Toppsta - Childrens Books – Reviews

Susan Hood never understood, as a child, why mothers worked inside the house and fathers worked outside. But her mother urged her to pursue things she hadn't had-a good education and a career. After graduating from Smith College, Susan launched a career as a book and magazine editor at Scholastic, Sesame Street, and Nick Jr., with a dream of someday writing her own picture books. Today, she is the author of more than two hundred children's books, including Ada's Violin, the 2017 winner of Bank Street's Flora Stieglitz Straus Award, given annually to "a distinguished work of nonfiction which serves as an inspiration to young people." Susan's two daughters and brand-new granddaughter are the inspiration behind Shaking Things Up. Visit www.susanhoodbooks.com.

Sophie Blackall is the illustrator of many acclaimed picture books, including Mr. and Mrs. Bunny-Detectives Extraordinaire! by Polly Horvath, The Mighty Lalouche by Matthew Olshan, and The Baby Tree. Her artwork has also appeared in murals as part of the New York City MTA's "Arts for Transit" program. She lives in Brooklyn, New York. www.sophieblackall.com

Melissa Sweet has illustrated many award-winning books for children, including A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams by Jen Bryant, a 2009 Caldecott Honor Book, an NCTE Notable Children's Book, and a New York Times Best Illustrated Book. She has also written and illustrated Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy's Parade, Tupelo Rides the Rails, and Carmine: A Little More Red, a New York Times Best Illustrated Book for 2005. Her collages and paintings have appeared in the New York Times and Martha Stewart Living.

LeUyen Pham has voted in every single presidential election since she turned eighteen. She is the author and illustrator of A Piece of Cake, All the Things I Love About You, and Big Sister, Little Sister. She has illustrated many other picture books, including the New York Times bestsellers Grace for President by Kelly DiPucchio and Freckleface Strawberry by Julianne Moore. LeUyen lives with her husband and sons in California.

The author and illustrator of many beautiful picture books, including Bloom: A Story of Fashion Designer Elsa Schiaparelli, Julie makes her home in Vancouver, British Columbia, where she lives with her husband and three children. You can find her at www.juliemorstad.com.

Lisa Brown is the New York Times bestselling illustrator of How To Be, Sometimes You Get What You Want, and the New York Times bestselling book The Latke Who Couldn't Stop Screaming. She lives in San Francisco with her husband and son.

Sara Palacios is the recipient of the 2012 Pura Belpre Illustrator Honor for her work on Marisol McDonald Doesn't Match/Marisol McDonald no combina. A native of Mexico, Sara graduated from the National Institute of Fine Arts in Mexico City with a degree in digital graphic techniques and went on to earn BFA and MFA degrees in illustration from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. She works with a variety of media such as collage, ink, and digital artwork.