2021 nErD CAMP THANK YOU!!

2021 PANELISTS

Talking about the "D" Word: Race, Books and the Art of Diversity

Torrey Maldonado - What Lane?, Tight, and Secret Saturdays

Greg Neri - Grand Theft Horse, Ghetto Cowboy, and Tru & Nelle

Adrianna Cuevas - The Total Eclipse of Nestor Lopez

Ismée Williams - This Train is Being Held

Writing Reality: Crafting Stories from Real-Life Experience
Winsome Bingham - Soul Food Sunday

Adrea Theodore - A History of Me

Amanda Davis - 30,000 Stitches

Lindsay Leslie - Dusk Explorers

Susannah Aziz - Halal Hot Dogs

Kelly Mangan - Prima Gina, Ballerina

Chalk and Ink Podcast Panel: For Teachers Who Write and Writers Who Teach
Kate Narita - 100 Bugs! A Counting Book

Michelle Schaub - Kindness is a Kite String

Carole Boston Weatherford - Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre

Rob Sanders - Two Grooms on a Cake

Ernesto Cisneros - Efrén Divided

Neurodiverse Representation in Kidlit: Writing as Neurodiverse
Jen Malia - Too Sticky! Sensory Issues with Autism

Lindsay Rowe Parker - Wiggles Stomps and Sneezes Calm my Jitters Down

Meg Eden - Post-High School Reality Quest

Nicole Russell - My Busy, Busy Brain: The ABCDs of ADHD

Expanding Minds, Expanding Hearts: Middle Grade Fiction that Encourages Thinking Beyond Assumptions, Stigmas, and Stereotypes
Barbara Dee - Violets are Blue

Terry Catasús Jennings - Definitely Dominguita Series

Elly Swartz - Give and Take

Rajani LaRocca - Red, White and Whole

Cindy Baldwin - The Stars of Whistling Ridge

Historical Fiction for a Middle Grade Audience: Empowering Students to Create Fictional Stories Using Pieces of History
Jennifer Robin Barr - Goodbye, Mr. Spalding

Tamara Bundy - Pixie Pushes On

Darlene Beck Jacobson - Wishes, Dares, and How to Stand Up to a Bully

Dianne Salerni - Eleanor, Alice, and the Roosevelt Ghosts

Foreign Visions: Mining Personal Experiences to Amplify Unheard Voices
Alda P. Dobbs - Barefoot Dreams of Petra Luna

Maria E. Andreu - Love in English

Comics and Graphic Novels in the Classroom
Jarrett Lerner - Give This Book a Cover

Remy Lai - Pawcasso

Pennsylvania's Young Reader's Choice Award
Nadine Poper - Randall and Randall

Featuring Librarians Ellen Stolarski and Alice Cyphers

Mental Health and Middle Grade: Supporting Students with Stories of Hope, Help, and Healing
Jess Redman - The Adventure of Now

Chris Baron - The Magical Imperfect

Victoria Piontek - Better with Butter

Nicole Melleby - How to Become a Planet

Latinx/e Picture Books as Mentor Texts for Social Emotional Learning
Alexandra Alessandri - Isabel and Her Colores Go to School

Ana Siqueria - Bella's Recipe for Success

Zara González Hoang- A New Kind of Wild

Emma Otheguy - A Sled for Gabo

With Literacy and Access for All: The Work to #EndBookDeserts
Molly Ness - Think Big with Think Alouds

Padma Venkatraman - Born Behind Bars

Elizabeth Blye - Educator

Comic Relief: Why Humor is Important in Books for Kids (SEL)
Christine Van Zandt - A Brief History of Underpants

Josh Funk - Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast Series

Alan Katz - The Liography of... Series

Michele McAvoy - Buckingham Gets a New Shell

Lynne Marie Pisano - Moldilocks and the Three Scares: A Zombie Tale:

S.K. Wenger - Chicken Frank, Dinosaur!

Diversity Through the Decades: How Diversity in KidLit Has Evolved
Valerie Bolling - Let's Dance!

