About Our Authors

Paul Beck
Fast Forward! (from You Build It Rocket Racer)
Listen Up! (from You Build It Voice Changer)
Lock It Up! (from You Build It Double-Security Safe)
Gear Up! (from You Build It Motor Mania)
Mission to Mars! (from Remote Control Rocket)
Paul Beck has been writing about science since 1994. His science specialties include sound, music, and language. When he’s not writing, he’s developing exhibits for the hands-on Pacific Science Center in Seattle, Washington. When his 20-year stint developing exhibits for the hands-on Pacific Science Center (in Seattle, Washington) ended in 2005, he devoted himself to the life of the freelance writer.

Jan Bloom
Rain or Shine! (from Weather Station)
Jan Bloom is a frequently published author whose fascination with the world and learning has led her to investigate and write on a wide range of subjects, including weather and its effects.

Zena Chew
Testing the Limits! (from You Build It RoboXplorer)
Zena Chew writes and finds photos for children's books. She also enjoys doodling during work meetings.

Luann Colombo
Lights, Wires & Wheels! (from First Electronics)
Luann Colombo, M. Ed., is an awardwinning science author and educator with 37 published books and CD-ROMs. Luann also organizes school science programs and writes curriculum for TV shows such as Bill Nye the Science Guy and NOVA. Luann was the Parent’s Choice Award recipient for her Fun With Electronics CD-ROM.

Sara Easterly
Lights Camera Fashion! (from Fashion Studio)
Sara W. Easterly has been inspired by fashion ever since she was a young girl. At the age of two, she had an uncanny patience for spending hours at the mall, shopping for clothes. She's written several short stories, articles, and books for kids, and is the Co-Regional Advisor for the Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators of Western Washington.

Jenna Land Free
Sweet! (from Cupcake Decorating Studio)
Sweet Spa! (from All-Natural Spa Lab)
Jenna Land Free has worked in book and magazine publishing for nearly a decade, and her experiences have covered a wide swath of the publishing world. Her roles have included the executive editor for the Gail Ross Literary Agency (www.gailross.com), and senior editor for the book producer becker&mayer! (www.beckermayer.com). She has written for Seattle Magazine, Seattle Bride, Northwest Home + Garden, and Best Places Seattle. Jenna ghostwrote John Lennon: The New York Years, and has developed book projects with clients as varied as Lucasfilm, David McCullough, and the estates of Tupac Shakur and Audrey Hepburn.

Clive Gifford
Zap It! (from You Build It TV Remote Control)
Clive Gifford has more than 40 books in print and was the recipient of both the British Book Award and the Information Book of the Year Award.

David George Gordon
Guts and Glory! (from You Build It Shark Model)
The author of over 15 books, David George Gordon has been featured on National Public Radio, Discovery Channel's Wild Discovery, Wired, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Live with Regis and Kathie Lee, and Barbara Walters' The View. He is also the author of Uncover a Shark and Uncover a Tarantula.

Ben Grossblatt
Slap-Shot Science (from Face-Off! Air Hockey)
(Amazing Animal Challenge!, Human Body Challenge!, Weird & Gross Challenge!)
Ben has authored several youth titles for Scholastic and SmartLab, and also works as a children's book editor.

Mary Iverson
Saddle Up! (from Horse Drawing Studio)
Painter and illustrator Mary Iverson is a Seattle native, and her paintings often depict the city's unique landscape. She teaches at the Northwest College of Art.

Christina Henry de Tessan
Face It! (from Makeup Artist Studio)
Christina Henry de Tessan has been in publishing for twelve years, working as both an in-house editor and freelance writer. She worked as an editor at Chronicle Books and Seal Press. Most recently, as senior editor of Night + Day Books, she helped launch a new series of urban travel guides. She is the series editor for Chronicle BooksÕ best-selling City Walks decks and the author of City Walks: Paris, City Walks: San Francisco, and City Walks: Chicago. She has also co-edited three travel anthologies published by Seal Press and writes for CondˇNast TravelerÕs website concierge.com. She lives in Portland, Oregon, with her husband and two sons.

