Family Reading Festival Authors (Click on the authors name to go to their website)
Gene Barretta is an award winning author and illustrator of children’s books.
Among his honors are the Carolyn W. Field Award and the Bank Street Cook Prize Honor. His books include, “Lincoln and Kennedy: A Pair to Compare,” “Now & Ben: The Modern Inventions of Benjamin Franklin,” “Neo Leo: The Ageless Ideas of Leonardo Da Vinci,” “Jack the Tripper,” “Dear Deer: A Book of Homophones,” “Zoola Palooza: |
A Book of Homographs” and “Timeless Thomas: How Thomas Edison Changed Our Lives.”
Gene has contributed illustration and animation to Sesame Street and Between the Lions. He has also designed characters for The Jim Henson Company. He lives in Wynnewood, PA. |
Artie Bennett is the executive copy editor for a children’s book publisher and he writes a little on the side (but not the backside!). He would be hailed as “the Dr. Seuss of your caboose” for his much-acclaimed The Butt Book, his first “mature” work, which published in 2010. His “number two” picture book, fittingly, was entitled Poopendous! What more fertile topic could there be but poop! His third picture book was Peter Panda Melts Down!, an adorable storybook but a departure from butts and poop. Artie, however, got right back on track with the uproarious Belches, Burps, and Farts—Oh My!, which was featured at the 2015 World Science Festival. Artie lives deep in
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the bowels of Brooklyn, New York, where he spends his spare time moving his car to satisfy the rigorous demands of alternate-side-of-the-street parking and shaking his fist at his neighbors. He is pleased to share the visionary promise of The Butt Book, Poopendous!, Peter Panda Melts Down!, and Belches, Burps, and Farts—Oh My! with a wider audience.
The Show Me Librarian says: “Bennett’s use of rhyme is excellent; his stanzas flow and exude joviality in a manner that few writers since Dr. Seuss have truly mastered. Simply put, these books are a joy.” |
Kelly Brower, is an artist and art teacher from Berks County Pennsylvania. She is currently an elementary art teacher for the wonderful young artists in the Palmyra Area School District. Bumble is her first published book. While she is not teaching or
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writing, Kelly enjoys drawing and spending time outdoors. She now resides in Harrisburg, PA with her husband, cat and dog and is anxiously expecting her first child this fall.
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LuJean started training dogs in Texas in the 1970’s. She moved to California in 1985 and trained animals for television. It was on a trip home to Pennsylvania in 2003 that she found Mitzi Jo and fell in love with her. She bought Mitzi Jo, who was 8 weeks old, and brought her back to California to live with her and the other eight dogs in her
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home. It was 2005 when they then moved back to Pennsylvania and opened a Dog Daycare for small dogs at their home. Mitzi Jo now has a family pack of 6 dogs and many visiting dogs that she oversees. She still gets to do an occasional commercial and looks forward to many book signings too.
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Brian Dawson is a creator of worlds who swore off the simple life of a day to day NPC to become the main character in his life, which led him to the task of documenting Mortimer's adventures.
For Brian, writing stories, creating fun characters and drawing visual representations of those characters has always been his passion and he is thrilled to |
spend his days giving his ideas life.
Brian is currently knee deep in adventure! He is using his skills as a level 20 scribe to bring book 2 of Mortimer Aglet's tale to you as soon as possible. Until then, you will just have to enjoy the first book.. |
Carol has been writing whimsical stories since she was ten years old. She is a nationally known calligrapher and PA German fraktur artist in the tradition of her Schwenkfelder heritage.
In her first book, the widely popular The Christmas Story (Firenze Press, 2001), she illuminated the traditional words from the Biblical version of the first Christmas. In A Dream Vacation (Panda Bear Press, 2003), a 32-page children's picture book set aboard Noah's Ark, Carol stepped out on her own as an author. The Princess Tree, A Tale of Fairies, Elves & Magic (Firenze Press, 2005) is Carol’s third book and, significantly, the first she authored as well as illustrated. Carol then revisited Noah’s Ark with the publication of Elephant Overboard! (Firenze |
Press, 2007). Again, she not only wrote the 32-page children’s book, she boldly illustrated it as well.
Her latest publication is the very popular The Adventures of Anthony Mary Mouse. Based on the life and times of St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria, this 32-page children’s book is presently being translated into Portuguese, Italian, and possibly Polish. Carol is very busy writing the sequel. A Life-Member of the Reading-Berks Guild of Craftsmen, Carol resides in Berks County, PA. |
Stephen grew up in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in a small town called Bressler. From an early age he enjoyed writing and creating stories. His passion for writing started with poetry in grade school, followed by writing music lyrics and short stories in high school. Post graduation he attended Harrisburg Area Community College, studying literature, and creative writing courses.
