Nikki Grimes

Nikki Grimes does not consider herself a bona fide storyteller, but, as she told an audience at the Library of Congress, she is happy to own the title Poet. Born and raised in New York City, Grimes began composing verse at the age of six and has been writing ever since that time. A New York Times bestselling author, Grimes is the recipient of the 2017 Children’s Literature Legacy Award, the 2016 Virginia Hamilton Literary Award, and the 2006 NCTE Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children. Her distinguished works include the much-honored books Garvey’s Choice, ALA Notable book What is Goodbye?, Coretta Scott King Award winner Bronx Masquerade, and Coretta Scott King Author Honor books Jazmin’s Notebook, Talkin’ About Bessie, Dark Sons, Words with Wings, and The Road to Paris. In addition to her work for children, Grimes has written articles for such magazines as Essence, Today’s Christian Woman, Book Links, and Image, Journal of Arts & Religion. Creator of the popular Meet Danitra Brown, Ms. Grimes lives in Corona, California

David Wiesner

As a child growing up in suburban New Jersey, David Wiesner recreated his world daily in his imagination. A swamp, a cemetery and a landfill bound the outskirts of his neighborhood, exotic lands that became anything from a faraway planet to a prehistoric jungle. When the everyday play stopped, he would follow his imagination into the pages of books, wandering among the dinosaurs of Charles Knight, the surreal landscapes of Salvador Dali and the fantastic universes of Jack Kirby. The images before him generated a love of detail, an admiration for the creative process, and a desire to tell stories with the pictures he himself was drawing. While studying at the Rhode Island School of Design, Wiesner developed the narrative aspects of his work and realized that the picture book was the perfect form in which to present his stories and images. David Wiesner has been awarded the Caldecott Medal three times — for Tuesday in 1992, The Three Pigs in 2002, and Flotsam in 2006. Three other books of his, FreeFall, Sector 7, and Mr.Wuffles were named Caldecott Honor Books. Among other honors, Wiesner has received top picture book awards in Japan, France, Germany and South America. Wiesner is currently on the faculty of the Pennsylvania Academy Of Fine Art.