Joy Nelkin Wieder - The Passover Mouse

Sarah Brannen - Uncle Bobby's Wedding

Anita Amin - Roja's Pet Camel: The Magic of Hope

Engaging Middle School Readers with Upper Middle Grade Novels Across Genres
Jake Burt - The Ghoul of Windydown Vale

Paula Chase - Turning Point

Laurie Morrison - Saint Ivy: Kind at All Costs

Loriel Ryon - Into the Tall, Tall Grass

Misguided Assignments: Do's and Don'ts to Prevent Curriculum Violence, Promote Allyship and Anti-bias Education
Liza Wiemer - The Assignment

Inspiring Self-Advocacy and Student-led Learning
Monique Fields - Honeysmoke: A Story of Finding Your Color

Bea Birdsong - I Will be Fierce!

Adrienne Wright - Hector: A Boy, A Protest, and the Photograph that Changed Apartheid

Lindsay Leslie - Dusk Explorers

Vivian Kirkfield - From Here to There: Inventions That Changed the Way the World Moves

The Creative Feedback Loop: How Critique Partners Nourish Creativity
Joy Nelkin Wieder - The Passover Mouse

Sarah Brannen - Uncle Bobby's Wedding

Anita Amin - Roja's Pet Camel: The Magic of Hope

Rebecca Caprara - Mission Multiverse

Betsey Uhrig - Double the Danger Zero Zucchini

Writing in the Classroom: Tips, Strategies, and Activities to Make Writing More Accessible and Enjoyable for Students
Elly Swartz - Give and Take

Jarrett Lerner - Give This Book a Cover

Fact in Fiction: Accidentally Educational
June Smalls - Odd Animal ABC's

S.K. Wenger - Chicken Frank, Dinosaur!

Nadine Poper - Randall and Randall

Moni Ritchie Hadley - The Star Festival

Relentless Characters in Diverse Books
Alda P. Dobbs - Barefoot Dreams of Petra Luna

Terry Catasús Jennings - Definitely Dominguita Series

Loriel Ryon - Into the Tall, Tall Grass

Pairing STEM Books with Hands-On Activities to Build Skills and Connections
Katey Howes - Rissy No Kissies

Teresa Robeson - How Wu Chien Shiung Helped Unlock the Secrets of the Atom

Jen Malia - Too Sticky! Sensory Issues with Autism

Christine Evans - Evelyn the Adventurous Entomologist: The True Story of a World-Traveling Bug Hunter

Ruth Spiro - Maxine and Greatest Garden Ever

Annette Whipple - Whooo Knew? The Truth About Owls

Shana Keller - Ticktock Banneker's Clock

Heroes of Our Own Stories
Brittany Thurman - Fly

Angela Kunkel - Digging for Words: José Alberto Gutiérrez and the Library He Built

Kristen Larson - A True Wonder: The Comic Book Hero Who Changed Everything

Rajani LaRocca - Red, White and Whole

Lindsay Metcalf - No Voice Too Small: Fourteen Young Americans Making History

Make Them Laugh and Keep Them Reading
Timothy Young - Untitled

Robin Newman - Don't Call Me Fuzzybutt!

Janet Johnson - Help Wanted, Must Love Books

Artle Bennett - The Story of Zippy Chippy: The Little Horse that Couldn't

Julie Rowan-Zoch - I'm a Hare, So There!

PB and MG Books That Foster Understanding, Compassion, and Social/Emotional Learning
Darlene Beck Jacobson - Wishes, Dares, and How to Stand Up to a Bully

Sarah Scheerger - Operation Frog Effect

Tina Athaide - Orange for the Sunsets

Alexandra Alessandri - Isabel and Her Colores Go to School

Make That Storytime Interactive! Tips, Tricks, and New Books for Engaging Storytimes
Abi Cushman - Animals Go Vroom!

Josh Funk - Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast Series

Carol Gordon Ekster - You Know What?

Valerie Bolling - Let's Dance!

Literary Pets: Animals in Fiction and Real Life for Kids Only!
Gail D. Villanueva - Sugar and Spite

Remy Lai - Pawcasso

Adrianna Cuevas - The Total Eclipse of Nestor Lopez

Barbara Dee - Violets are Blue

Don't Skip the Back Matter: How Nonfiction Picture Books Promote Disciplinary Literacy
Collean Paeff - The Great Stink: How Joseph Bazalgette Solved London's Poop Pollution Problem

Sarah Aronson - Just Like Rube Goldberg: The Incredible True Story of the Man Behind the Machines

Christy Mihaly - Barefoot Books Water: A Deep Dive of Discovery

Linda Stanek - Once Upon an Elephant

Animal Sidekicks: Exploring the Rich History of Animal Friends in MG and How They Keep Readers Reading
Samantha M. Clark - Arrow

Denise Gallagher - Moonsong: A Musical Tale of Magical Friendships

Alexandra Diaz - 8th Grade vs. The Machines

Jess Redman - The Adventure of Now

Middle Grade Quest and Adventure
Tricia Springstubb - The Most Perfect Thing in the Universe

D.A. D'Aurelio - The Secret Notebook

David Neilsen - Dr. Fell and the Playground of Doom

Judy Allen Dodson - Escape From...Hurricane Katrina

Kevin Sylvester - The Fabulous Zed Watson!