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In 2015 he started ReadyAimWrite Publishing and currently has two books published titled: The Journal Of A Lifetime and The Great Green Tree And The Magical Ladders. At present he maintains residence in the Harrisburg area with his wife and two children.
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Kathy M. Miller is a teacher, cellist, author and award-winning nature photographer. In addition to the images found in her multi-award winning “Chippy Chipmunk” books, Miller’s photographs have been published in other publisher's books, newspapers, brochures, and magazines. Her multi-media program has been
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presented to numerous nature centers, libraries and schools across North America. In 2014 she received the "President's Volunteer Service Award". In 2015 she received the "Celebrate Literacy Award" from the Northeastern PA Reading Association.
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Mary Jane O’Loughlin is a native Washingtonian whose love of travel has taken her across the U.S., Europe, and to Africa. Ruby and Baby … an Unlikely Friendship
is her first published work. The story evolved from a whimsical idea inspired by true events. After a life changing trip to Kenya in 2008, this tale of love and friendship grew into a beautifully illustrated book for animal lovers and children of all ages. |
Ruby and Baby has been shared with people all over the United States, in Kenya and Tanzania. A portion of book sales are being donated to The Amboseli Trust for Elephants in Kenya, where the story was born.
Ms. O’Loughlin currently works at an intellectual property law firm. She also volunteers at a The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria, VA. |
Michael Sgrignoli (known as “Mr. Mike” to his audiences) is the author of three children’s books: Dinorific Poetry: Stories of Ancient Animals Created by a Father and Son (Vols 1-3). His son, Ethan, created the illustrations when he was between the ages of 6 and 13. The books shine a long-overdue spotlight on those ancient creatures not as fortunate to enjoy the (over)exposure that T-rex and Stegosaurus always seem to get.
In 2015, he released a full-length cd: Mr. Mike’s Dino Tales ‘N Tunes, giving his “fact-packed dino rhymes” an original musical accompaniment while continuing his quest to bring lesser known ancient creatures some much-needed exposure. |
Since 2010, Mr. Mike has presented to thousands of children (and adults) in settings as diverse as childcare centers, nature centers and museums, elementary schools, community colleges, public and private libraries, book stores and community festivals. His presentations range from intimate “dino chats” to “dino art projects” and “live dino music performances.”
The underlying theme of these programs is to instill the love of learning, the excitement of exploration and to share Mr. Mike’s inexhaustible passion for all things dinosaurian. |
Erin Slabonik is an interactive author residing in Harrisburg PA with her two cats. She is on a quest to constantly improve herself while encouraging the same in others. Writing and rhyming are of her many creative passions, and words the primary vehicles used on her journey.
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In her free time, she prefers to be surrounded by loved ones and friends. She absolutely loves animals, and enjoys spending time in nature. She dreams that someday she will be able to create a sanctuary of sorts where children, animals and the elderly all support each other in collaborative unison.
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KristaLyn is an internationally published author, certified life and spiritual coach, and Christian intuitive. She is the author of six books and one short story, including the Enya trilogy, the recently released Pure Fyre, and the upcoming Prelude of the Reyn Gayst. KristaLyn has also collaborated with David V. Barrett on an anthology of
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short stories titled Tales from the Vatican Vaults, available through Constable & Robinson. KristaLyn lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, Dan, and their corgi puppy, Jack.
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Dave Webb is an author and educator from Northeastern Pennsylvania. He has been an elementary school teacher for 25 years and has enjoyed sharing his stories with children of all ages since publishing his first book, Slinky Inkermann and the Crazy Contest, in 1996. The humorous book for middle readers was followed by two sequels. In 2007 Webb published the young adult novella Amber about a girl who
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must overcome a life of neglect and instability. On the front and back cover was a
then-unknown actress named Bella Thorne. A sequel to Amber was released in March of 2013. Webb’s latest book is The Book Champ, a middle grade novel about a fifth-grader trying to win her fifth straight school reading award. |
Michelle White is an award winning author and teacher, born and raised in Berks County. She has a PhD in Education and has taught 20 years at both the elementary and college levels.In 2001, Michelle suffered a spinal cord injury. She has used this platform to empower others to overcome their own obstacles through her books and speaking engagements. She resides in Lebanon County with her fiancé, father, and
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black lab, Princess.
Children worry about so many things. They need a way to deal with their anxieties. Based on a real experience in the classroom, Michelle has written books that will get children talking about their worries. Go Away Worries! has won a 2014 Mom’s Choice Award and was a 2015 Finalist for the Eric Hoffer Award. |
author participation forms
DOWNLOAD FORMS
If you are an author and would like to participate, download the attached forms, fill them out, and submit them.
Author Registration Form
Hold Harmless Agreement
Author Letter
If you are an author and would like to participate, download the attached forms, fill them out, and submit them.
Author Registration Form
Hold Harmless Agreement
Author Letter