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Authors in the Schools
These events are only available to children in the Chippewa Valley school districts and are not open to the public. Authors make private presentations to school audiences at various grade levels. Please spread the word about these amazing opportunities by sharing this information with your child's school. We thank participating schools and other donors for supporting our Authors in the Schools program. During our 2019 festival, 11 authors gave 36 presentations in 27 schools.
Our 2019 Authors in the Schools
SARAH ARONSON
Sarah Aronson began writing for kids and teens when someone in an exercise class dared her to try. Since then, she has earned an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults, and published three novels: Head Case, Beyond Lucky, and Believe. Her most recent books are part of a new series, The Wish List and the picture book biography, Just Like Rube Goldberg. When Sarah is not writing or reading (or cooking or riding her bike), she is talking to readers about creativity, writing, social action, and, of course, sparkle power! When she’s excited, she talks with her hands.
JUDY DODGE CUMMINGS
Judy Dodge Cummings is the author of 22 nonfiction books for children and teens. Her recent titles include the narrative nonfiction Tomb Raiders: Real Tales of Grave Robberies and the activity-based Immigration Nation: The American Identity in the Twenty-First Century. A former high school history teacher, Judy’s goal is to write books that transport young readers back in time. Her highly interactive author talks teach both content and skills as she leads the audience through the process of thinking like historians. Judy lives in south central Wisconsin with her husband, two cats, and lots of books.
MAUREEN FERGUS
Maureen Fergus is an award-winning author of books for kids of all ages. Her books have been translated into a dozen languages, optioned for television, adapted for stage and shortlisted for such prestigious awards as the Canadian Children’s Book Centre Mari- lyn Baillie Picture Book Award, the Canadian Library Association Young Adult Book Award and the Joan Betty Struchner – Oy Vey! – Funniest Children’s Book Award. Her picture books include the critically acclaimed Buddy and Earl series, Invisibill and The Day My Mom Came to Kindergarten. Maureen lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba with her family.
KELLY JENSEN
Kelly Jensen is a former teen librarian who worked in several public libraries before pursuing a full-time career in writing and editing. Her current position is with Book Riot, where she focuses on talking about young adult literature in all of its manifestations. Her books include Here We Are: Feminism for The Real World and (Don’t) Call Me Crazy, a collection of art, essays, and words to launch a powerful and important conversation about mental health. It was named a best book of 2018 by the Washington Post and earned a Schneider Family Book Award Honor.
SUSAN LATTA
Susan Latta holds an MFA in writing for children and young adults. She is the author of Bold Women of Medicine: 21 Stories of Astounding Discoveries, Daring Surgeries, and Healing Breakthroughs, a Chicago Review Press 2017, CBC - NCSS Notable Social Studies Book. She has written on history, biography, and geography topics for Appleseeds and Faces magazines and wrote for Heinemann and ABDO Publishing. She is the recipient of the Loft Literary Center’s Shabo Award for Children’s Picture Book Writers, and frequently writes for Bookology Online Magazine. She lives in Edina, MN with her husband and golden retriever, Hobbes.
BAPTISTE PAUL
Baptiste Paul is a Caribbean-born author of three books for children. His debut picture book, The Field, received starred reviews from Kirkus, The Horn Book, and Booklist. His picture book biography, I Am Farmer, chronicles the work of Cameroonian environmentalist Tantoh Nforba. Born and raised on the island of Saint Lucia, Baptiste is a native Creole/Patois speaker who enjoys reading his books and sharing about his experiences with anyone who will listen.
MIRANDA PAUL
Miranda Paul is an award-winning author of more than a dozen books for children. One Plastic Bag, Water is Water, and I Am Farmer were all named Junior Library Guild selections and her book Whose Hands Are These? was named a 2017 ILA Teacher’s Choice. She is a co-founding member of We Need Diverse Books. 2019 marks her editorial debut with Thanku: Poems of Gratitude, an illustrated collection featuring the poetry of 32 acclaimed poets and authors.
J. S. PULLER
J. S. Puller, a playwright and the author of CAPTAIN SUPERLATIVE, is from the Windy City, Chicago. She has a master’s degree in elementary education and a bachelor’s degree in theatre from Northwestern University. She is a two-time winner of the Marilyn Hall Play Competition for Youth Theatre. Additionally, she is an award-winning member of the American Alliance for Theatre and Education and is actively involved in researching the social-emotional benefits of arts education. When not writing, she can usually be found in the theatre.
KURTIS SCALETTA
Kurtis Scaletta is the author of five middle-grade novels and six chapter books. His best-known book is his first, Mudville. His other books include Mamba Point, The Tanglewood Terror, The Winter of the Robots, and Rooting for Rafael Rosales. Many of his books are about or include sports and games, from baseball to robot battles. He has recently completed a book about video game competitions and a biography of Jackie Robinson. He lives in Minneapolis with his wife and son and three tabby cats.
TANYA LEE STONE
Tanya Lee Stone is passionate about telling the unsung true stories of people who have been left out of our histories. Her work has earned an NAACP Image Award, Robert F. Sibert Medal, Bank Street Award, and many other honors including NPR Best Books, Boston Globe-Horn Book, Publishers Weekly Best Books, Washington Post's Best New Reads, Smithsonian Magazine Best Books, Chicago Public Library Best Books, and multiple state awards. Stone is on the faculty of Champlain College and frequently travels as a guest speaker.
JAMIE A. SWENSON
With wordplay, kid-friendly humor, and a bit of noise, Jamie A. Swenson invites kids to play as they learn to love books and reading. Her six children’s books have been recognized as Bank Street Best Children’s Books, Charlotte Zolotow Honors, and Junior Library Guild selections–but Jamie’s favorite recognition comes from the kids who love the URRRRNNNT-URRRRNNNTs in Big Rigs, the FLASH & CRASH in Boom! Boom! Boom! and the whimsical language in A Fall Ball for All.
