Amelia Bedelia’s First Vote by Herman Parish

Lynne Avril is the illustrator of more than 50 books for children. She is best known as the illustrator of the Young Amelia Bedelia series, written by Herman Parish. Avril graduated with a bachelor of arts in art from the University of Montana, married, had two children, and ended up living in Phoenix, where she has been since 1984. She began illustrating children's books in the late 1980s, and at last count, had more than 100 books to her name. Outside of illustrating books, Avril is a painter and plays bass in a blues band. She loves to travel to France and spends most every fall in Paris, where she finds great inspiration. She loves to read and to knit and to spend time in the great outdoors of beautiful Arizona.

Bedtime Bunnies by Wendy Watson

Wendy Watson was a third-generation author and artist. She wrote and illustrated 21 children's books and illustrated more than 60 children's books for other authors. Her books have received many awards and honors, including The Koret Jewish Book Award, The Sydney Taylor Honor Book Award, Best Books of the Year from The New York Times, Best Books of the Year from the American Library Association, Best Books of the Year from School Library Journal; Best Books of the Year from Publisher's Weekly; and Kirkus Reviews Editor's Choice. Watson’s artwork is part of numerous private and institutional collections.

Benjamin Harrison (Presidents series) by Mike Venezia

Mike Venezia’s Getting to Know book series are in art rooms around the world. He was born in New York City and spent the first 10 years of his life moving between there and Chicago. When he was 10 years old, his family moved to the Chicago area permanently. His high school art teacher talked him into trying out for The School of The Art Institute of Chicago, where he received a bachelor of fine arts. He put his art history knowledge to use in creating the Getting to Know the World's Greatest Artists books. “I retired from my job of 33 years as Executive Art Director and Vice President at Chicago's largest advertising agency, Leo Burnett Company, so that I can work full time on my books. I started my writing career back in 1978, when I authored and illustrated books for Childrens Press (Grolier/Scholastic). I've always had great support from my wife, Jeannine, son and daughter, Mike and Elizabeth, and even my dog, Bear. You can see them in cartoons on the back cover of many of my books.”

Cat Tricks by Keith Baker

Keith Baker has written and illustrated many acclaimed picture books for young children, including the New York Times bestselling LMNO Peas, 1-2-3 Peas, Little Green Peas, Hap-pea All Year, LMNO Pea-quel, My Octopus Arms, Cat Tricks, Who is the Beast?, and No Two Alike.

Clarence and the Great Surprise by Jean Ekman Adams

The daughter of illustrator Stan Ekman, Jean Ekman Adams grew up in his studio, hanging over the back of his chair, watching him create magazine covers for The Saturday Evening Post and Collier's. After 30 years of exhibiting her paintings in national galleries, she finally turned to writing and illustrating picture books herself, something her father had always urged her to do. She spent the winters in Arizona and the summers in the mountains of Colorado, accompanied by four elderly rescued dogs, a Missouri saddle mule, and a homely but intelligent donkey.

Clarence Goes Out West and Meets a Purple Horse by Jean Akman Adams

Cookiesaurus Rex by A.G. Ford 01

A.G. Ford is a New York Times bestselling children's book Illustrator and recipient of two NAACP Image Awards. He grew up in Dallas, Texas. Ford attended Columbus College of Art and Design, majoring in illustration. He has illustrated picture books for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Sharon Robinson, Ilyasah Shabazz, Martin Luther King III, Nick Cannon, Jonah Winter, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and many others. Ford has more than 30 published books for children, including picture books, chapter books such as the Magic Tree House series, and young adult book covers. He has worked with publishers such as HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster, Scholastic, Penguin Random House, Candlewick Press, and more. He lives in Frisco, Texas, with his lovely wife Brandy and their two sons, Maddox and Carter.

Cookiesaurus Rex by A.G. Ford 02

A.G. Ford is a New York Times bestselling children's book Illustrator and recipient of two NAACP Image Awards. He grew up in Dallas, Texas. Ford attended Columbus College of Art and Design, majoring in illustration. He has illustrated picture books for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Sharon Robinson, Ilyasah Shabazz, Martin Luther King III, Nick Cannon, Jonah Winter, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and many others. Ford has more than 30 published books for children, including picture books, chapter books such as the Magic Tree House series, and young adult book covers. He has worked with publishers such as HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster, Scholastic, Penguin Random House, Candlewick Press, and more. He lives in Frisco, Texas, with his lovely wife Brandy and their two sons, Maddox and Carter.

