Join therapy dogs and six children’s authors for a wintry book signing! Each author will be signing copies of their books, and dogs will be around to pet (or read to!) throughout.

Andrew Hacket is a writer, second-grade teacher, and father of three. He is the author of Ollie, the Acorn, and the Mighty Idea, Curlilocks and the Three Hares, and Hope and the Sea as well as the forthcoming In This Classroom. Andrew recognizes that being a kid is hard and he writes to create ways for kids to see themselves in stories and characters, to accept and overcome their insecurities, or to escape for just a little while through the power of their imaginations.

April Jones Prince is the author of 14 books for young readers, including You Are a Reader!/You Are a Writer!, Snowy Race, Twenty-One Elephants and Still Standing, and two titles in Penguin’s popular “Who Was?” chapter book series. A frequent presenter at schools and libraries, April also works an agent at Studio Goodwin Sturges in Providence and is a part-time faculty member in Literary Arts and Studies at the Rhode Island School of Design. In all these roles, April works with writers of all ages to bring their stories, passions, and ideas to life.

Dr. Jacob Held is a companion animal veterinarian who practices medicine in rural Massachusetts. He loves working with pet owners to promote the healthcare and well-being of cats and dogs of all breeds and backgrounds. He is also the proud father of two wonderful children, and a handsome pup named Fidelis. As a parent and veterinarian, Jacob’s mission is to craft goofy and engaging stories to help kids learn valuable life lessons from animals. Jacob hopes to use his platform as a veterinarian to educate pet parents and children about their roles in their pets’ health care and wellbeing. He also aims to spread awareness about the realities of the veterinary profession. The inspiration for his writing stems from his experiences helping pets and spending time with his family. You can follow him on TikTok and Instagram at @Prescription_of_Fiction for more information about veterinary medicine and behind-the-scenes looks at his writing process.

Maria Gianferrari is a picture book reader/writer, animal lover, and bird nerd. She writes books that honor our bonds with creatures both domestic and wild, and that celebrate urban ecosystems and the natural world around us. Maria’s most recent titles include Rain and the Reading Horse, To Dogs, with Love, Fungi Grow, You and the Bowerbird, Thank a Farmer, and Being a Cat: A Tail of Curiosity. She lives with her family in Massachusetts, where coyotes, bobcats, and bears traverse her backyard.

Megan Litwin is the author of the picture books Gather Grateful and Twinkle, Twinkle, Winter Night, as well as the Dirt and Bugsy early reader series. A former classroom teacher with a Master of Arts in Children’s Literature from Simmons University, Megan is passionate about growing readers and spreading book love. Find out more at www.meganlitwinbooks.com.

Susan Edwards Richmond is the award-winning author of the community science adventures The Great Pollinator Count, Bioblitz! Counting Critters, and Bird Count.  Her picture book Night Owl Night is a Massachusetts Book Award Honor Title and a Bank Street College of Education Best Children’s Book of the Year. Bird Count won the International Literacy Association’s Primary Fiction Award and is a Mathical Honor Book.  Susan is also the author of Science Play, an activity book for preschoolers in Storey Publishing’s Busy Little Hands series.