Taking Books Series-ly: A Not-So-Serious Discussion on Series
Alan Katz - The Liography of... Series

Nancy Krulik - Mr. Frogboom's Field Trips Series

Peter Lerangis - Throwback Series

Toxic Teen and Tween Relationships
Torrey Maldonado - What Lane?, Tight, and Secret Saturdays

Barbara Dee - Violets are Blue

Chris Baron - The Magical Imperfect

Laurie Morrison - Saint Ivy: Kind at All Costs

Using Picture Books as Mentor Texts to Talk about Diversity, Respect, Tolerance, and Empathy
Ana Siqueria - Bella's Recipe for Success

Tina Athaide - Orange for the Sunsets

Moni Ritchie Hadley - The Star Festival

Phaea Crede - Jet the Cat (Is Not a Cat!)

Creating Connections: Text to Self to World
Laurie Wallmark - Code Breaker, Spy Hunter: How Elizebeth Friedman Changed the Course of Two World Wars

Nancy Churin - Dear Mr. Dickens

Beth Anderson - Tad Lincoln's Restless Wriggle: Pandemonium and Patience in the President's House

Jeanette Bradley - No Voice Too Small: Fourteen Young Americans Making History

Keila Dawson - Opening the Road: Victor Hugo Green and His Green Book

Creating Global Citizens through Reading
Gail D. Villanueva - Sugar and Spite

Supriya Kelkar - Strong as Fire, Fierce as Flame

Remy Lai - Pawcasso

Saadia Faruqi - A Thousand Questions

Padma Venkatraman - Born Behind Bars

Inspiring Striving Writers: Using Mentor Texts
Stacey Shubitz - Craft Moves: Lesson Sets for Teaching Writing with Mentor Texts

Darshana Khiani - How to Wear a Sari

June Smalls - She Leads: The Elephant Matriarch

Abi Cushman - Animals Go Vroom!

Using Books to Spark Classroom Discussions and Consent and Autonomy at Every Age
Katey Howes - Rissy No Kissies

Carrie Finison - Don't Hug Doug (He Doesn't Like It)

Paula Chase - Turning Point

Meg Eden - Post-High School Reality Quest

Where Did You Get Your Information? Research in Picture Books
Nadine Poper - Randall and Randall

Kristen Larson - A True Wonder: The Comic Book Hero Who Changed Everything

Annette Whipple - Whooo Knew? The Truth About Owls

Brittany Thurman - Fly

Adrienne Wright - Hector: A Boy, A Protest, and the Photograph that Changed Apartheid

Connecting Educators with Authors and Illustrators
Mary Choy - Healthcare Heroes: The Medical Careers Guide

Amanda Davis - 30,000 Stitches

Josh Funk - Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast Series

Lindsay Leslie - Dusk Explorers

Christine Van Zandt - A Brief History of Underpants

How Authors Can Engage, Encourage, and Support Both Thriving and Struggling Student Writers
Linda Stanek - Once Upon an Elephant

Alexandra Diaz - 8th Grade vs. The Machines

Betsey Uhrig - Double the Danger Zero Zucchini

Dianne Salerni - Eleanor, Alice, and the Roosevelt Ghosts

Kevin Sylvester - The Fabulous Zed Watson!

