Jeff Miller
Jeff Miller is an author and tall guy originally from Kent, Ohio, where he had the great fortune to cross paths with many impactful educators who encouraged him to keep writing. So he did. His fourth book, Rare Birds, is based on his own experience with his mother’s 2018 heart transplant, which Booklist called “a sincerely stirring story.”
He loves stories, walking in snowstorms and adores animals of all kinds. After living in Chicago for fourteen years, he is wandering the shorelines of the Great Lakes in search of his next home and inspiration.
Janet Nolan
Janet Nolan is an award-winning author of many picture books, including Get Ready for School, Get Ready for Halloween and Bats Beneath the Bridge, an Illinois Reads Selection for 2025 and an Honorable Mention from the Society of Midland Authors. She has also written PB&J Hooray! and Seven and a Half Tons of Steel: A Post-9/11 Story of Hope and Transformation, a Junior Library Guild Selection that appeared on numerous state award lists, including the ILA Teacher’s Choice Reading List.
Janet resides in Oak Park, Illinois. She earned a B.A. from Evergreen State College and a master’s degree in urban planning and policy from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI).
Sara Varon
Sara Varon is a graphic novelist and children’s book author/illustrator living in Chicago. She is the author of Robot Dreams, which has been adapted into an Oscar-nominated animated feature film by the Spanish director Pablo Berger. Her other books include: Odd Duck, Bake Sale, New Shoes, Hold Hands, My Pencil and Me, and the Detective Sweet Pea series. Her work has received many accolades—among others, Hold Hands was named a Best Children’s Book of 2019 by the New York Times; Odd Duck was selected by Kirkus Reviews as one of the Best Children’s Books of 2013; Bake Sale was chosen as a YALSA Great Graphic Novel of 2012; and Robot Dreams was on Oprah’s Kids’ Reading List in 2008. In 2013, Sara was a recipient of the Sendak Fellowship.
Molly Cranch
Molly Cranch is a Chicago-based illustrator, picture book author, artist and arts educator. Her debut book, Hide-and-Seek (2024), introduces children to the science of camouflage in nature, blending art and STEM in a playful way. Her nature-inspired paintings have been exhibited in galleries and museums nationwide. She holds a BFA from Washington University in St. Louis, a K–12 Art Education certificate from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and an MA in Illustration from Falmouth University. Outside the studio, Molly can often be found on long walks in nature, drawing in her sketchbooks and discovering new places to travel.
Kat Chen
Kat Chen is a kid at heart. Her debut series, PLAYDATE BOOKS, was an instant success garnering several awards including a Literary Titan Award, a Gold Mom’s Choice award and two starred reviews from the School Library Journal. Play With Me and Play Outside With Me are featured books in the 2025 Illinois Reads Program. Kat, who is also A USA Today and Amazon bestseller of books for grownups, recently became a grateful, gleeful grandmother giving her an instant audience to test her kid lit. “Nothing sparks my imagination as much as playing with a three-year-old. Especially since I don’t have to worry about diapers, nutrition, or sleep schedules. I get to do the fun stuff.” By that, she means conversation, crayons and crawling all over the playroom. Then she’s the one who needs a nap whether or not the toddler does. Find out more at www.Kat-Chen.com .
Ann Zhao
Ann Zhao is the Indie-bestselling author of Dear Wendy and a contributor to the upcoming anthology Being Aro. When she’s not writing, she works in youth and teen services at a public library, where she’s always finding excuses to put her friends’ books on display. Born and raised in Illinois, she lived briefly in Massachusetts for college but now resides back in the Chicagoland area.
Ruth Spiro
Ruth Spiro is the author of more than 30 children’s books, with over one million copies in print worldwide. Her bestselling Baby Loves Science board books are the groundbreaking originals that introduce big ideas to the littlest listeners in an age-appropriate and engaging style. Ruth’s work has been praised by the Los Angeles Times, NPR, TODAY, Popular Science, Bank Street College of Education, Purdue Engineering and more. Fans who have publicly shared their love of her books include Gabby Giffords, Chelsea Clinton and Chance the Rapper. A frequent speaker at schools and conferences, Ruth’s previous appearances include Windy City Live on WMAQ-TV, Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, World Science Festival, Chicago Tribune Printer’s Row LitFest, Children’s Festival of Stories and the National Association for the Education of Young Children. She hopes her books inspire kids to observe the world, ask questions and when it comes to their futures, DREAM BIG! Ruth lives in suburban Chicago, Illinois. Find more information at www.RuthSpiro.com.
Jacob Grant
Jacob Grant is an author, illustrator and dad who makes picture books. His work has been featured in the Bologna Children’s Book Fair Illustration Exhibition and the Society of Illustrators Original Art show and he’s also an ok kids soccer coach. Jacob lives with his wife and two little ones near Chicago.
Ray Nadine
Ray Nadine was born and raised in central Illinois, and was drawing as soon as they could hold a pencil. They have been making comics since 2013, telling stories of identity, interpersonal relationships, and mental illness. Their quiet narratives emphasize the minutiae of life, giving meaning to the mundane and balance out themes of trauma, grief, and toxic relationships with radical empathy, queer joy, and healing.
They’re currently working on Wacker Drive: A Divine Comedy, a modern-day reimagining of Dante’s Inferno set in a supernaturally divine Chicago with a touch more comedy than its medieval counterpart. They also regularly update their personal writing project, The Death of Séamus O’Donnell, an illustrated journal-style narrative inspired by the TTRPG Thousand Year Old Vampire. They created I Felt Myself Slipping, published by Oni Press, co-created Raise Hell!, published by Comixology, and their first graphic novel, Light Carries On, published by Dark Horse, was nominated for a GLAAD Media Award in 2024!
Some of their past work includes artwork for Messenger with Paul Tobin, published by Webtoon. They’ve been in a handful of anthologies, including EVERYTHING IS GOING WRONG, edited by Mark Bouchard, and Local Haunts, edited by Kara Lais. They’ve made a bunch of mini-comics and zines over the years too.
Ray currently lives in Chicago. When they’re not working as a comic artist and author, they’re working at the Chicago Park District as a Special Recreation Instructor. They love the city, and in their free time they love making music playlists, reading horror novels, and playing video games (currently playing: Baldur’s Gate 3).
