Meet the Author

Alma Flor Ada has had a lifelong love for stories, her passion is evident in her retelling of folktales and nursery rhymes that unite generations of people from all across the Spanish-speaking world. In this exclusive video interview with ¡Colorín...

The author of 100 Best Books for Children and 500 Great Books for Teens, Anita Silvey has devoted 35 years to promoting books that inspire children to become enthusiastic, lifelong readers. In this interview, find out what Silvey thinks about the...

Anita Silvey has spent her career working in the field of children's literature. She has worked as a publisher, a critic, a commentator, and a writer of books for young readers. Her voice is authoritative and steeped in experience. Silvey's passion...

Ashley Bryan is an eclectic artist who uses painting, poetry, music, collage, and prose to tell stories. Bryan fuses these seemingly separate art forms within his books for children. "I try not to accept walls and boundaries and definitions in a...

Avi is the 2003 Newbery Medal award winning author of Crispin: A Cross of Lead, and widely acclaimed for his works of historical fiction for middle grade readers. In this exclusive video interview with Reading Rockets, Avi talks about the challenges...

Betsy Lewin, the illustrator of Click Clack Moo, takes a playful approach to her work. In this exclusive video interview with Reading Rockets, Betsy Lewin discusses her career goals as a child and the inspiration she gets from exotic trips abroad....

If a picture can speak a thousand words, Bruce Degen's illustrations can spark a thousand smiles. From sixth-grade, this illustrator of the wildly popular "Magic School Bus" series knew that art would be a big part of his life. In this exclusive video...

Award-winning illustrator Bryan Collier began creating art at the age of 15. Using his signature style, a vibrant mix of watercolor and collage, he brings stories to life. He's already lent his talents to such books as Visiting Langston, Rosa, and his...

Brian Selznick feels that his illustrations are more authentic when he immerses himself in his subject matter. For the picture book Amelia and Eleanor Go for a Ride, Selznick spent six months in Washington, DC conducting research at libraries and...

Carole Boston Weatherford is a children's book author and poet who "mines the past for family stories, fading traditions, and forgotten struggles." Author - Carole Boston Weatherford. Narrator - Carole Boston Weatherford. Published Date - Thursday, 19...

Chris Van Allsburg is the author and illustrator of many celebrated children's books such as The Polar Express and Jumanji. In this exclusive video interview with Reading Rockets, Chris Van Allsburg talks about his big breakthrough, his books, and...

Christopher Myers comes from a long line of creative storytellers. In this exclusive video interview with Reading Rockets, Christopher Myers talks about his Brooklyn neighborhood, his work, and how reading touches every part of his life. Author -...

After high school graduation, Christopher took a well-paying job at an automobile factory. At first he bought a new car and enjoyed the perks of making high wages, but soon Christopher grew tired of the monotonous work. During breaks from the assembly...

"Blink your eyes and say click!" Cam Jansen, David Adler's heroine with a photographic memory, has captured the imagination of millions of readers. The prolific Alder has also written several picture book biographies for children, bringing historical...

David Shannon is the writer and illustrator behind the eponymous "No, David!" books. In this exclusive video interview with Reading Rockets, David Shannon talks about his love for bright colors, his distaste for lima beans, and where he gets the ideas...

Deborah has written more than 26 books, including the acclaimed Holidays Around the World and Charles and Emma: The Darwins Leap of Faith. Deborah is an active blogger on the I.N.K. (Interesting Nonfiction for Kids) blog and helped establish a...

As a young girl Denise Fleming used to spend hours in her father's workshop cutting, gluing, carving, and building things. Today, she spends many hours in her own workshop, where she makes the paper that she uses to illustrate her picture books....

Lewis's interests in fine arts & illustration led him to coin the term "artistrator" to describe his work. Lewis's illustrations have been described as "uniquely captivating" have earned him the Coretta Scott King Award & a a Caldecott Honor. Author -...

British author and illustrator Emily Gravett brings a fresh perspective to her children's books. Author - Emily Gravett. Narrator - Emily Gravett. Published Date - Thursday, 19 January 2023.

Eric Rohmann believes that each story needs illustrations that match its tone, content, and sensibility. As a children's book illustrator, this means knowing how and when to use different media and techniques. Author - Eric Rohmann. Narrator - Eric...

Eve Bunting is a spellbinding storyteller, both in conversation and in writing. In this exclusive video interview with Reading Rockets, Eve Bunting relates amusing stories from her childhood in Ireland and offers insights into her books, some of which...

Francisco X. Alarcón is an award-winning poet who grew up in two countries: he spent time as a child in both Mexico and the United States. Songs he heard from his indigenous grandmother first inspired Alarcón's poetry, which he presents for readers in...

Francisco X. Alarcón es un poeta galardonado que se crió en dos países: México y los Estados Unidos. Las canciones de su abuela indígena fueron la primera inspiración que tuvo para escribir poesía, la cual presenta en tanto español como inglés. En...

Gail Gibbons writes the kind of non-fiction books that young children pore over. In this exclusive video interview with Reading Rockets, Gail Gibbons discusses how she comes up with the idea for her books and the daunting task of explaining complex...