Karina Yan Glaser (she/her)
“I believe in the power of storytelling. My presentations are designed to be fun and interactive, where I not only share tips about writing but speak about how my many pets help me write my books and what are the best snacks to eat while working on a project. When I speak with young people, I try to break down the perception that only authors can write stories. By sharing my unlikely journey to becoming a published author, I hope students leave knowing that their stories can be as unique and fascinating and terrific as they are.”
Biography
Karina Yan Glaser is a Newbery honoree and New York Times bestselling writer and illustrator with a varied career teaching and implementing literacy programs in family homeless shelters and recruiting healthcare professionals to volunteer in under-resourced areas around the world.
Karina received the John Newbery Honor for The Nine Moons of Han Yu and Luli, a middle grade historical fiction novel that received five starred reviews and landed on over a dozen Best Books of the Year lists.
She is also the acclaimed author of the middle grade series that began with The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street, a book that received multiple starred reviews and was a New York Times Notable Children’s Book, an American Booksellers Association (ABA) Indie’s Introduce title, an ABA Indie Next pick, and a Junior Library Guild selection. With over half a million copies sold, the series has been optioned for film by Amy Poehler’s production company, was awarded the New York City Book Award, was featured on The Today Show, and has been translated into fifteen languages.
Karina is also the author of A Duet for Home, a standalone middle grade title that received three starred reviews, was featured on The Today Show, was selected for inclusion in The Museum of the City of New York’s centennial exhibition, and has been nominated for a dozen state book awards.
For younger readers, Karina is the author of Poppy Song Bakes A Way, a part of the multi-author chapter book series The Kids in Mrs. Z’s Class.
Karina lives in Harlem with her husband, two teenagers, and an assortment of pets and houseplants. One of her proudest achievements is raising two kids who can’t go anywhere without a book.
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