Jill Andrews is a co-author of Fee Fi Fo Fum: Puppets and Other Folktale Fun and Fiddle Dee Dee. She is a media specialist at Osceola Elementary School in St. Augustine, Florida. Jill has a bachelor's degree in music and taught music at the elementary level before earning a master's degree in educational media and instructional design from the University of Florida.
Linda Bair is a co-author of Fee Fi Fo Fum: Puppets and Other Folktale Fun and Fiddle Dee Dee. She teaches sixth grade Humanities in the Lyceum program at Lincoln Middle School in Gainesville, Florida. Linda has a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Florida and has worked in the field of education or art for the last 12 years. She has lived in several countries including Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Indonesia, and Bangladesh, where she taught elementary and middle school levels and developed her artwork.
Diana Barnett is the author of Research It! Write It! She is a high school library media specialist in Green River, Wyoming, with a B.A. in English, history, and library media, and an M.A. in educational leadership. In addition to this research guide, Diana has also written Everything You Need to Know About the School Library Media Center, a training handbook for adult media aides, volunteers, and student assistants.
Marie Castellano Boyum is the author of SKILLS Through Play Throughout Your Day, Simply Super Storytimes and More Simply Super Storytimes. She served as the Head of Youth Services for the Waterford Public Library (Waterford, Wisconsin) for eight years. Marie has ten years of experience teaching preschool and kindergarten, as well as early childhood classes for adults and parents. She is currently a Literacy Instructor for Milwaukee Public Libraries. Her desire is that the passion she feels for books will be spread enthusiastically to children so they too will develop a lifelong love of books and reading.
Kent Brinkmeyer is a co-author of Dewey & the Decimals. He has worked as a reference librarian, young adult librarian, and branch manager for over 20 years. He is currently manager of the Benjamin Franklin Branch of Los Angeles Public Library. Kent has a bachelor's degree in history from California State University at Northridge and a master's degree in library science from the University of Southern California.
Sue Brinkmeyer is a co-author of Dewey & the Decimals. She has taught English and Children's Literature at Glendale Community College in California for the past 20 years. Sue is a graduate of the Occidental College with bachelor's and master's degrees in English. She is the author of a series of English as a second language texts.
Toni Buzzeo, MA, MLIS, is an author and school library media specialist. A former college and high school English teacher, Toni was a practicing library media specialist for sixteen years, was named the 1999 Maine Library Media Specialist of the Year, and currently serves on the Maine Association of School Libraries Executive Board.
Toni is the author of "R" is for Research, The Library Doors, Read! Perform! Learn! 1 & 2, My Librarian Won't Tell Me Anything: A Mrs. Skorupski Story, Fire Up With Reading: A Mrs. Skorupski Story and The Great Dewey Hunt: A Mrs. Skorupski Story and is a regular contributor to LibrarySparks Magazine. She writes many things including children's books (picture books and novels), professional books, and many professional articles. Ms. Buzzeo is a frequent speaker at schools, conferences, and district trainings. For more information about Toni, visit www.tonibuzzeo.com.
Sharron Cohen is a co-author of Series-ly Celebrating and the author of The Mysteries of Research and The Mysteries of Internet Research. She was a bookmobile librarian at the Sawyer Free Library in Gloucester, Massachusetts. Sharron spent three years in the United States Air Force and has written four popular novels and many short pieces, which have appeared in McCall's, Women's World, and other magazines.
Sybilla Cook is a co-author of Battle of the Books and More and Elementary Battle of the Books. She received her MALS from Dominican University (IL) and a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Oregon. Sybilla was a media specialist in Illinois and Oregon and taught library science at the college level. She is also the author of Instructional Design for Libraries (Garland Publishing, 1986) and Books, Battles and Bees (ALA, 1994).
Frances Corcoran is a co-author of Battle of the Books and More and Elementary Battle of the Books. She received her MALS from Dominican University (IL) and was a media specialist and district coordinator in Illinois and Hawaii. Frances is currently the librarian at the Prior School in Honolulu. She also co-authored Cataloging Correctly for Kids (ALA, 1998).
Robin Works Davis is the author of Toddle on Over and is the youth services librarian at the Arlington (Texas) Public Library System. She has a bachelor's degree in art and a master's degree in library science. Robin has over 16 years of experience working with children in library and recreational settings, and has presented numerous workshops on programming, storytimes, and children's literature. She has written other activity and programming books, including An Alphabet of Books and an Alphabet of Authors.
Karen DelVecchio is a co-author of The World at Your Fingertips. She teaches first and second grade as a "looping" teacher (teaching first grade then moving with the students to second grade) in Illinois. Previously, she taught kindergarten and fourth grade, where she incorporated multiple intelligences learning centers into her classroom.
