Lily Williams is the critically acclaimed author and illustrator of the If Animals Disappeared picture book series and graphic novels Go With The Flow and Look On The Bright Side. She grew up in Northern California and worked in feature film animation before moving to Colorado. Lily seeks to inspire change through education and believes in the power of making information fun and accessible for all audiences.

Learn more at https://lilywilliamsart.com/

Tricia D. Wagner is an award-winning novelist, poet, and short story writer with five published novels and many more on the way. She is the creator of Swift and the Star of Atlantis series, an epic literary coming-of-age adventure. And she is the author of Sun Child of the Moor, a literary fantasy and winner of the 2023 Royal Dragonfly Book Award. Wagner grew up in Amarillo, Texas, chasing storms, riding stallions, sojourning through painted canyons, disappearing into floating mesas under starry skies. She now lives in Illinois (though the truth is she’s a citizen of a dozen fictional countries.) She works in cardiovascular research and lives day to day wonderstruck but luckily can feel her way about this terrifying, beautiful Earth through writing. Wagner’s poetry and short stories have appeared in the Write City Magazine, Chicago Newa, Word of Art 3D, Literary Yard, and Midwest Review.Learn more at https://www.triciawagner.com/

Mel Rosenberg hand-wrote his first children's book, "Bacteria Galore by Sunday at Four" when he was 23 years old. Twenty years later, Tel Aviv University published the hardcover version of his book on bacteria in Hebrew, חיידקים מיליון עד יום ראשון, illustrated by Tali Niv-Dolinsky. ​For many years, his writing career was on a back burner while he became a scientist, inventor, and later a jazz musician and a singer. He enjoyed each of these careers, but these days he am fully committed to his children's writing.​ He keeps busy:​Writing and revising new stories (under the mentorship of the incredible Harold Underdown) Helping picture book authors at the beginning of their careers Giving talks, lectures and webinars about the creative process and the importance of creating dummy books Interviewing prominent authors, editors, publishers, agents, and illustrators for his weekly video/podcast for the New Books Network (NBN)Learn more at https://www.authormel.com/

Dr. Kodey Bogart, AvD., is a former United States Army Warrant Officer and aviator who flew the Blackhawk during medical evacuation missions. She is a decorated combat veteran, having received two Air Medals and a Sikorsky Rescue Award. Kodey made history as the first female to be designated as Pilot in Command for day, night, and night vision goggle (NVG) operations in combat for the Florida Army National Guard.​With extensive experience across aviation operations—including aviation safety, flight training, maintenance test flights, helicopter air ambulance, and aviation law enforcement—Kodey brings both expertise and passion to every mission. She lives with her husband and children in Merritt Island, Florida, where she shares her love of aviation, especially with her daughter and sons, by highlighting the diversity of the mission. For Kodey and the Helo Girls crew, the sky is not the limit—it’s just the beginning.Learn more at https://www.helogirls.com/

As a Programs team member, Mandy is the United Through Reading Program Coordinator in the D.C. Area. She works with commands and local military support groups, increases awareness of United Through Reading and the importance of the read-aloud experience for the entire military family, and coordinates recording opportunities.Mandy is an Air Force spouse of 18 years and mom of three. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Child Development. As a volunteer, Mandy has served on the board of the McChord Thrift Shop and was part of the team that created the Joan Brown Spouse Space at JBLM. When she is not working, she enjoys all things peloton, coaching youth soccer, and glamping with her family in their travel trailer. Mandy can be reached at mandydisney@utr.org.Learn more at https://unitedthroughreading.org/#unitedthroughreading #militaryfamilies #literacy

Guojing is an award-winning author and illustrator of picture books and graphic novels. Her wordless picture book The Only Child was named a New York Times Best Illustrated Book of the Year. Her second wordless picture book Stormy: A Story About Finding a Forever Home was an ALA Notable Children’s Book, hailed as “masterful” by The New York Times.Her graphic novels The Flamingo and Oasis received widespread acclaim, with Oasis recognized as Best Children's Book of the Year by The New York Times, NPR, Publishers Weekly, and more. The House That Floated was published in September 2025 by Penguin Random House, and her latest book, The Octopus, will be published by Two Lions in April 2026.Learn more at https://www.guojingart.com/about

Author Christy Mihaly loves history, nature, and books. She writes for kids because she believes that our best hope for the future is raising young people who love to read, and giving them the knowledge and skills to lead. Christy has written around 40 children's nonfiction titles on topics from hayfields to free speech to food.Her fall 2021 picture book with Barefoot Books, WATER: A Deep Dive of Discovery, illustrated by Mariona Cabassa, was awarded a Kirkus star and a Gold in the Nautilus Book Awards. Other picture books include Patience, Patches, a fictional tale of a dog and a new baby (Dial), Our Congress and The Supreme Court and Us, which introduce young readers to the history and functions of the U.S. Supreme Court and Congress. (Albert Whitman.) A former lawyer, Christy has written extensively about civics and our government. The picture book Free for You and Me introduces the First Amendment through poems and stories. (Albert Whitman 2020.) Other books include the YA Diet for a Changing Climate: Food for Thought (Lerner 2018, co-written with Sue Heavenrich), which explores how our food affects the environment, and Hey, Hey, Hay! (A Tale of Bales and the Machines That Make Them), a rhyming picture book about haymaking (Holiday House, 2018). In addition to the Nautilus Gold, Christy's books have been included on the Green Earth Book Award shortlist, Bank Street Children's Best Books, and Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selections. Many of her poems appear in anthologies and magazines. She is represented by Erzsi Deak of Hen&ink Literary Studio. She lives in Vermont, where she enjoys walking her dog in the woods and playing cello (though not simultaneously).Learn more at https://www.christymihaly.com/

Tom was born and raised in Southern New Jersey. Growing up in rural America, Tom has a deep sense of community - when our families, neighbors, farmers, local businesses, and organizations all work in concert to support one another, it strengthens us individually and collectively. Tom relishes opportunities to develop meaningful relationships with his local community. ​​As a gay dad and a father of BIPOC daughters, Tom is committed to advancing children’s stories that are inclusive of diverse families, who have been historically under-represented in children's books. Tom's work helps to fill that representation gap. Professionally, Tom is a NJ Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has worked with at-risk youth and individuals living with mental illness for most of his career. Through that work, he has come to appreciate the importance of sharing one's lived experience with others through story-telling. He hopes his kids books help others feel more seen and valued. https://www.tomtracybooks.com/