Valerie Bolling

Let’s Dance! (Boyds Mills & Kane) is Valerie Bolling’s debut picture book. In addition to being an author, Valerie has been an educator for over 25 years. When she taught elementary students, it was difficult to find diverse literature for them. Thus, she is passionate about creating stories in which all children can see themselves and feel valued and heard.

A graduate of Tufts University and Columbia University, Teachers College, Valerie currently works as an Instructional Coach.
 
Besides writing picture books, Valerie has written a Monthly Memo for teachers published on Twitter, and articles she’s written have been featured in The National Writing Project’s Quarterly (“The Family Writing Project Builds a Learning Community in Connecticut”) and NESCBWI News (“Microaggressions Don’t Feel ‘Micro’” and “Authors Visits (Storytimes and More) During COVID-19”). She has also had a poem accepted for publication by Cricket Media. 

Valerie is represented by James McGowan of BookEnds Literary Agency. She serves as the co-chair of the NESCBWI Equity and Inclusion Team and is a member of  SCBWI, the Authors Guild, and NCTE. She is also a 2020 WNDB Mentee and a member of Kid Lit in Color, Black Creators in Kid Lit, #12X12PB, 20/20 Vision Picture Books, and a picture book critique group.

Valerie and her husband, Sheldon Ayers, live in Stamford, Connecticut and enjoy traveling, hiking, reading, going to the theater, and dancing.