Ben DeSoto is the illustrator of Keep 'em Reading Bulletin Boards. He has illustrated greeting cards, books, cartoon strips, and baseball and hockey cards, as well as many complete reading incentive themes for upstart. Ben currently teaches art at the Irvine Art Center and lives in Rancho Santa Margarita, California, close to his two sons and four grandchildren.
Fay Edwards is a co-author of 57 Games to Play in the Library or Classroom. She recently retired after 23 years in the classrooms and school librarians of Louisville, Kentucky. Fay is now devoting her time to doing genealogical research for her family, learning the latest clogging steps, and volunteering in her church library.
Kimberly Faurot has been a children's librarian since 1991, and currently works as a Library Associate for Saint Paul Public Library in Minnesota. She presents Toddler Storytimes for The Red Balloon Bookshop in Saint Paul, and is the author of Storytime Around the Year, the Mother Goose Rhyme Time series and Books in Bloom: Creative Patterns & Props That Bring Stories to Life from ALA Editions.
Diane Findlay is the author of Digging Into Dewey and the Exploring Children's Literature series. She has worked with children&'s and young adult literature for 15 years and was the Director of the Waukee (Iowa) Public Library for six years. She is also a regular contributor to LibrarySparks Magazine.
Beverley Fonnesbeck is a co-author of Battle of the Books and Moreand Elementary Battle of the Books. She received her Doctorate in Education from the University of Southern California and wrote study guides for the Young Readers' Choice Books from 1985–91. Beverly is also the co-author of Two Hundred and Ninety-two Activities for Across-the-Curriculum (Fearon, 1991). She has worked for school districts in California and Alaska and is a former state coordinator of Alaska's Battle of the Books program.
Kathleen Fox is the author of Fun-brarian and numerous UpstartGames. She is a former classroom teacher and library media specialist. One of her greatest challenges as a library media specialist was finding ways to get her students to enjoy the library. In 2001, she founded LibraryGames.com to give other librarians the opportunity to create fun and excitement in their libraries.
LaBritta Gilbert wrote 50 Great Make-It, Take-It Projects over a period of years, drawing on her personal experience as an elementary teacher and art specialist as well as an owner/operator of a preschool/child care center. She has a B.S. in Elementary Education from Texas Technological University, and is the author of I Can Do It! (1985) and Do Touch (1989), both published by Gryphon House.
Roz Goodman is a co-author of Elementary Battle of the Books. She received her MED in School Librarianship from Boston University. A school and district level Media Specialist for 30 years, Roz was the first coordinator of Alaska's Battle of the Books as well as a past president of the Alaska Association of School Librarians.
Jackie Mims Hopkins is the author of Goldie Socks and the Three Libearians, The Shelf Elf Three-Book Set of Library Lessons, The Shelf Elf and The Shelf Elf Helps Out. She is the library media specialist at Matzke Elementary School in Cypress Fairbanks I.S.D. Jackie has been in elementary education for over 25 years and is often a guest speaker at conferences and schools. Jackie is also the author of The Horned Toad Prince, The Three Armadillies Tuff, and The Gold Miner's Daughter. She lives in Houston, Texas, with her family.
Heidi Kay is a co-author of The World at Your Fingertips. She is a Learning Technologies Facilitator for the Schaumburg (Illinois) School District, which includes developing integrated technology lessons and activities for the classroom. Previously, Heidi taught fifth and sixth grade where she also integrated technology into the curriculum.
Nancy J. Keane is the author of Booktalks and Beyond. She is a school librarian in Concord, New Hampshire, and has been a children's literature lover all her life. In addition to her work in the school, Nancy hosts a radio show called "Kids Book Beat"—a monthly show that features children talking about their favorite books. Nancy has also authored a children's fiction book, Giles' Journey: The Story of Life in Plymoth Colony.
Nancy is the creator of an award winning Web site "Booktalks—Quick and Simple" at www.nancykeane.com, which provides a database of more than 1,000 ready-to-use booktalks. Nancy also hosts a listserv to bring together people who want to discuss booktalking and share booktalks at booktalkers@egroups.com.
Aileen Kirkham is the author of Library Lessons for Little Ones and the intermediate books in the Collaborative Bridges series. She is the library media specialist at Rosehill Elementary School in Tomball, Texas, as well as a professional storyteller, puppeteer, and freelance author. Visit Aileen's Web site at www.aileenkirkham.com.
