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.
Dori Hillestad Butler
Starting out as a picture-book author, Butler has expanded her audience to include older readers with middle-grade novels such as Trading Places with Tank Talbot and Sliding into Home. Raised on the inspiring novels of Judy Blume and Paula Danzinger, Butler features newly minted teen characters whose positive spirit and determination help them conquer barriers and follow their dreams.
*Judith Ortiz Cofer
Born in Puerto Rico, the multi-award-winning Cofer draws on her family's culture and her own memories of growing up in suburban New Jersey in her many books for young children. The Year of Our Revolution collects stories and poems for teen readers that focus on growing up during the turbulent 1960s, while in the middle-grade novel Call Me Maria a girl is emotionally torn between her family in Puerto Rico and her father's new home in New York City. In addition to her own prose and poetry, Cofer has edited several collections showcasing the writing of other Puerto-Rican authors.
Loren Coleman
One of the world's leading cryptozoologists, Coleman is a respected researcher who has dedicated his career and his writing to exploring and popularizing the growing body of information regarding many of Earth's most tantalizing and mysterious creatures. His book Cryptozoology A to Z: The Encyclopedia of Loch Monsters, Sasquatch, Chupacabras, and Other Authentic Mysteries of Nature is popular with curious readers, and Coleman has also shared his research and his wide-ranging knowledge on radio and television.
*Niki Daly
South African author-illustrator, Daly creates picture books that celebrate children's vivid imagination and their naturally optimistic view of life. Woven with African-based themes, Daly's books include Not So Fast, Songololo and Jamela's Dress , have been consistently praised as valuable contributions to a growing body of work that is inclusive of all races and ethnic groups.
Laura Geringer
In addition to publishing the books of several well-known authors as the head of her own imprint at a top New York publishing company, Geringer has written several well-received novels under her pen name, L. G. Bass. In addition to producing picture-book retellings of Greek and Roman myths, such as Theseus: The Hero of the Maze, she has also moved to fantasy with Sign of the Qin, the opening book in her ongoing "Outlaws of Moonshadow Marsh" trilogy.
Christine Petrell Kallevig
An author, storyteller, and origami artist, Kallevig has woven her various creative interests into an art form she calls "storigami." In books such as Fold-along Stories: Quick and Easy Origami Tales for Beginners she pairs entertaining story-hour tales with directions for the origami figures that will make them come alive for young audiences.
*Sam McBratney
Hailing from Northern Ireland, McBratney has penned over fifty books for young readers, producing everything from science fiction to picture books to radio plays. He gained acclaim among U.S. readers with his 400-word story Guess How Much I Love You , which has since been translated into dozens of languages. Known for his witty plots and warmhearted characters, McBratney also focuses on childhood emotions in the books I'm Sorry and You're All My Family , and has also proved a talented reteller of traditional folktales.
Daniel Powers
Primarily known as an illustrator, Powers has also won critical acclaim for his self-illustrated picture book Jiro's Pearl. Borrowing from both Japanese tradition and western fairy tales, the story of a young boy, a sick grandmother, and a wise conjurer also features Powers's compelling art. As an illustrator, Powers has collaborated on books by well-known authors such as Newbery winner Jean Craighead George and Judith St. George.
Curtis Sittenfeld
Sittenfeld drew on her experiences attending a prestigious New England private school in her debut novel, Prep. Prep views student life at Boston's prestigious Ault School, illustrating the cliques, social pressures, and problems that arise within a student body composed almost totally of the offspring of the socalled social elite. Narrated by Lee, a self-conscious twenty-something who reflects back on her years at Ault, Sittenfeld's novel resonates with readers attempting to negotiate their own path through adolescence.
*Margaret Weis
Known to fantasy fans as the "Dragon Lady," Weis is a popular and prolific writer and game designer. She is best known for her collaborations with coauthor Tracy Hickman on the "Dragonlance" fantasy adventure series. Set in the imaginary world of Krynn, the "Dragonlance Chronicles" that serve as the core of Weis's vast saga have recently been re-released specifically for teen readers. Weis began the series while working at TSR, a gaming company whose Dragonlance role-playing game inspired the author's early fiction; she has since gone on to write in other genres as well, and now publishes through her own gaming company, Sovereign Press.
User Comments Add a comment…