J. Anderson Coats- December 2nd, 2020 

Jillian visited with our 3rd-5th graders in our first ever virtual author visit through Microsoft Teams. Students really enjoyed learning about her writing and publishing process. This author is especially pertinent as her title- The Many Reflections of Miss Jane Deming is one of our Battle of the Books titles and has earned these literary awards:

Celebrating this local authors titles such as:  

                                          Check out her website:   https://www.jandersoncoats.com/

Ellie Peterson- December 9th, 2020

Ellie is a triple threat- Illustrator, Author and Science Teacher! Ellie visited with our Kinder-2nd graders and shared a book that she is the illustrator for- Bea's Bees. This book is a great story about how important Bees are to our environment and provide the foods we enjoy. Ellie shared lots of awesome info about bees and what we can do to help them thrive- even in our own yards!

Ellie is the Author of these books as well:

                            Check out her website:   https://www.elliepetersonart.com/about


 

 

Andrea Loney
World Read Aloud Day 2021

Andrea Loney is the award-winning author of Curve & Flow, VIP: Stacey Abrams, Bunnybear, Double Bass Blues, Take a Picture of Me, James Van Der Zee!, and more. She visited our Kindergarten and 1st graders virtually for World Read Aloud day and read Bunnybear!

 

Trudi Trueit- Fiction and Non-Fiction Youth Author

Trudi is a local author of many fiction and non-fiction titles. She will be joining the Rockwell Intermediate grades to share her Explorer Academy series with a new release expected on January 5th, 2021.

Her Explorer Academy Series:

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Ben Guterson- May 12th, 2021

Ben Guterson is a local Young Adult fiction author. His books include the Winterhouse mystery series and his newest book- Einstein's at Vista Point. Ben is visiting in-person with our 4th and 5th grade students.

Check out some of his books: 

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Kazu Kibuishi- Graphic Novel Author and illustrator
October 2021

Our first visit of the year will be a spectacular one. Kazu Kibuishi is a Rockwell favorite. He is the author/Illustrator of the Amulet series, as well as other popular titles. Check them out below!


 

Traci Sorell- Native American Author

November 16th, 2021

Traci is a member of the Cherokee nation and the author of "We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga" and "We Are Still Here" among other children's books. These bilingual books she will be discussing are written in both English and Cherokee, are beautiful stories about being grateful and a reminder that these people are still here, living on their ancestral lands Since Time Immemorial. 

Some of her books:

Lyla Lee- Friday May 13th, 2022

Lyla Lee is the author of young adult novels like I’ll Be the One and the upcoming Flip the Script (May 2022). She also writes the Mindy Kim series for younger readers. Born in South Korea, she’s since then lived in various cities throughout the United States. Inspired by her English teacher, she started writing her own stories in fourth grade and finished her first novel at the age of fourteen. After working various jobs in Hollywood and studying Psychology and Cinematic Arts at the University of Southern California, she now lives in Dallas, Texas. 

Published Mindy Kim titles:

       Check out her website for more info:   Lyla Lee Book

Wendy Mass- Friday April 1st, 2022

Wendy Mass is the New York Times bestselling author of twenty-nine novels for young people (which have been translated into 26 languages and nominated for 91 state book awards), her first was A Mango-Shaped Space (which was awarded the Schneider Family Book Award by the American Library Association), followed by Leap Day, the Twice Upon a Time fairy tale series, Every Soul a Star, The Willow Falls series (that began with 11 Birthdays), Heaven Looks a Lot Like the Mall, Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life (which was made into a feature film), The Candymakers series and Pi in the Sky. Her latest books are Bob (co-written with Rebecca Stead) and two early reader series called Space Taxi (co-written with Michael Brawer), and Time Jumpers.

                                 Check out her website for more info:    Wendy Mass Book

Deborah Underwood- March 17th, 2023

Deborah Underwood grew up in Walla Walla, Washington. Her father was a math professor and her mother taught English. After colege, she became a street musician, then she worked in an office typing memos for accountants. During her breaks she would write screenplays. She finally decided to write for kids. Deborah also started writing nonfiction at the suggestion of her publisher. Her children's titles include: The Quiet Book, The Christmas Quiet Book, A Balloon for Isabel, Sugar Plum Ballerinas, and The Loud Book. Her nonfiction titles include: Mexico or Bust, Animal Secrets, 101 Ways to Save the Planet and Ballroom Dancing. In 2014 her title, Here Comes The Easter Cat, made The New York Times Best Seller List.
 

