Editorial Board
The engine of Open Shelf Reviews is our Editorial Board, a gathering of respected, vetted professionals from the worlds of education, librarianship, and publishing.
Allison Tran
Allison Tran is the Library Services Manager at Irvine Public Library in California. Her reviewing interests include picture books, California, art, history, and romance.
Andrea Wang
Andrea Wang is an acclaimed author of picture books and middle grade novels for young people. Her honors include the Caldecott Medal, Newbery Honor, Boston Globe–Horn Book Honor, APALA Award, CALA Best Book Award, Ohio Book Award, and Charlotte Huck Honor.
Anthony Murisco
Anthony Murisco has worked as librarian in the public and research sectors since 2014. He is a pop culture historian, and physical media advocate.
Cassie Veselovsky
Cassie Veselovsky is Head of Public Services for the Lansing Libraries at Capital Area District Libraries in Michigan. With more than three decades of library experience, she specializes in early literacy, storytimes, and children’s literature.
Chance Lee
Chance Lee is Assistant Director, Tyngsborough Public Library, Lowell, MA.
Darby Wallace
Darby Wallace, MEd, MLIS, is a retired teacher and teacher librarian now living in Mountain Home, Arkansas.
Darla Salva Cruz
Darla Salva Cruz is a children's librarian at the Northport-East Northport Public Library in New York.
Debbie Tanner
Director of Curriculum Development for The Book Search, certified Florida school librarian.
Dr. Misty Schattle
Dr. Misty Schattle is a research and instruction librarian at Sam Houston State University. She holds a doctorate in educational leadership and a master’s degree in library science.
Elizabeth Speer
Elizabeth Speer, MLS, MEd, is Associate Director of Digital Scholarship at UNT Health Fort Worth. Her reviewing interests include children’s literature, education, librarianship, romance, and basic medical topics.
Emilia Packard
MLIS UIUC 2008, LJ/SLJ reviewer 2012-present, lifelong graphic novel enthusiast, mother of 4 (toddler to teen).
Emily Brush
Emily Brush is a Detroit-based librarian who reviews picture books for The Horn Book and Foreword Reviews. She holds an MLIS from Wayne State University.
Heidi Dechief
Heidi Dechief is a third-grade teacher at The International School of Brussels, where she previously spent ten years as a lower-school teacher librarian. She also shares oral stories with her children and local community.
Jan Aldrich Solow
Jan Aldrich Solow began her career in children’s publishing and later spent 15 years as an elementary school librarian in Massachusetts and Virginia. She is now retired.
Jazmyne R. Baylor
Jazmyne R. Baylor is a Research and Instruction Librarian at Western Carolina University. She holds an MLS from North Carolina Central University and is pursuing a doctorate in education, with research interests in Black Appalachian reading spaces, decolonizing information literacy, and liberatory librarianship.
Jennifer Noonan
Jennifer Noonan, MLIS, received her Master’s in Library and Information Science from Syracuse University and worked in the Kids & Family Group at Nickelodeon/MTV Networks before moving to Lewes, DE. She has served the community there for the last 10 years at the Lewes Public Library, where she is the Children’s Librarian and Youth Services Director.
John P. Scott
John P. Scott has served school communities across the United States and internationally as a school librarian for 35 years. A longtime School Library Journal reviewer, he has served on the Newbery and Caldecott committees and is the Library Media Specialist at Powhatan Elementary School.
Jonah Dragan
Jonah Dragan is an author, storyteller, and early childhood educator. He lives in Brooklyn with his family and a Brobdingnagian collection of books.
Kao Kalia Yang
Kao Kalia Yang is an award-winning Hmong American writer whose work crosses genres and audiences. Her work has been recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Book Critics Circle, the American Library Association, and the Guggenheim Foundation.
Kasey Swords
Kasey Swords has worked in nearly every area of public and academic library service during a library career of almost 15 years. A lifelong book lover, she lives with her family and pets in Upstate South Carolina.
