CAROLE BOSTON WEATHERFORD, Author of TROUBLED WATERS: A RIVER’S JOURNEY TOWARD JUSTICE and KIN, ROOTED IN HOPE

Carole Boston Weatherford is the award-winning author of more than 50 books of poetry, nonfiction, and children's literature. She is the recipient of a Newbery Honor, Coretta Scott King Author Honor, two NAACP Image Awards, a WNDB Walter Award, and numerous other accolades. Her books include I, Matthew Henson; Jesse Owens: Fastest Man Alive; and Be a King. She resides in North Carolina where she teaches at Fayetteville State University.

cbweatherford.com
Instagram: @caroleweatherford

AYA GHANAMEH, AUTHOR, ILLUSTRATOR of THESE OLIVE TREES

Aya Ghanameh is a Palestinian illustrator, writer, and designer from Amman, Jordan based in New York City. Her work moves away from state-centric ways of thinking to center the voices of ordinary people in historical and political narratives. Her debut children's picture book, THESE OLIVE TREES (Viking Books, 2023), is inspired by the experiences of her family who cultivated her love of the earth throughout her upbringing in exile. She is also the illustrator of DEAR MUSLIM CHILD by Rahma Roodah (Balzer + Bray, 2024), and EVERYTHING GROWS IN JIDDO'S GARDEN by Jenan A. Matari (Interlink Publishing, 2025).

Aya graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design with a BFA in Illustration and a minor in Literary Arts & Studies. Previously a Children's Books & Gifts Design Fellow at Chronicle Books, she is now a Designer at Penguin Workshop (Penguin Random House). 

www.ayaghanameh.com/about
Instagram: ayaghanameh

ARELY GUZMAN, SPANISH COPY EDITOR AT SCHOLASTIC & FORMER ASSISTANT EDITOR, LEVINE QUERIDO

Arely Guzmán is a Spanish copy editor at Scholastic. Previously, they were an Assistant Editor at Levine Querido, an editorial assistant at Knopf Books for Young Readers, and an editorial intern at Bloomsbury, Writers House, and Kweli Journal. In their spare time, Arely can be found watching little gay cartoons, killing all their plants, and advocating that therapy should be accessible and inclusive.