Janet Langford is the co-author of Learning About Books & Libraries and Learning About Books & Libraries 2. She has 15 years of experience as a classroom teacher in the Jefferson County Public Schools in Louisville, Kentucky, where she specializes in the use of educational games to further enrich her instruction and stimulate reading interest. She is also a co-author of Storytime Companion: Learning Games & Activities for Schools & Libraries.
Jerri Lejeune is a co-author of Consider the Source and a middle school teacher for the Pleasant Valley School District in Camarillo, California. She received her bachelor's degree in liberal studies with an emphasis on elementary education from California State University at Northridge and is currently working on her master's degree in educational leadership and policy studies form the same university.
Marguerite D. Lewis is the author of Keep 'em Reading Crossword Puzzles. She was a library media specialist in the Bethlehem Central School District, Delmar, New York, for 20 years and a children's librarian at the Bethlehem Public Library for 10 years. She holds a master's in Educational Communications from the State University of New York at Albany. Marguerite has published many articles, stories, puzzles, and activities in children's magazines. She is the author of the Hooked on ... series and Remarkable People! Ready-to-use Biography Activities for Grades 4—8 published by the Center for Applied Research in Education. She is also the author of Randolph Caldecott the Children's Illustrator published by Alleyside Press. Mrs. Lewis is currently a freelance writer.
Marilyn Lohnes is the author of ABC Literacy Storytimes, Storytime Puppet Zoo and Fractured Fairy Tales. She has been a children's librarian for the past 15 years, currently for the York Library region in New Brunswick, and formerly with libraries in the Greater Toronto area. Her education is in both library science and museology, and her specialty is programming. During the course of her career, Marilyn has worked extensively in creating visual accessories (puppets, fingerplay characters, and flannelboard characters for storytime programming). She owns a small company in which she makes and sells her characters. Marilyn lives in Fredericton, New Brunswick, where she enjoys a number of outdoor activities in her spare time.
For over twenty years, Valerie Marsh has entertained and enriched children and adults with her wonderful repertoire of storytelling techniques, including sign language, fold and cut, story puzzles, mystery-fold, and storyknifing. This master storyteller has also collected, adapted, and originally composed hundreds of delightful stories for library story hours and classroom use. Drawing upon her experience as a classroom teacher, she has helped thousands of teachers, librarians, media specialists, and parents develop their skills as storytellers through her books, workshops, and presentations at professional conferences and in-service institutes.
Ms. Marsh has many storytelling books available. They include: Top Dot Tales, True Tales of Heroes and Heroines, Storytelling with Shapes & Numbers, Paper-cutting from A to Z, Puppet Tales, Beyond Words, A Treasury of Trickster Tales, Story Puzzles, Storyteller's Sampler, Mystery-Fold, Paper-cutting Stories for Holidays & Special Events, and Stories that Stick.
Pat Miller is the author of We're Going on a Book Hunt, A Pet for Every Person, the Stretchy Library Lessons series and theprimary books in the Collaborative Bridges series. She has over 30 years of experience as an elementary educator—teaching grades 2–5 for 15 years and as a library media specialist for the past 18 years. Currently she is the library media specialist at Sue Creech Elementary in Katy, Texas. Pat is the author of Reaching Every Reader: Promotional Strategies for the Elementary School Library Media Specialist and the picture book Substitute Groundhog, new from Albert Whitman. She is also a contributing editor for LibrarySparks Magazine. Visit Pat's Web site at www.patmillerbooks.com.
Karen Moran is the author of It's in the Bag and has more than 30 years of experience as a K–8 Reading Specialist in the Pottsville Area School District in Pottsville, Pennsylvania. Karen is an adjunct instructor at Alvernia College, teaching children's literature and reading and language arts instruction in the elementary school. She is also the author of Literature Online: Reading and Internet Activities for Libraries and Schools and A Visit with Betsy Byars.
Carlene Morton is the author of Alpha Betti. She is a “Master at ABC Order.” She has been a librarian and storyteller for more than 30 years in various public libraries and schools in Alamance County, North Carolina. She currently works part-time at Alamance Community College. This is her first picture book. Carlene lives in Mebane, North Carolina, with her husband, Danny. They have two sons and two grandsons.
Joan Hilyer Phelps is the author of BookTales and FingerTales. She was a preschool teacher for more than 20 years, and now works in the children's department at Pickens County Library in Easley, South Carolina.
Cheryl Potts is the author of Poetry Time with Dr. Seussand Poetry Galore and More with Shel Silverstein. She has over 20 years of experience as an elementary school teacher in grades K–5, remedial reading, enrichment, and music. She has presented teacher workshops at regional reading conferences, whole language conferences, author visits, and for the Association of Comprehensive Education. Her experience has included service as a public library trustee, columnist for three area newspapers, and directing church music programs. Cheryl also writes poetry and short stories for children.
