha now lives in the scenic city of Cape Town, South Africa, where the mountains, forests, and beaches often spark her storytelling imagination.

Her journey into children’s books began with real-life inspiration,her friend’s dog, Mungo.  Mungo's playful spirit led to the creation of her beloved Mungo series. Samantha is also the author and illustrator of Tiny Boo, a heartwarming Halloween story about courage and friendship.

On Kids Ask Authors Answer, she brings warmth and humor helping young readers see that stories can come from the most unexpected places, even from a dog named Mungo on a walk by the sea.  When she's not writing or illustrating, you'll find her reading grown up books, taking a hike, or creating her next baking fail for her kids.