Meet the Award-Winning Authors!

Ten award-winning authors and illustrators who create books for children and teens will appear at AJL's 42nd Annual Convention. All ten received recognition this year from AJL's Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee, which awards the best in Jewish children's literature. The convention usually brings in only three or four such author/illustrators, making 2007 a bonanza year for lovers of Judaic literature for young people.

2007 is the first year AJL presented a book award for teen readers, and convention organizers are particularly pleased to welcome Markus Zusak, author of The Book Thief, the Teen Book Award Winner. Zusak will travel all the way from his home in Australia to receive the award. Other award-winning authors and illustrators who will be present include:

• Author Stephen Krensky and illustrator Greg Harlin, creators of the picture book Hanukkah at Valley Forge, the Sydney Taylor Book Award Winner for Younger Readers
  
  
• Brenda Ferber, author of the novel Julia's Kitchen, the Sydney Taylor Book Award Winner for Older Readers
  
  
• Ann Redisch Stampler, author of the picture book Shlemazel and the Remarkable Spoon of Pohost, a Sydney Taylor Honor Award Winner for Younger Readers
  
  
• Brynn Olenberg Sugarman, author of the picture book Rebecca's Journey Home, a Sydney Taylor Honor Award Winner for Younger Readers - who will travel all the way from Israel for this event
  
  
• Esme Raji Codell, author of the novel Vive La Paris, a Sydney Taylor Honor Award Winner for Older Readers
  
  
• Jennifer Roy, author of the novel Yellow Star, a Sydney Taylor Honor Award Winner for Older Readers
  
  
• Linda Press Wulf, author of the novel Night of the Burning: Devorah's Story, a Sydney Taylor Honor Award Winner for Older Readers
  
  
• Dana Reinhardt, author of the teen novel A Brief Chapter in My Impossible Life, an AJL Honor Award Winner for Teens (this award will take on the Sydney Taylor name beginning in 2008)
  

All ten authors/illustrators will be presenting sessions during the convention on either Monday, June 18 or Tuesday, June 19. A reception and book signing will take place on Tuesday, June 19 followed by the evening awards banquet.