| R. Howard Blount, Jr.. is a fourth generation native Floridian. Howard began his career as a classroom teacher with Hillsborough County Schools in Florida. Later he earned an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership from the University of South Florida. Over the years Howard has written numerous theme units, designed a system of portfolio assessment, conducted workshops, served on district committees, and was named a Florida Associate Master Teacher. Howard’s fascination with corresponding with authors led to the publication of his first book, The Address Book of Children’s Authors and Illustrators, which now in its 2nd edition has become his newest book. |
 Brian P. Cleary is a nine-times published author and winner of both the International Reading Association's CHILDREN'S CHOICE AWARD, and the American Library Association KID'S PICK OF THE LIST. Half a million copies of his titles have been printed and his books have been reviewed positively in the School Library Journal as well as Publisher's Weekly, Kirkus Reviews and Booklist. Brian's cartoon gags (including Garfield and Ziggy) have appeared in more than 600 newspapers worldwide. His school visits are fun presentations and workshops on language, poetry, word play, puns, anagrams and the importance of the written word. |
 Carla Golembe is a painter, illustrator, author and teacher. Although she grew up in Massachusetts she always felt like a tropical soul. She went to graduate school in Mexico and fell in love with the culture, climate and natural beauty. When not painting, illustrating, writing or teaching, Carla’s favorite things to do are travel to warm places with quite beaches, snorkel and dance. |
 Gerald Hausman In addition to his many books about Native America, Gerald Hausman has written extensively about animal mythology. His work as a folklorist has earned him many national and international honors. Gerald Hausman is a frequent storyteller at college writer's programs and at young author's conferences. |
 Darrell House, 57 year old husband and father of 2 grown daughters, has brought his program, embracing his love of reading, to more than 40 schools as well as numerous Libraries, Book Fairs, Literary Conferences and Reading Festivals nationwide. It's all original stories, poems and music, and it's guaranteed to delight children, librarians, media specialists, teachers, administrators and even parents. The humor, energy and pace of the performance create an excitement that lasts long after his visit is concluded. |
 Helen Ketteman believes that a picture book is many things. Its a childs first introduction to art as well as the written word, but it transcends even those two powerful things. Children are musical and in picture books, she believes the listening experience is an important part of the equation, and that through our use of language, we can capture a childs imagination and turn him on to being a lifetime reader and learner. |
 Elaine Landau is a highly acclaimed author of over 185 nonfiction books. She has written on such subjects as earth science, the supernatural, planets, dinosaurs, ancient civilizations, ecology and a broad range of contemporary issues. |
 Vivian Owens is an Educator-Author who enjoys sharing her books with children. Owens books flirt with mystery and suspense or they court historical backgrounds, while always delivering full quality literature value.Writing African American Youth Literature and educational books, she will publish her 9th book in the spring of 2003. |