Rob Reid is a lecturer of Children's Literature and Literature for Adolescents at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. He is the author of Storytime Slam, the picture book Wave Goodbye, and four books on children's programming for the American Library Association. Rob is a regular contributor to LibrarySparks,Book Links, and the Children's Literature Network. He still makes time to conduct story programs and workshops throughout North America. Rob served on the 2006 Newberry Award Committee and was named the 2004 Wisconsin Librarian of the Year.
Christy Rosso is an artist and children's librarian, as well as a co-author of Series-ly Celebrating. Christy's arts career has included illustration, art direction, and graphic and Web design. She has also worked in museum education and program planning. As a librarian, Christy blends her love of children, literature, and the arts. She lives with her husband, two sons, and two cats in Gloucester, Massachusetts.
Laura J. H. Smith is the author of The Book Bunch. She holds a MSLS from the School of Information and Library Science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she focused on Children's Services. She was a librarian at the Gaithersburg (Maryland) Regional Library, part of the Montgomery County Library System, where she co-inaugurated an elementary book discussion group for first and second graders.
Judith Snyder is the author of the Jump-start Your Library series. She taught in Colorado elementary classrooms and libraries for over thirty years. Her educational background includes an MA in Curriculum and Instruction, and an MA in Instructional Technology/Library Media. In 2004, her school library was designated as a high performance library in the Power Library Program sponsored by the Colorado State Library and Department of Education. Judith has been a professional storyteller for twenty years, focusing on multicultural folklore. She writes articles and stories for both children's and professional magazines. Check out her Web site at judithsnyderscreativecorners.googlepages.com.
Lynne Farrell Stover is the author of the Magical Library Lessons series and is a regular contributor to LibrarySparks Magazine. Lynne is a Teacher Consultant at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Her newest book is From Snicket to Shakespeare: Connecting Contemporary Tales to the Classics.
Paige Taylor is a co-author of Consider the Source and Dewey & the Decimals. She is a career counselor and a writer of children's stories and poems. Paige has a bachelor's degree in psychology from Occidental College in Los Angeles and a master's degree in counselor education from the University of Southern California.
Sonya Terry is the author of "L" Is for Library and the media coordinator at Pathways Elementary School in Hillsborough, North Carolina. She has worked in education for thirteen years. When she is not promoting fun and excitement in the library, she enjoys listening to music and spending time in the library with her nephew Brandon and niece Donelle. Sonya lives in Mebane, North Carolina.
Rebecca McKillip Thornburgh is the illustrator of The Shelf Elf and The Shelf Elf Helps Out. She loves to read and read and read. Rebecca has spent a lot of time hanging out in libraries, so you can be sure that everything in her books is drawn from personal experience. When Rebecca's not reading or drawing pictures, she sings with a band called Reckless Amateurs. She lives in a pleasantly spooky old house in Philadelphia with her husband David, daughters Blair and Alice, and silly dogs Rory and Zero. Visit Rebecca's Web site at www.rebeccathornburgh.com.
Kathryn Totten is the author of the Storytime Crafts series and a librarian and the Children's Programs Coordinator at the Koelbel Public Library (Littleton, Colorado). She has experience as professional storyteller in schools and libraries throughout Colorado and has served as President of the Board of Directors of the Rocky Mountain Storytellers Conference. Kathryn is also the coordinator for the annual Arapahoe Library District Storytelling Festival and the recipient of the National Storytelling Network Oracle Award.
Karen A. Farmer Wannamaker is the author of the Instant Library Lessons series. She has 25 years of experience as an award-winning elementary school library media specialist and teacher. Since completing her master's degree in storytelling and reading, Karen has been sharing her expertise as a national workshop presenter and curriculum designer. Through the years Karen has achieved recognition as Cable Teacher of the Year, Outstanding Young Educator and winner of the Tennessee Innovative Elementary Media Program. For more information on Karen, visit www.keepthestorygoing.com.
Nicole Wong is the illustrator of "L" Is for Library. She is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design. Nicole's illustrations have been featured in several children's books and magazines. Nicole and her husband, Dan, and their dog and cats live in Massachusetts.
Sheila Wise is the co-author of If You Give a Teacher a Book. She is an Instructional Specialist for Reading and English Language Arts for the Pasadena Independent School District for grades 6–12. She was a classroom teacher for 18 years serving 16 of those years at South Houston Intermediate teaching eighth grade reading. She has presented many staff development sessions designed to help teachers assist their students in the areas of reading, writing, listening, and thinking.