Check out her website for more info:  Deborah Underwood Books

Saadia Faruqi- Pakistani Young Adult Fiction
and Children's Book Author- March 4th, 2022

Saadia Faruqi is a Pakistani American author, essayist and interfaith activist. She writes the children’s early reader series “Yasmin” and other books for children, including middle grade novels “A Place At The Table” co-written with Laura Shovan (a Sydney Taylor Notable 2021), and “A Thousand Questions” (a South Asia Book Award Honor 2021). Her new book “Yusuf Azeem Is Not A Hero” details the experiences of the Muslim American community twenty years after 9/11. Saadia is editor-in-chief of Blue Minaret, a magazine for Muslim art, poetry and prose. Saadia will be visiting virtually with 2nd and 3rd grade on March 4th, 2022. 

Some of her books: 

Coming in May 2022!

Check out her website for more info:  Saadia Faruqi Books

brian young- December 11th, 2023

Author and filmmaker Brian Young is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation. He grew up on the Navajo reservation in Arizona. Brian earned his BA in Film Studies at Yale University and his MFA in Creative Writing at Columbia University. Brian currently lives in Brooklyn, NY. 
Yá’át’ééh, Brian Young yinishyé. T’áchiinii nishłį́. Ta’neeszahnii báshíshchíín. T’ódích’íinii da shicheii. T’ódik’ǫzhi da shinálí. Tséhootsooí dę́ę́’ naashá. Brooklyn, New York, da shighan.

Hello, my name is Brian Young. I am Red-Running-Into-Red Clan and born for the Tangle People Clan. My maternal grandfather’s clan is Bitter Water. My paternal grandfather’s clan is Bitter Water. I am enrolled with the Navajo Nation and grew up in Fort Defiance, Arizona. I currently live in Brooklyn, New York. 

Brian visited with 4th and 5th graders virtually to talk about his upbringing in Arizona, his cultural background and his inspiration for writing Healer of the Water Monster. 

             Checkout his website for more information:    Brian Young Books

John Gallagher- February 6th, 2023

John Gallagher is the art director of the NWF’s “Ranger Rick” magazine, cofounder of “Kids Love Comics” (an organization that uses graphic novels to promote literacy), and leads workshops teaching kids how to create their own comics. John lives in Virginia with his wife and their three kids. John is the author and illustrator of the Max Meow: Cat Crusader graphic novel series.

Check out his website for more info:    John Gallagher Books  

Dusti Bowling-February 1st, 2023 
World Read Aloud Day

DUSTI BOWLING grew up in Scottsdale, Arizona, where, as her family will tell you, she always had her nose in a book. She released her first middle grade novel in 2017 and hasn't stopped writing since. 

Dusti's books have won the Reading the West Award, the Sakura Medal, a Golden Kite Honor, the William Allen White Children's Book Award, and have been nominated for over thirty state awards. Her books are Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selections and have been named best books of the year by the Chicago Public Library, Kirkus, Bank Street College of Education, A Mighty Girl, Shelf Awareness, and many more. Dusti currently lives in Eagar, Arizona with her husband, three daughters, and a bunch of farm animals.

Dusti joined us for World Read Aloud Day and read from her newest book
Dust- which is scheduled to be released in August 2023.

     Check out her website for more info:    Dusti Bowling Books

Jennifer Torres- April 7th, 2023

Jennifer Torres is the award-winning author of Stef Soto, Taco Queen, The Fresh New Face of Griselda, and other books for young readers. She writes stories about home, friendship, and unexpected courage inspired by her Mexican-American heritage. Jennifer started her career as a newspaper reporter, and even though she writes fiction now, she hopes her stories still have some truth in them. She lives with her family in Southern California.

Some of Jennifer's books: 

         
Check out her website for more info: Jennifer Torres Books

Susan Tan-March 29th, 2024

     
 Check out her website for more info:    Susan Tan Books

Naseem Hrab-March 14th, 2024

Naseem Hrab is the award-winning author of many stories for children including Otis & Peanut, How to Party Like a Snail, Weekend Dad, a Governor General’s Literary Award finalist, and The Sour Cherry Tree, a Governor General’s Literary Award winner. Her work has been translated into several languages including Turkish, Swedish, Italian, Spanish and Catalan, and praised by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, the CBC, NPR, Bank Street College, and more. She worked as a librarian for a time and currently works in children's publishing. She lives in Toronto, Ontario. Naseem will be visiting virtually with our First graders. 

