A Celebration of Books,
Writers & LIterary Excellence

Save the Date


Gaithersburg
Book Festival

May 17, 2025

10am – 6pm

Bohrer Park


Genre: Children's

Kerry Aradhya

Latest Title: Ernő Rubik and His Magic Cube

Kerry Aradhya has loved puzzling over words and immersing herself in the creative process ever since she was a little girl growing up in Erie, Pa. Her debut picture book, “Ernő Rubik and His Magic Cube,” was a 2024 Junior… Continue Reading

Jonathan Auxier

Latest Title: The Vanished Kingdom: The War of the Maps

Jonathan Auxier is a New York Times best-selling author of strange stories for strange children — including the beloved “Vanished Kingdom” and “Fabled Stables” series. His spooky novel, “The Night Gardener,” was a Junior Library Guild selection, an ABA IndieNext… Continue Reading

Tracey Baptiste

Latest Title: Freedom Fire: Moko Magic: Carnival Chaos

Tracey Baptiste is a New York Times best-selling author of 26 books for children, including the popular “Jumbies”series –   “The Jumbies,” “Rise of the Jumbies” and “The Jumbie God’s Revenge” – as well as the picture book, “Looking for a… Continue Reading

Charles F. Bolden Jr.

Latest Title: Star Sailor: My Life as a NASA Astronaut

Charles F. Bolden Jr. became the first Black NASA Administrator in 2009. He logged more than 600 hours in space over the course of four shuttle missions. During Bolden’s eight-year tenure as NASA Administrator, the agency developed a spacecraft to… Continue Reading

Return to Sender by Vera Brosgol

Vera Brosgol

Latest Title: Return to Sender

Vera Brosgol was born in Moscow, Russia, in 1984 and moved to the United States when she was five. Her three graphic novels — “Anya’s Ghost,” “Be Prepared” and “Plain Jane and the Mermaid” — were published by First Second.… Continue Reading

Gaia Cornwall

Latest Title: Fairy Walk

Gaia Cornwall loves to write and illustrate for children. She is the author-illustrator of “Jabari Jumps,” which was a Charlotte Zolotow Honor Book and an American Library Association Notable Children’s Book; and its follow-up, “Jabari Tries,” as well as “The… Continue Reading

Sayantani DasGupta

Latest Title: The Ghost Forest (Secrets of the Sky, Book Three)

Sayantani DasGupta is The New York Times best-selling author of the critically acclaimed, Bengali folktale and string theory-inspired “Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond” books, the first of which — “The Serpent’s Secret” — was a Bank Street Best Book of… Continue Reading

Gabby Torres Gets a Billion Followers

Angela Dominguez

Latest Title: Gabby Torres Gets a Billion Followers

Angela Dominguez was born in Mexico City and grew up in the great state of Texas. She now resides on the East Coast with her boyfriend, Kyle, and their petite dog, Petunia. She is also the author and illustrator of… Continue Reading

Craig Kofi Farmer

Latest Title: Kwame Crashes the Underworld

Craig Kofi Farmer is a Prince George’s County, Md., native, with two Bachelor of Science degrees from Towson University and one Master of Education degree from the University of Maryland, College Park. He works in higher education administration, helping students… Continue Reading

Team Unihorn and Woolly by Alexis Frederick-Frost

Alexis Frederick-Frost

Latest Title: Team Unihorn and Woolly: Revenge of the Unicorn

Alexis Frederick-Frost is a cartoonist whose books are distinguished by their vibrant art and whimsical humor. He is the co-author and illustrator of the critically acclaimed “Adventures in Cartooning” series of graphic novels and picture books and is the author… Continue Reading

Mixed-Up by Kami Garcia

Kami Garcia

Latest Title: Mixed-Up

Kami Garcia is a #1 New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly and international best-selling author and comic book writer, and an award-winning young adult novelist. Her best-known works include “Beautiful Creatures,” “Unbreakable” and “Teen Titans: Raven.” Kami was a… Continue Reading

Gia Gordon

Latest Title: My So-Called Family

Gia Gordon is a disabled author, youth activist and former educator. Her middle grade debut, “My So-Called Family,” has received two starred reviews; been named a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection, a Kirkus Best Books of 2024, and a… Continue Reading

