2027 NSK Jury

Phil Bildner is the New York Times bestselling author of numerous books for young people including the NCTE Charlotte Huck Award Honor–winning middle-grade novel A High Five for Glenn Burke, the Margaret Wise Brown Prize–winning Marvelous Cornelius, and the critically acclaimed Rip and Red series. His latest release is the picture book biography Glenn Burke, Game Changer.

Cynthia Levinson writes nonfiction books for young readers from four-year-olds through teenagers and beyond. Focusing largely on social justice, her books have received multiple starred reviews and won numerous honors, including the Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal as well as the Jane Addams, the Carter G. Woodson, the Julia Ward Howe, and the Crystal Kite Awards. Writing often about complex topics, she is especially pleased that the American Library Association named her recent book Who Owns the Moon? And Other Conundrums of Exploring and Using Space a Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers. Cynthia and her husband, Sanford Levinson, who is her occasional co-author, divide their time between Austin and Boston.

Kyle Lukoff is the author of many books for young readers. His debut middle-grade novel, Too Bright to See, received a Newbery honor, the Stonewall award, and was a National Book Award finalist. His picture book When Aidan Became a Brother also won the Stonewall, and his book Call Me Max has been banned in schools across the country. He has forthcoming books about language, unicycles, breakups, and lots of other topics. While becoming a writer, he worked as a bookseller for ten years, and then nine more years as a school librarian. Photo by Marvin Joseph.

Daniel Nayeri was born in Iran and spent some years as a refugee before immigrating to Oklahoma at age seven with his family. He is the author of several books, including Everything Sad Is Untrue (A True Story), winner of the Michael L. Printz Award, the Christopher Medal, and the Middle Eastern Book Award; The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams, winner of the Newbery Honor; and The Teacher of Nomad Land, winner of the Newbery Honor and the National Book Award. He lives in the US with his wife and son.

Bao Phi is a Vietnamese American refugee, a Minnesotan, spoken-word artist, poet, children’s book author, and single co-parent father. He has two poetry collections, Song I Sing and Thousand Star Hotel, and has authored four picture books, including A Different Pond, which received a Caldecott Honor and the Charlotte Zolotow Award for Outstanding Writing in a Picture Book in 2018, and the upcoming bilingual picture book Ride. He was on the editorial team of the AANHPI poetry anthology We the Gathered Heat. His work is anthologized in collections such as A Good Time for the Truth, Octavia’s Brood, and a special 2025 issue of McSweeney’s.

Kavita Ramchandran is a graphic designer and self-taught illustrator. She has art-directed the award-winning children’s literary magazine Kahani, designed textbooks for Scholastic, McGraw Hill, Harcourt, and Curriculum Associates, illustrated award-winning apps for kids, and created the animated shorts Maya the Indian Princess and Happy Holi Maya! for Nick Jr.’s “My World” series. Her first picture book, Dancing in Thatha’s Footsteps, by Srividhya Venkat (Yali Books), won the South Asia Book Award in 2022. She grew up in India but is now based in New York City.

Hannah V. Sawyerr was recognized as the Youth Poet Laureate of Baltimore in 2016. Her sophomore novel in verse, Truth Is, was a finalist for the 2025 National Book Award and the 2026 Los Angeles Times Book Prize. Her debut novel in verse, All the Fighting Parts, was a finalist for the William C. Morris Debut Award, a Walter Dean Myers Award Honoree, and a Kirkus Best Book of the year. Her spoken word has been featured on the BBC’s World Have Your Say program as well as the National Education Association’s “Do You Hear Us?” campaign. Her written word has been included in Essence, xoNecole, and gal-dem.

Lola M. Schaefer is the author of more than 290 books for children. Her awards include the Children’s Choice Book Award; Outstanding Science Trade Book; Charlotte Zolotow Honor Book; and Zena Sutherland Picture Book Award. When Lola is not at home researching her next book or writing, you might find her working with writers or students.

Elisa Stone Leahy is a queer, Peruvian American children’s author who currently lives in Columbus, Ohio. Whether creating award-winning documentary films or connecting readers to books through her work at the Columbus Metropolitan Library, Elisa has always surrounded herself with stories. Her book Mallory in Full Color won the Lambda Literary Award for Middle Grade in 2025. It was also a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection, one of the Top Ten NYPL Best Books for Kids, and one of School Library Journal’s Best Books of 2024. Her first book, Tethered to Other Stars, was a finalist for the Cybils Award and the Ohioana Book Award, made the 2024 Cooperative Children’s Book Center Choices list, the Bank Street Best Children’s Books of the Year list, and received multiple starred reviews. Elisa believes stories are the most powerful tool we have to create a more just and empathetic world.