Laura Shovan is a novelist, educator, and Pushcart Prize-nominated poet. Her award-winning childrenÂÂÂ’s books include The Last Fifth Grade of Emerson Elementary, Takedown, and the Sydney Taylor Notable A Place at the Table, written with Saadia Faruqi. She is a longtime poet-in-the-schools for the Maryland State Arts Council and teaches for Vermont College of Fine ArtsÂÂÂ’ MFA program in Writing for Children and Young Adults. Her latest poetry collection for kids is Welcome to Monsterville.