Lesléa Newman is the author of 75 books for readers of all ages including the teen novel in verse, OCTOBER MOURNING: A SONG FOR MATTHEW SHEPARD; the middle grade novel, HACHIKO WAITS; the poetry collection, I CARRY MY MOTHER; the short story collection, A LETTER TO HARVEY MILK; and the children's books, A SWEET PASSOVER, THE BOY WHO CRIED FABULOUS, KETZEL, THE CAT WHO COMPOSED, and HEATHER HAS TWO MOMMIES. Her literary awards include poetry fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Massachusetts Artists Foundation. OCTOBER MOURNING: A SONG FOR MATTHEW SHEPARD was named an American Library Association 2013 Stonewall Honor Book, and A SWEET PASSOVER was named a 2013 Sydney Taylor Honor as well. A past poet laureate of Northampton, Massachusetts, she is a faculty member of Spalding University's brief-residency MFA in Writing program. Her newest poetry collection, I CARRY MY MOTHER is a book-length cycle of poems that explores a daughter's journey through her mother's illness and death. From diagnosis through yahrtzeit (one-year anniversary), the narrator grapples with what it means to lose a mother. The poems, written in a variety of forms (sonnet, pantoum, villanelle, sestina, terza rima, haiku, and others) are finely crafted, completely accessible, and full of startling, poignant, and powerful imagery. These poems will resonant with all who have lost a parent, relative, spouse, friend, or anyone whom they dearly love.

Mike Dutton is an Emmy Award-winning artist and the illustrator of several picture books, including Food Truck Fest! (by Alexandra Penfold), the Junior Library Guild-selected Thank You, Dr. Salk! (by Dean Robbins), and Big Green Garage (by Jen Arena). He was also the creator of over two-hundred "doodles" featured on the Google homepage. He is currently an art director and visual development artist in the animation industry.

When not illustrating, Mike enjoys bicycling and painting outside. He loves going on "expotitions" with his wife and two children in their truck camper. Follow his adventures on instagram @duttonart.

Mike Dutton is an Emmy Award-winning artist and the illustrator of several picture books, including Food Truck Fest! (by Alexandra Penfold), the Junior Library Guild-selected Thank You, Dr. Salk! (by Dean Robbins), and Big Green Garage (by Jen Arena). He was also the creator of over two-hundred "doodles" featured on the Google homepage. He is currently an art director and visual development artist in the animation industry.

When not illustrating, Mike enjoys bicycling and painting outside. He loves going on "expotitions" with his wife and two children in their truck camper. Follow his adventures on instagram @duttonart.