Orion Elementary School's Eight Annual Children's Authors and Illustrators Festival Saturday, February 6, 2010. 10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. at Orion: 815 Allerton St. Admission to the festival and all events is FREE! Onsite Spanish language and American Sign Language translation available. Come meet your favorite authors and illustrators! There will be book signings and author presentations throughout the event. Books and food will be available for purchase For more information, please contact Sharon Grant: sharon@talaingrant.com.

Authors

Participating in the festival are noted Bay Area authors/illustrators: (in alphabetical order by last name)

Artist Website: www.alexandraboiger.com

Born and raised in Munich, Germany, Alexandra studied graphic design and worked in feature animation for Warner Brother, UK and Dreamworks in Los Angeles before pursuing her lifelong dream as a children’s book illustrator.  She has illustrated picture books as well as chapter books, and her titles include Thanks a lot, Emily Post!; Doctor All-Knowing; The Little Bit Scary People; Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle series.

Artist Website: www.yingc.com

Award winning author of children’s books, cooking books and novels. Featured and profiled nationally (e.g., spokesperson for Nestle Maggi and Celestial Seasonings).  Sample books:  Revolution is Not a Dinner Party, California Book Award winner for Young Adult Literature; Boy Dumplings; A Banquet for Hungry Ghosts; The Story of Chopsticks; etc. and cookbook author, Secrets from a Healthy Asian Kitchen; Cooking with Green Tea)

Artist Website: www.elisakleven.com

Highly acclaimed author/illustrator of many books, including:  A Carousel Tale; Sun Bread; The Apple Doll; The Paper Princess series; Ernst; The Puddle Pail; illustrated, among others, Wish; The City by the Bay.  Ms. Kleven has participated in every Orion festival.

Artist's Website: www.timmyersstorysong.com

Mr. Myers is an author, storyteller, songwriter and poet.  His book, Tanuki’s Gift, was chosen as a "Best Book of the Year" by Bank Street College and Nick Jr. Magazine, among other honors. His other titles include, Looking for Luna; If You Give a T-Rex a Bone; Good Babies; Basho and the River Stones, The Furry-Legged Teapot; and Dark Sparkle Tea and Other Bedtime Poems.

Artist's Website: www.leuyenpham.com

LeUyen (pronounced Le Win Pham) graduated from Art Center College, worked for Dreamworks Feature Animation, and has traveled the world. She notes on her website that one of the things she cannot do well is “draw herself.” She has illustrated dozens of books, such as Once Around the Sun by Bobbi Katz; Benny and Beautiful Baby Delilah by Jean Van Leeuwen; Hanukkah Schmanukkah by Esme Raji Codell; as well as her own book, Big Sister, Little Sister.

Rachel Rodriguez

Artist's Website: www.rachelrodriguezbooks.com

Ms. Rodriguez’s newest book, released in September, is Building on Nature:  The Life of Antoni Gaudi, which tells the story of the famed Spanish architect.  Her picture book about Georgia O’Keefe, titled Through Georgia’s Eyes, is now enjoying its 5th printing.  Ms. Rodriguez is a professional facilitator and national speech coach who lives in San Francisco.

Artist Website: www.joycecarolthomas.com

Ms. Thomas is an internationally renowned author who has written over 30 award winning books for children, young adults and adults.  Her first novel was written more 25 years ago, Marked by Fire, and received the National Book Award. She recently received the Coretta Scott King Author Honor/ALA Book Award for 2009 for The Blacker the Berry.  She received the same honor as a Coretta Scott King award recipient for her first picture book in 1994, Brown Honey in Broomwheat Tea. A novelist, poet, playwright, educator and songwriter who lives in Berkeley, Ms. Thomas received Oklahoma's Life Time Achievement Award and was inducted into the Oklahoma Writers Hall of Fame on October 6, 2009.  Her other titles include I Have Heard Of A Land; The Gospel Cinderella; Crowning Glory; Gin-gerbread Days; and A Gathering Of Flowers.