Jennifer Jacobson
(1st Grade Challenge!, 2nd Grade Challenge!, 3rd Grade Challenge!, 4th Grade Challenge!)
Jennifer Richard Jacobson received her Masters in Education from Harvard Graduate School of Education. She has taught preschool through sixth grade and has served as Curriculum Coordinator, Head of Studies, and Language Arts Specialist in several New England schools. Jennifer is the author of ten books for teachers including The Big Book of Reproducible Graphic Organizers, a parenting series that began with How is My 1st Grader Doing in School: What to Expect and How to Help, and award-winning children's books including Andy Shane and the Very Bossy Dolores Starbuckle.

Marty Jourard
Rock On! (from You Build It Rock Star Microphone)
Marty Jourard teaches music in his private studio and is a published author of several music instruction books. As the original keyboard and sax player of the '80s pop group the Motels, he earned two gold albums and two Top Ten singles for "Only the Lonely" and "Suddenly Last Summer."

Lucille M. Kayes
Insides Out! (from Squishy Human Body)
Lucille M. Kayes is a research physician specializing in genetics and alternative medicine. The mother of three, she enjoys exposing elementary school kids to hands-on science.

Shar Levine and Leslie Johnstone
Mad Lab Journal! (from Extreme Secret Formula Lab)
Zap It! (from You Build It TV Remote Control)
Shar Levine and Leslie Johnstone have co-authored more than 30 books and have been awarded five Parent’s Choice Awards in addition to numerous other awards for science writing.

Leslie Miller
Sweet! (from Cupcake Decorating Studio)
Leslie Miller has worked in the publishing field for nearly ten years and holds a master's degree in English Literature. The former senior editor of Seal Press and published author, she is also the editor of a collection entitled Women Who Eat: A New Generation on the Glory of Food and serves on the executive team of MomsRising.org. Her freelance editorial projects have ranged from Dirty Sugar Cookies to the new Our Bodies, Ourselves to Jimi Hendrix: Legend to Brotherhood of the Rope, and include memoir, self-help, narrative non-fiction, parenting, fiction, biography, and politics. Leslie also does both catalog and magazine writing, and teaches editing and writing courses and workshops at the University of Washington and Richard Hugo House. She lives in Seattle with her family.

Conn McQuinn
Lights, Wires & Wheels! (from First Electronics)
Conn McQuinn is Director for Educational Technology at the Puget Sound Educational Service District in Washington State. He has 25 years of educational experience, specializing in technology, and has written numerous books.

Angela Robinson
It's All in Your Head! (from Snap-Together Skull Model)
Angela Robinson is a science-loving educator whose expertise is teaching children PreK–13. She knows how to make learning fun!

Dennis Schatz
Earth and Beyond! (from Stars & Planets)
Dennis Schatz is the Associate Director of the Pacific Science Center in Seattle, Washington. He has authored many children’s books and curriculum resources for teachers and is known internationally for developing innovative science activities.

Colleen Sheridan
Testing the Limits! (from You Build It RoboXplorer)
Colleen Sheridan is a biologist with a passion for teaching teachers how to teach science.

Melissa Stewart
Claws and Jaws! (from Snap-Together Dino Bones)
Get a Grip! (from You Control It Skeletal Hand)
Award-winning author Melissa Stewart has written more than 50 science books for kids (and edited more than 200)! Her background in biology and journalism makes her perfect for bringing science to kids.

Nancy Waddell
(Science & Nature Challenge)
Nancy Waddell is a writer, a children's book editor, and an organizational guru whose combined talents led the way in compiling this title from oodles of contributions. She now heads up SmartLab's editorial team.

Frank M. Young
Full Throttle! (from Custom Motorcycle Design)
Rev It Up! (from Car Design Studio)
Black and Light (from Black Light Studio)
Author, artist, songwriter, and screenwriter Frank M. Young recently celebrated his 25th anniversary as a published author. This modern-day Renaissance man draws on his years in art school to bring a fun, challenging, and encouraging approach to his work.