Saving Earth: Books to Empower Young Environmentalists
Christy Mihaly - Barefoot Books Water: A Deep Dive of Discovery

Lindsay Metcalf - No Voice Too Small: Fourteen Young Americans Making History

Collean Paeff - The Great Stink: How Joseph Bazalgette Solved London's Poop Pollution Problem

Samantha M. Clark - Arrow

Terry Catasús Jennings - Definitely Dominguita Series

A New Era of Book Festivals: What Educators and Students Want
*Hosted by the Latinx KidLit Book Festival*
Ismée Williams - This Train is Being Held

Alex Villasante - The Grief Keeper

Mayra Cuevas - Salty, Bitter, Sweet

Jonny Garza Villa - Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun

Laekan Zea Kemp - Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet

How to Keep Writing When Life Conspires Against You: Tips and Tricks for Writing When You Don't Have the Time
Victoria Piontek - Better with Butter

Kim Ventrella - The Secret Life of Sam

Floyd Stokes - My Glasses

Jacqueline West - Long Lost

The Importance of Normalizing Disability within Children's Literature
Sherry Howard - Spirits Among Us

Jessica Parham - Proud to Be Me

Cindy Baldwin - The Stars of Whistling Ridge

Alechia Dow - The Sound of Stars

Sonora Reyes - The Lesbiana's Guide To Catholic School

So You Want to Be an Author? Q&A for Educators Interested in Writing and Publishing Books
Kim Ventrella - The Secret Life of Sam

Adrianna Cuevas - The Total Eclipse of Nestor Lopez

Samantha M. Clark - Arrow

Saadia Faruqi - A Thousand Questions

Jacqueline West - Long Lost

Getting it Write: The Importance of Diverse and Authentic Storytelling
Wiley Blevins - Trevor Lee and the Big Uh Oh!

Eileen Robinson - Editor/Publisher

Joseph Bruchac- Chester Nez and the Unbreakable Code

Christine Taylor-Butler - The Get-Together

Pam Fong - Rou and the Great Race

Thank You, Educators! Silver Linings and Lessons Learned from This Extraordinary Year
Sarah Aronson - Just Like Rube Goldberg: The Incredible True Story of the Man Behind the Machines

Tina Athaide - Orange for the Sunsets

Claire Annette Noland - Evie's Field Day: More Than One Way to Win

Nikki Mancini - Educator

Authors' Tools and Tips in the Classroom: The Writing Process in Action!
Carol Gordon Ekster - You Know What?

Valerie Bolling - Let's Dance!

Phaea Crede - Jet the Cat (Is Not a Cat!)

Beth Anderson - Tad Lincoln's Restless Wriggle: Pandemonium and Patience in the President's House

How LGBTQ+ Themed Books Help Kids Find Themselves, Grow in Acceptance of Others, and Become Allies
Jeanette Bradley - No Voice Too Small: Fourteen Young Americans Making History

Rob Sanders - Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag

Jonny Garza Villa - Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun

Basil Sylvester - The Fabulous Zed Watson!

Nicole Melleby - How to Become a Planet

Books and Ideas for Social Emotional Learning in the Classroom
Carrie Finison - Don't Hug Doug (He Doesn't Like It)

Shannon Anderson - Too Shy to Say Hi

Katey Howes - Rissy No Kissies

Ruth Spiro - Maxine and Greatest Garden Ever

Laura Renauld - Fred's Big Feelings

Inspiring a Love of STEM through MG Fiction
Rajani LaRocca - Red, White and Whole

Sheela Chari - The Unexplainable Disappearance of Mars Patel

D.A. D'Aurelio - The Secret Notebook

Tricia Springstubb - The Most Perfect Thing in the Universe

Ethical Strategies for Exploring the Latinx Experience through Young Adult Novels
Laekan Zea Kemp - Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet

Crystal Maldonado - Fat Chance, Charlie Vega

Vanessa L. Torres - The Turning Pointe

Angela Velez - Lulu and Milagro's Search for Clarity

Books that Inspire Positive Social Action, SEL, and Inclusivity
Michelle Schaub - Kindness is a Kite String

Keila Dawson - Opening the Road: Victor Hugo Green and His Green Book

Nancy Churin - Dear Mr. Dickens

Sarah Scheerger - Operation Frog Effect

Linda Booth Sweeney - Monument Maker: Daniel Chester French and the Lincoln Memorial

Crafting Memoir: Zooming in on Moments that Matter
Jordan Sonnenblick - The Boy Who Failed Show and Tell

Jared Reck - Donuts and Other Proclamations of Love

Make a Joyful Noise: A Counterintuitive Way to Fight Racism
Christine Taylor-Butler - The Get-Together

Emma Otheguy - A Sled for Gabo

Rajani LaRocca - Red, White and Whole

Remy Lai - Pawcasso

Valerie Bolling - Let's Dance!