Matt Forrest Esenwine
As a former radio broadcaster, Matt spent a good part of his life writing and producing commercials, comedy bits, and news stories. At various times, he was also an event DJ, country dance instructor, news reporter, cook, telemarketer, ice cream scooper, and photography sales dude…and never figured out how to make a living doing any of it. His debut picture book, Flashlight Night, received numerous positive reviews including a Kirkus star and was selected by the New York Public Library as one of the Best Books for Kids 2017. He now has more than a dozen books out or under contract, including I Am Today, recipient of the 2023 New Hampshire Literary Award for Outstanding Children's Literature. His children’s poetry can be found in anthologies like The National Geographic Book of Nature Poetry, Construction People, and his own debut anthology, A Universe of Rainbows (Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2025).