Steven Layne

Award-winning author and educator Steven L. Layne serves as associate professor of literature at Judson College in Elgin, Illinois. He is a respected literacy consultant, motivational keynote speaker, and featured author at conferences and literary events worldwide. He is the author of five picture books published by Pelican, including the International Reading Association/Children's Choices selections "My Brother Dan's Delicious" and "The Teachers' Night Before Christmas," which is also one of the best-selling books in The Night Before Christmas Series. Mr. Layne is also the author of "Thomas's Sheep and the Great Geography Test" and "Thomas's Sheep and the Spectacular Science Project." His novel "This Side of Paradise" won the 2001 Hal Clement Award for Young Adult Science Fiction. He has written two collections of poems praising parenthood: "Verses for Dad's Heart" and "Verses for Mom's Heart." He lives with his wife and three children in Saint Charles, Illinois.