Making Picture Books: Vera Ahiyya, Margaret Chiu Greanias, Dane Liu, Tammi Sauer

Vera Ahiyya (née Corbett) was born in Germany and raised in El Paso, TX with her wonderful mother and amazing grandparents. Originally a pre-med student, Vera realized her calling as an educator at Austin College in Sherman, TX, where she majored in History and Psychology and earned her MA in Education. Vera has taught Kindergarten and first grade for the last 16 years in Austin, Boston, and Brooklyn. Vera’s online presence is dedicated to influencing other educators by spreading her vast knowledge and love of diverse children’s books. Vera’s unwavering commitment to social justice and diversity is also the focal point of her professional development presentations for other educators. Vera lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband Lonnell and her dog, Mozi. Her latest book is KINDergarten.  

Margaret Chiu Greanias is children’s book author who writes picture books with heart and humor, including Maximillian Villainous. The daughter of Taiwanese immigrants, she grew up in New York, Texas, and California, while her amah lived far away in Taipei. She currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband, three children, and a fluffle of dust bunnies. Her most recent book is Amah Faraway.

Dane Liu believes in the power of stories to affirm, transport, and transform. Her debut for young readers Friends Are Friends, Forever is a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection, an Indie Next Pick, and a Best Book of the Year from The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books. Dane was born in China and moved to the US and Canada when she was a tween. She received her BA from the University of Toronto and her M.S. in Journalism from Columbia University. As a storyteller, Dane is drawn to the less-explored terrains of the human experience and to questions about identity, family, culture, and belonging. She is a 2022 Oregon Literary Career Fellow and has been awarded by the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting and We Need Diverse Books. As a writer for young people, she hopes to inspire children to see the beauty of their own stories and the power of sharing them.

Tammi Sauer is the author of more than thirty picture books including Mary Had a Little Glam, Your Alien, and Lovebird Lou. She is a former teacher and library media specialist who now celebrates reading and writing with thousands of kids each year through her author visits. Tammi and her family live in Edmond, Oklahoma, where they make and carry out all kinds of plans. Her latest book is Mary Had a Little Plan.