Mike Curato – Little Elliot, Big City (Holt, August 2014) This is Curato's debut picture book featuring Elliot, a polka–dotted elephant living in New York City in the 1940s. It is the first of a three–book series, and a Little Elliot character doll is already in the works with MerryMakers.

Susanne Myers

Suzanne Myers – Stone Cove Island (Soho Teen, November 2014) The author describes her book as a YA Stepford Wives. The story is set in a resort island with a secret society who exerts a strong control over its inhabitants and stands in the way of solving a 30-year-old murder. William Ritter – Jackaby (Algonquin, September 2014) Ritter is a Springfield Oregon High School English teacher–turned–debut author. His book is set in 1892 New England and is described as a cross between Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes and the television series "Doctor Who."

Sergio Ruzzier

Sergio Ruzzier – A Letter for Leo (Clarion, November 2014) In this 2014 Children’s Choice Book Award nominee's title, the letter, a long-forgotten form of communication, plays an important role in this book that is similar to A Letter to Amy (Harper & Row, 1968) and The Jolly Postman (Little, Brown, 1986). Bob Staake – My Pet Book (Random, July 2014) What better pet than a book—and a red one at that! However, even books get lost. Staake, who is this year’s illustrator for the National Book Festival poster, has created a truly whimsical tale.

Fred Harper

Tara Altebrando – The Battle of Darcy Lane (Running Press, 2014) YA author Altebrando makes her middle grade debut with this mean girl novel that shows that you aren't meant to be friends with everyone. Fred Harper – George Washington’s Rules to Live By: How to Sit, Stand, Smile, and Be Cool! A Good Manners Guide From the Father of Our Country (National Geographic, 2014) In this book, based on the 110 rules that the first president penned as part of a penmanship exercise, illustrator Harper humorously presents the art of civility.

Jandy Nelson

Kelly Light – Louise Loves Art (HarperCollins, September 2014) This is Light’s debut as both an author and illustrator. The book features a double entendre title, for art is both the main character Louise’s passion and the name of her brother. Light was inspired to write this book after seeing the dismantling of art programs in many schools. Jandy Nelson – I’ll Give You the Sun (Dial, September 2014) We were told that this YA novel is filled with “passions of all kinds,” both gay and straight. Told by twins, it examines their relationship during two different times in their lives. This book may be one of the first to use the word "asshat" in mainstream YA literature.