Cookiesaurus Rex by A.G. Ford 03

A.G. Ford is a New York Times bestselling children's book Illustrator and recipient of two NAACP Image Awards. He grew up in Dallas, Texas. Ford attended Columbus College of Art and Design, majoring in illustration. He has illustrated picture books for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Sharon Robinson, Ilyasah Shabazz, Martin Luther King III, Nick Cannon, Jonah Winter, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and many others. Ford has more than 30 published books for children, including picture books, chapter books such as the Magic Tree House series, and young adult book covers. He has worked with publishers such as HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster, Scholastic, Penguin Random House, Candlewick Press, and more. He lives in Frisco, Texas, with his lovely wife Brandy and their two sons, Maddox and Carter.

Drum Dream Girl by Rafael Lopez

Rafael López is an internationally recognized illustrator and artist. To reflect the lives of all young people, his illustrations bring diverse characters to children's books. As a children's book illustrator, he has received three Pura Belpré Award medals from the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, and REFORMA in 2020 for Dancing Hands: How Teresa Carreño Played the Piano for President Lincoln, Drum Dream Girl in 2016, and Book Fiesta! in 2010. López has also illustrated seven stamps for the United States Postal Service.

Elephants Aloft by Keith Baker

Flora and the Flamingo by Molly Idle

Flora and the Peacocks by Molly Idle

Flora and the Penguin by Molly Idle

Molly Idle is the author and illustrator of the Caldecott Honor-winning picture book Flora and the Flamingo (and the rest of the Flora books too). She’s also the creator of the Rex series (which includes Tea Rex and Sea Rex) and the mermaid tales Pearl and Coral. Prior to pursuing a career in picture books, Idle worked as an artist for DreamWorks Animation studios in California but has since set up shop in the sunny state of Arizona, where she works and lives with her marvelous, multigenerational family that includes her brilliant husband, two mercurial sons, two remarkable parents, two snugly cats, and an inseparable pair of lovebirds.

Flute Player - Hunter - by Michael Lacapa

Born in Phoenix, Michael LaCapa moved to Whiteriver, Arizona, on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation at the age of 1. He was the second of eight children with ethnic roots from the Hopi, Tewa, and Apache Tribes. Lacapa’s boyhood passion for art was “fine tuned” after earning a bachelor's degree in secondary art education from Arizona State University and graduate studies in printmaking from Northern Arizona University. Lacapa was well known for authoring and illustrating many children’s books. He was also nationally recognized for his Native American storytelling. He said: “I think that every picture must have a story. Every painting must tell, share, move or excite us to words. It is the job of artist to create that reaction.” When he was a child, Lacapa achieved his childhood wish, when he would sit and hope that someday he could paint and draw all day long. As an adult, he painted images of places and people that were a part of his life. He used color and designs to define the story.

Flute Player - Maiden - by Michael Lacapa

Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich by Adam Rex

Adam Rex grew up in Phoenix and received a bachelor of fine arts from the University of Arizona. He has contributed illustrations to Magic: The Gathering and other fantasy art and has illustrated several children's books. His first books, Tree-Ring Circus and The New York Times bestseller Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich, were published in 2006. Another picture book Pssst! and the illustrated novel The True Meaning of Smekday, which was adapted into the 2014 DreamWorks film HOME, were published in 2007. He has illustrated the work of many authors, including Jon Scieszka, Mac Barnett, Neil Gaiman, Jeff Kinney, David Lubar, Kate DiCamillo, Eoin Colfer, Christopher Paul Curtis, and Paul Fieg. Rex cites Douglas Adams (author of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy) as his biggest influence as a writer.

Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story by Kevin Noble Maillard and Juana Martinez-Neal

Good Night, Monkey Boy by Jarrett J. Krosoczka

Jarrett J. Krosoczka is The New York Times-bestselling author/illustrator behind more than 40 books for young readers, including his wildly popular Lunch Lady graphic novels, select volumes of the Star Wars™: Jedi Academy series, and Hey, Kiddo, which was a National Book Award Finalist. Krosoczka creates books with humor, heart, and deep respect for his young readers—qualities that have made his titles perennial favorites on the bookshelves of homes, libraries, and bookstores. Krosoczka lives in western Massachusetts with his spouse, their three children, pugs Ralph and Frank, and a French named Bella Carmella.

