Below are some of the authors and illustrators that will be featured in upcoming volumes of SATA. These include new entries on the swiftly rising stars of the field, as well as completely revised and updated entries (indicated with *) on some of the most notable and best-loved creators of books for children.
Clare B. Dunkle
Dunkle earned a 2004 Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for her first published work, the title volume of The Hollow Kingdom trilogy. In the inventive tale, sisters Kate and Emily encounter a subterranean kingdom ruled by the goblin King Marak on their family's ancestral estate. Kate's resigned agreement to marry Marak prompts an unexpected emotional transformation. Book two of the trilogy, Close Kin, continues the sisters' tale, focusing on Emily's coming of age.
D. H. Figueredo
Cuban-born author and librarian Figueredo presents insights on Latin-American culture in his two semi-autobiographical picture books. When This World Was New recounts a Spanish-speaking family's move from a Caribbean island to New York City, as shown through the eyes of a young narrator. In 2003's The Road to Santiago, a family trip to grandmother's house on Christmas Eve is hampered by the outbreak of the Cuban civil war that brought Fidel Castro to power.
Catherine Fisher
After the first volume in her Oracle Prophecies trilogy won a prestigious Whitbred Prize in 2003, Welsh poet and fantasy writer Fisher gained an audience beyond the United Kingdom. Published in the United States as The Oracle Betrayed, the novel draws on both ancient Greek and Egyptian traditions in telling the story of Mirany, a young woman who works at a god's behest to help the rightful ruler of her land assume his post. Fisher, who cites Celtic language and reverence for nature as strong influences on her work, has also produced novels based on Arthurian legend, including Corbenic, slated for U.S. publication in 2005.
*Eloise Greenfield
A gifted chronicler of the African-American experience whose work crosses genres—including picture books, poetry, and nonfiction—to reach her readers, Greenfield creates characters who find strength in shared history, family ties, and from within. Greenfield has been lauded for her biographies of such figures as Rosa Parks and Paul Robeson as well as for her autobiography, Childtimes: A Three-Generation Memoir. In 2003 the title poem from her Honey I Love collection was reissued as a picture book.
Jarrett J. Krosoczka
Although still in his twenties, Krosoczka is the illustrator and author of six picture books. His works, including Monkey Boy, Baghead, and Annie Was Warned, feature colorful illustrations and capture the quirky, everyday adventures of children. Krosoczka's creativity extends to his Web site, where viewers can watch "previews" of his books or play video games featuring his main characters.
Kristina Rodanas
Rodanas turned a childhood fascination with Native-American culture into a career as an illustrator and author. She earned critical acclaim for her retelling of and illustrations for Dance of the Sacred Circle: A Native American Tale. Reviewers also praised Rodanas's "lush" watercolor illustrations that accompanied 2002's Yonder Mountain: A Cherokee Legend.
*Eric Walters
Canadian author Walters is known for his realistic novels in which teen protagonists overcome difficult circumstances. Walters's own rebellious youth, as well as careers in social work and education, inform his work: in fact, it was Walters's fifth-grade class which encouraged him to submit his first novel, Stand Your Ground, for publication. Walters's more recent offerings include Camp X (2002) and Camp 30 (2004), featuring brothers George and Jack, who discover secret military installations in Ontario during World War II.
*Norbert Wu
Science and art merge in photographer Wu's nonfiction books depicting underwater flora and fauna. After working as a cinematographer on several marine documentaries, Wu decided to share his experiences with young readers by creating such works as Beneath the Waves and Fish Faces. Wu has also teamed with writer Leighton Taylor to provide photographs for nine books, including The Mediterranean Sea and 2002's Octopuses.
User Comments Add a comment…