Michael O. Tunnell teaches children’s literature at Brigham Young University and currently serves as chair of the department of teacher education. He has published several professional books, including The Story of Ourselves: Teaching History through Children’s Literature (with Richard Ammon), as well as a variety of journal articles about children’s books and reading. He also writes for young readers. Some of his titles include The Children of Topaz, Mailing May, Wishing Moon, and Candy Bomber: The Story of the Berlin Airlift’s “Chocolate Pilot.” He has twice served on the award selection committee for the John Newbery Medal, the oldest and most prestigious children’s book prize.
James S. Jacobs began his career happily teaching English in grades 7 through 12. Next he taught at a junior college where, to his dismay, he was assigned to teach a children’s literature course. He discovered a new love and life path and returned to graduate school for a degree in children’s literature. Since then he has taught it at Brigham Young University. He interrupted his university life to gain experience in an elementary classroom, teaching fourth grade for two years at a U.S. Army school in Germany. His academic writing focuses on Lloyd Alexander, and he has written one picture book for children.
Terrell A. Young teaches courses in children’s literature at Brigham Young University. He serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the United States Board on Books for Young People (USBBY) and previously served on the International Reading Association Board of Directors from 2009 to 2012. He has been a member of numerous book award committees. He has published many articles and books about reading and children’s literature and was the 2006 recipient of the International Reading Association Outstanding Teacher Educator in Reading Award.
Gregory Bryan completed his Ph.D. at the University of British Columbia. He is now a member of the faculty of education at the University of Manitoba, Canada, where he teaches children’s literature and early and middle years literacy courses. Greg was born and raised in Australia and returns home as often as possible. His books include To Hell and High Water: Walking in the Footsteps of Henry Lawson in which he recounts walking almost 300 miles with his brother in extreme heat as they became the first people ever to recreate the experiences of Greg’s favorite writer, Henry Lawson, during his 1893 trek in Outback Australia. He is currently completing a biography of his favorite picture book illustrator, Paul Goble.