Kat Mowczko
Kat Mowczko (MSE, Missouri Baptist University, MLIS, University of Missouri - Columbia) is currently the school librarian at Community School in St. Louis, MO. She previously taught middle school ELA and worked as an instructional coach and librarian in public and charter schools in the St. Louis area.
Kelly O'Neill-Costanza
I am a high school librarian and book reviewer, based in the Midwest. In my spare time, I spend time with my family, pets, books, and yarn.
Kevin Staton
Kevin Staton is a veteran educator and library media specialist with more than 30 years of experience. An aspiring children’s book author, he received a 2026 PB Rising Stars Mentorship.
Kirsten Caldwell
Kirsten Caldwell is a children’s librarian and reviewer specializing in children’s and young adult literature, STEM programming, and early literacy. She holds master’s degrees in library science and chemistry and has written for Booklist, School Library Journal, Kirkus, and EarlyLiteracyLibrarian.com.
Marilyn Taniguchi
Retired librarian Marilyn Taniguchi worked for more than 25 years at Beverly Hills Public Library. Her roles included children’s librarian, collection development manager, and public services manager.
Mary Lanni
Mary Lanni, MLIS, is a librarian and book reviewer based in Denver, Colorado. She is the Youth Literacy and Outreach Specialist at Douglas County Libraries.
Molly Dettman
Molly Dettmann is a public high school teacher librarian in Norman, Oklahoma. She has been named Oklahoma School Librarian of the Year and a Library Journal Mover & Shaker.
Myra Zarnowski
Myra Zarnowski has taught at the elementary, junior high, and college levels. She is Professor Emerita at Queens College, City University of New York, where she taught social studies, children’s literature, and literacy.
Rachel Zuffa
Rachel Zuffa is a professional storyteller with a background in urban public and school libraries. A regular contributor to School Library Journal, she frequently serves on ALA award committees for children and young adults.
Richard S. Winters
Richard Winters is Coordinator of Library Services for the Merced County Office of Education, supporting school libraries, literacy, and professional learning across California’s Central Valley. A lifelong reader and advocate for children’s literature, he enjoys connecting young people with books that inspire curiosity and empathy.
Ronnie Parrone
Ronnie Parrone is the K–6 librarian for the Galesburg, Illinois, school district. They share their passion for reading in hopes of inspiring a new generation of readers.
Rose Garrett
Rose Garrett, MLIS, MEd, is a former K–8 school librarian who writes editorials and reviews of children’s and young adult literature for School Library Journal. She serves on ALSC’s Presidential Advisory Committee and has served on multiple ALSC and YALSA evaluation committees.
Sarah Clarke
Sarah Clarke is the Head of Children's Services for Great Neck Library on Long Island, NY.
Selenia Paz
Selenia Paz is a librarian with experience in children's and young adult services and literature.
Siyani Hadiya Roberts
Siyani Hadiya Roberts is a poet, children’s book author, and veteran English teacher who became an elementary school librarian. She is also a School Library Journal contributor and the frontwoman of a punk band.
Sue Morgan
Sue Morgan, MLIS, has over 25 years of experience as a teacher and a K–5 school librarian, and is currently a children's librarian at a public library in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is a longtime contributor to School Library Journal.
Susie Rios
Susie Rios is an elementary educator, DEI leader, and children’s book reviewer with more than two decades of classroom experience. She approaches books through the lenses of literacy, representation, empathy, and the power of stories to create belonging.
Suzanne Costner
Suzanne Costner is a school library media specialist and has reviewed for School Library Journal since 2017. She has served on NCTE’s Orbis Pictus and Charlotte Huck committees and currently serves on Tennessee’s Volunteer State Book Award committee.
Tamara Saarinen
A Public Librarian with over 20 years of experience, Tamara Saarinen spent 17 years in Youth Services before transitioning to Adult Services. Saarinen loves to read and share books.
Tracy Cronce
Tracy Cronce is a library media specialist for students in grades 7-9 in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. She works in the Stevens Point Public School District.
William Ives
Bill Ives is a youth services librarian at La Crosse Public Library and a passionate advocate for inclusivity and accessibility. He holds an MLIS from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and champions literacy through diverse media and programming.