Raymond Bial

Urbana, Illinois

Ray Bial is well known for his photo essays on subjects that have great appeal for children and adults alike, including dirt.

Janice Harrington

Champaign, Illinois

Janice Harrington is a storyteller and poet as well as the author of Going North, which was awarded the 2005 Ezra Jack Keats Award. (Sorry, no website for Janice Harrington)

Betsy Hearne

Champaign, Illinois

Betsy Hearne has published picture books, poetry, and fiction for young people, as well as books about folklore and children‘s literature. She has also taught children‘s literature and storytelling at the Graduate School for Library and Information Science at the University of Illinois.

Susan E. Kirby

McLean, Illinois

Susan Kirby‘s books and stories reflect her love of quilts and quilting.

Alice B. McGinty

Urbana, Illinois

Alice McGinty is a prolific writer of information books for children of all ages.

E-mail alice@mcgintyzone.com

Patricia Hruby Powell

Champaign, Illinois

Patricia Hruby Powell‘s books reflect her extraordinary animated storytelling talents.

E-mail phpowell@talesforallages.com

Melodye Rosales

Champaign, Illinois

Melodye Rosales is an author and illustrator of children‘s books that have multi-cultural appeal.

Robin Luebs

Urbana, Illinois

Artist Robin Luebs is the illustrator of How Do You Say Goodnight? and the author/illustrator of Please Pick Me Up, Mama!. She is working on a new picture book, Who Said Coo?, written by her twin sister, Deborah Ruddell.