John Patrick Green

Latest Title: InvestiGators: Agents of S.U.I.T.: Wild Ghost Chase

John Patrick Green is a human with the human job of making books about animals with human jobs, notably the smash-hit graphic novel series “InvestiGators.” John is definitely a multiple New York Times best-selling human author and not just a… Continue Reading

Michael Hall

Latest Title: Punch!: A Story About Kindness

Michael Hall grew up in Ann Arbor, Mich., and lives with his family in Minneapolis, Minn. He is the creator of numerous acclaimed picture books for children, including ”Frankencrayon,” ”Red: A Crayon’s Story,” ”My Heart Is Like a Zoo,” ”Perfect Square” and ”It’s an Orange… Continue Reading

When I Hear Spirituals by Cheryl Willis Hudson

Cheryl Willis Hudson

Latest Title: When I Hear Spirituals

Cheryl Willis Hudson is an author, editor, publisher and respected member of the children’s book community. She is co-founder, with her husband Wade, of Just Us Books, Inc., an independent publishing company that focuses on Black interest books for young… Continue Reading

Wade Hudson

Latest Title: The Day Madear Voted

Wade Hudson is the author of more than 35 books for young readers, including the middle grade memoir, “Defiant: Growing Up in the Jim Crow South,” winner of the 2022 Malka Penn award, and the anthologies, “We Rise, We Resist,… Continue Reading

JOHO

Latest Title: Saphie the One-Eyed Cat Volume 1

Joanna Ho (JOHO), hailing from a lineage of cat butlers, earned her B.F.A. from George Mason University. Her artistry and lineage showcased in “Saphie: The One-Eyed Cat,” captures hearts by melding her profound feline connection with illustration. She is also… Continue Reading

Alan Katz

Latest Title: Take Me Out of the Bathtub and Other Silly Dilly Songs

Alan Katz has written 50+ highly acclaimed books for young readers. A frequent presenter at regional and national conferences and festivals, his titles include “Take Me Out of the Bathtub and Other Silly Dilly Songs,” “Got Your Nose!,” “OOPS!,” “Zooloween”… Continue Reading

Hena Khan

Latest Title: We Are Big Time

Hena Khan is a Pakistani-American writer. She is the author of the middle-grade novel, “Amina’s Voice,” which was selected as a Best Book of the Year by Kirkus, NPR, The Washington Post and Chicago Public Library. Her other titles include… Continue Reading

David LaRochelle

Latest Title: Mr. Fox's Game of No!

Does David LaRochelle ever get tired of making books for young people? No! He can’t think of a better profession in the world! He is the author of “Isle of You,: illustrated by Jaime Kim, as well as “How to… Continue Reading

Meet the Mini Mammals by Brian Lies

Brian Lies

Latest Title: Meet the Mini-Mammals: A Night at the Natural History Museum

Brian Lies is the author and/or illustrator of over 30 children’s books, including the new “Meet the Mini Mammals: A Night at the Natural History Museum” (by Melissa Stewart, Beach Lane Books) and upcoming “Cat Nap” (Greenwillow / HarperCollins, Fall… Continue Reading

Steve Light

Latest Title: A Spider Named Itsy

Steve Light is the creator of “Gus and Sully Watch the Weather,” as well as the board books, “Black Bird Yellow Sun;” “Mama Tiger, Tiger Cub;” “Up Cat Down Cat” and “Have You Seen My Lunch Box?” Among his many… Continue Reading

The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon by Grace Lin

Grace Lin

Latest Title: The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon

Grace Lin is the award-winning and best-selling author and illustrator of “Chinese Menu,” “When the Sea Turned to Silver,” “Starry River of the Sky,” “Where the Mountain Meets the Moon,” “The Year of the Dog,” “The Year of the Rat,”… Continue Reading

Carole Lindstrom

Latest Title: The Gift of the Great Buffalo

Carole Lindstrom is the author of The New York Times best-selling and Caldecott Award–winning “We Are Water Protectors,” “My Powerful Hair” and “Autumn Peltier, Water Warrior.” She is Anishinaabe/Métis and is a proud member of the Turtle Mountain Band of… Continue Reading

