Valerie Bolling

Valerie Bolling has been an educator for 30 years and a writer since age 4. She is a graduate of Tufts University and Columbia University, Teachers College. Her nieces inspired her to write picture books, and she wants children of all backgrounds to see themselves in her stories and feel seen and heard, valued and validated. Valerie's debut, LET'S DANCE!, won SCBWI's Crystal Kite award. Since then, she has added six more picture books (A FLEA FOR JUSTICE: MARIAN WRIGHT EDELMAN STANDS UP FOR CHANGE; Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection I SEE COLOR; Kirkus Prize Finalist TOGETHER WE SWIM; TOGETHER WE RIDE; RIDE, ROLL, RUN: TIME FOR FUN!; and BING, BOP, BAM: TIME TO JAM!) and a Scholastic Acorn early reader series, RAINBOW DAYS. Valerie has also written a book for teachers (GOAL SETTING IN THE WRITING CLASSROOM: BUILDING STUDENT AGENCY, INDEPENDENCE, AND SUCCESS) and is an active member of the kidlit community – teaching picture book classes, serving as a mentor, and presenting at conferences. She lives in Connecticut with her husband where they enjoy traveling, hiking, reading, going to the theater, and dancing.