Jennifer Ward,
children's author
Ward is a former educator with several children's books under her belt, including "Somewhere in the Ocean" and "The Seed and the Giant Saguaro."
Carol Evans,
associate education professor at the University of Arizona with a background in bilingual education and children's literature
In terms of children's literature, Evans is particularly interested in helping teachers include in their repertoire books that reflect the culture and identity of Mexican-American children.
Gerry Pionessa,
librarian and tech coach at Los Niños Elementary School
Pionessa has worked at Los Niños for 12 years. She likes to call picture books "everybody books" because she has discovered over the years that everyone from children to adults likes reading them.
People are also reading…
Ruth Grant,
library supervisor for the Joel D. Valdez Main Library's children section
Grant was happy to offer some of her favorites for this project. Her longtime exposure to children's literature has provided her with an eye for good books.
Michael Fenlason,
operations manager at Borders Books, Music and Cafe at Park Place
Fenlason's job as operations manager of a bookstore may not fully qualify him as a kids' lit expert, but he does have one advantage: a 9-year-old daughter he reads to regularly.