The Gods' Revenge by Katherine Marsh

Katherine Marsh

Latest Title: The Gods' Revenge

Katherine Marsh is the author of “Medusa,” a Kirkus Reviews Most Anticipated Book of 2024 and Amazon Editors’ Pick; “The Lost Year,” a National Book Award Finalist and winner of the Jane Addams and Golden Kite Awards; “Nowhere Boy,” winner… Continue Reading

Space Chasers by Leland Melvin

Leland Melvin

Latest Title: Space Chasers by Leland Melvin

Leland Melvin is an engineer, educator, author, former NASA astronaut and NFL wide receiver. He served on board the Space Shuttle Atlantis as a mission specialist on mission STS-122 (2008) and STS-129 (2009), helping to construct the International Space Station.… Continue Reading

Laura Numeroff

Latest Title: Max and Mama

Laura Numeroff is the acclaimed #1 New York Times best-selling children’s author of “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie” and the subsequent “If You Give” series. Born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y, she graduated from Pratt Institute in 1975… Continue Reading

Smiling Eyes by Linda Sue Park

Linda Sue Park

Latest Title: Smiling Eyes

Linda Sue Park is the Newbery Medal winner for ”A Single Shard” and #1 New York Times best-seller for ”A Long Walk to Water.” She is the renowned author of picture books and novels for young readers. Her recent titles are “Gracie Under the Waves,”… Continue Reading

Dave Roman

Latest Title: Unicorn Boy

Dave Roman is the author/illustrator of several graphic novel series including, “Unicorn Boy” and “Astronaut Academy.” He’s worked as a writer on “Teen Boat! Race for Boatlantis” and “Agnes Quill: An Anthology of Mystery,” and as an illustrator for “Goosebumps… Continue Reading

Rover and Speck: It's a Gas by Jonathan Roth

Jonathan Roth

Latest Title: Rover and Speck: It's a Gas! (Rover and Speck, 3)

Jonathan Roth is an Earth-bound but space loving author-illustrator of fun, STEAM-themed books for kids, including the “Rover and Speck” graphic novel series (Kids Can Press), the “Beep and Bob” chapter book series (Aladdin/S&S) and the true-story picture book, “Almost… Continue Reading

The Tontine Caper by Dianne K. Salerni

Dianne K. Salerni

Latest Title: The Tontine Caper

Dianne K. Salerni is the author of several middle grade novels, including Junior Library Guild selections “Eleanor, Alice, & the Roosevelt Ghosts,” “Jadie in Five Dimensions” and “The Carrefour Curse.” Her most recent publication is “The Tontine Caper,” illustrated by… Continue Reading

Michael Sampson

Latest Title: Rainbow Bear

Michael Sampson, Ph.D., is a New York Times best-selling author of 26 books for young children, including “Chicka Chicka 1, 2, 3” and “The Bill Martin Jr. Big Book of Poetry.” Michael is dean of the School of Education at… Continue Reading

Bearsuit Turtle by Bob Shea

Bob Shea

Latest Title: Bearsuit Turtle Makes a Friend

Bob Shea has written and/or illustrated over 20 picture books including the popular “Dinosaur Vs.” series, “Unicorn Thinks He’s Pretty Great” and the “Ballet Cat” early readers series. His most recent picture book, “Chez Bob,” received three starred reviews, with… Continue Reading

Don't Eat the Cleaners by Susan Stockdale

Susan Stockdale

Latest Title: Don't Eat the Cleaners!: Tiny Fish with a Big Job

Susan Stockdale is the author and illustrator of many picture books that celebrate nature. Her books, including “Bring On the Birds,” “Stripes of All Types” and “Fabulous Fishes” have won a variety of awards including the ALSC Notable Picture Book,… Continue Reading

Skunk and Badger by Amy Timberlake

Amy Timberlake

Latest Title: Skunk and Badger (Skunk and Badger 1)

Amy Timberlake’s work has received a Newbery Honor, an Edgar and a Golden Kite Award. She’s had books on the Indie Books Bestseller list, one book was Tattered Covers’ Book of the Year, and reviews have appeared in The New… Continue Reading

Meera Trehan

Latest Title: Snow

Meera Trehan grew up outside Washington, D.C., and attended the University of Virginia and Stanford Law School. After practicing law for over a decade, she turned to creative writing. Her debut novel, “The View from the Very Best House in… Continue Reading