My favorite author is probably still Dr. Seuss, though I haven't read any of those books for... I have no idea how many years (don't have kids to read them to!).
I also LOVE Lewis Carrolll (Alice in Wonderland et al) and Frank Baum (the Wizard of Oz series).
As to contemporary authors, I probably enjoy Robert Tanenbaum and Jeffrey Deaver, though I enjoy reading books by all the authors listed.
The best book I've read recently, however, was Paths of Glory by Jeffrey Archer, a book about George Mallory's life (much debated as to whether he was the first to summit Everest or not - 1924. ...debated because he didn't make it back alive, but they did find his body in 1999, and his wallet was missing the picture of his wife, which he'd planned on leaving on the summit).