   Check out her website for more info:     Naseem Hrab Books

Bob Shea- February 8th, 2024

Bob Shea is an award-winning author and illustrator of your favorite children’s books. His titles include the popular Ballet Cat series, The Dinosaur VS. … series and runaway smash hit, Unicorn Thinks He’s Pretty Great. The rest escape me at the moment. Oh, he wrote Who Wet My Pants illustrated by his friend Zach Ohora. 

Bob has worked with Comedy Central, was the designer of the PBS Kids logo, developed an on-air character for Playhouse Disney, worked with Nick Jr., has appeared on Noggin and The Sunny Side Up Show and has also worked on a super-secret project with some really smart people at Google. DreamWorks is developing one of his books into a television show. Bob Shea is largely, if not entirely, responsible for the success of all the organizations mentioned.

Check out his website for more info:   Bob Shea Books

Monica Silvie- World Read Aloud Day 2024!

Monica Silvie is a writer and illustrator of children's books. She lives in Vancouver, Canada, on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations.

Monica’s debut picture book is Chickadee: Criminal Mastermind (Kids Can Press, June 2022), illustrated by Elina Ellis.
 

 

   Check out her website for more info:   Monica Silvie Books
 

BOB HOLT

Bob Holt has been drawing since childhood and had a long career as an illustrator at Hallmark Cards. You probably know him as the co-creator of hoops & yoyo, the pink cat and green bunny, or for his love of french fries. The Red Jacket is Bob the human’s fifth swanky cool book for children—and no, he is not related to Bob the Seagull. Bob and his wife live in Kansas City, Missouri, far away from any beach. They have two daughters, two cats, and one mortgage that won’t leave home. 

"Red Jacket" has been nominated by the Washington Library Association for the Washington Children's Choice Picture Book Award for 2025. We will host Bob for a virtual visit with our Kinder and 1st grade classes on Friday, February 7th, 2025.

                                                                                     Bob's books:  

                                                         Check out Bob's website:   Bob Holt Books

HANNAH BARNABY

Hannah has mesmerized us all with her Monster and Boy series. She will be joining our 2nd and 3rd graders for a virtual visit on Monday, February 3rd, 2025. 

 "I love books. Almost every job I've ever had was, in some way, related to books. I have catalogued them, repaired them, barcoded them, shelved them, sold them, edited them, reviewed them. And now I get to write them!

"There's nothing I like better than sneaking away for a few minutes and jotting down an idea for a new story. Most of my books started with a "what if" question . . . but ideas are everywhere, so I make sure I always have a notebook and a pen in case I find an idea to save for later. (Like a baby goat with a really great smile!)"

                                                                                                                  Hannah's Books: 

                                                           Check out Hannah's Website:     Hannah Barnaby Books
 

 rosario martinez

Rosario Martinez is a Mexican-American, children’s book author in love with the fantastical and impossible. She was born in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico and raised in Dallas, Texas. Rosario has written a series of books that help children learn how to deal with big feelings and navigate the world! Rosario has offered to do a FREE virtual visit with some first graders as part of World Read Aloud day 2025- February.

                                                                                                                 Rosario's books:

                                                                    Check out Rosario's Website: Rosario Martinez Books
 

brian "Smitty" Smith and chris giarrusso

Brian "Smitty" Smith is a former Marvel Comics and DC Comics Editor. He is the co-creator and writer behind the New York Times bestselling graphic novel The Stuff of Legend, the cartoonist of Tree Mail, and the winner of the Kids Read Comics "Most Epic Adventure" award. Brian is also the author of the Officer Clawsome graphic novel series for children. 

Chris Giarrusso is the Harvey award-nominated artist and writer best known for creating, writing, and illustrating G-Man, a series of books loved by all ages. G-Man is a young superhero who gains fantastic powers when he wears a magic cape. 

Check out their books!    

Brian!

 Chris!

                                                                         
Check out their websites!   Brian "Smitty" Smith Books

Chris Giarrusso Books

roger fernandes- native american storyteller

Roger Fernandes is a member of Lower Elwha-Klallam tribe on the Olympic Peninsula. Roger is a Native American artist, storyteller, and educator whose work focuses on the culture and arts of the Coast Salish tribes of western Washington. Roger now lives most of the time in Minnesota, but travels back to the PNW to visit schools and teach at UW.

Roger will be visiting Rockwell in person on Friday, March 14th, 2025 where he will meet with all classes and share stories.