Ham and Pickles - First Day of School by Nicole Rubel

Nicole Rubel is an author/illustrator known for her uniquely colorful illustrations and charming stories. She has more than 60 books to her credit and is the co-creator of the popular Rotten Ralph series, the basis of the animated TV series that began airing on the Fox Family channel in August 1999. Rubel’s books It Came from the Swamp, Pirate Jupiter and the Moondogs, and Goldie have been adapted for CD-ROM by Vtech and IBM. Her unique art style was inspired by the paintings of Henri Matisse and the Art Deco architecture of her hometown of Miami. Her imaginative, poignant, and sometimes comical storylines are often derived from growing up with her identical twin sister, Bonnie. As a child she let her sister speak for her. Through the encouragement of an insightful teacher, Rubel learned to speak and write for herself. Therefore, a significant theme in her stories is finding oneself and learning to express one's feelings and thoughts. She currently resides with her husband on a farm in Aurora, Oregon. Fang the corgi dog, and their horses, Dancer and Steamer, keep them busy with their mischief.

Jump by Guy Porfirio

Guy Porfirio has been telling stories with his artwork for more than 25 years. Originally from Chicago, He attended the American Academy of Art there and the School of Visual Arts in New York City. He honed his artistic skills at several Chicago ad agencies before relocating to Arizona, where he officially became a freelance illustrator. Porfirio’s early work in advertising trained him to pursue a clear vision, get ideas down quickly, and remain flexible to all possibilities—as he puts it, the essentials. He imbues his artwork with a clever sense of humor and unwavering attention to narrative. For Porfirio, every detail in a composition has a story to tell. Like so many supporting characters in a play or a movie, they bring clarity and purpose to every illustration.

La Madre Goose by Jauna Martinez-Neal

La Madre Goose by Juana Martinez-Neal 02

Juana Martinez-Neal’s debut picture book as an author-illustrator was Alma and How She Got Her Name (Candlewick Press) and was awarded the 2019 Caldecott Honor. She is also the illustrator of La Princesa and the Pea (written by Susan M. Elya, Putnam/Penguin), winner of the 2018 Pura Belpré Medal for Illustration, and Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story (written by Kevin Noble Maillard, Roaring Brook Press), winner of the 2020 Robert F. Sibert Medal. She was born in the busy city of Lima, the capital of Peru. Now she lives in the woods in eastern Connecticut, where she shares a home with her husband, two sons, daughter, tiny dog, and the souls of her late cat, Kitty, and ginormous dog, Puppy.

Let it Snow by Maryann Cocca Leffler

Maryann Cocca-Leffler grew up in the Boston area and has a bachelor of fine arts in illustration from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design. She loves visiting schools to promote literacy and share her books with children. She is an award-winning author and illustrator of more than 60 books. Among her awards are The International Literary Association Teacher Pick Book for Janine and the Field Day Finish, The Florida Reading Award and the Hoosier Book Award for Mr. Tanen’s Ties, and Bank Street Best Book for Bus Route To Boston. Her popular Let It seasons series has sold more than 2 million copies. After spending 20 years residing in New Hampshire, Cocca-Leffler now happily lives and works in the Portland, Maine, area.

Levi Strauss Gets a Bright Idea by Stacy Innerst

Stacy Innerst is a painter, children’s book artist, illustrator and educator. His books have received a host of starred reviews and have been honored with the 2020 Sydney Taylor Book Award (for The Book Rescuer), the New York Times/New York Public Library Best Illustrated Children’s Books Award (Ruth Bader Ginsburg), the SCBWI Golden Kite for Picture Book Illustration (The Music in George’s Head) as well as several Gold Medals from the Parents’ Choice Awards. His first book for children, M is for Music (HMH) by Kathleen Krull was named an SLJ Best Book of 2003 and Levi Strauss Gets a Bright Idea (HMH) with author Tony Johnston was named a best book of 2011 by Publishers Weekly. Ruth Bader Ginsberg, written by Jonah Winter (Abrams) was named an ALA Notable Book and was included on the ILA Teachers Choice Reading List. Since 2003, his illustrations have been regularly selected for The Original Art show at the Society of Illustrators.

Native American 12 Days of Christmas by Jesse Hummingbird

A tribal member of the Cherokee Nation, Jesse Hummingbird spent his childhood mostly in the deep South with frequent trips back to Oklahoma. He attended high school in Nashville and went on to study art at Watkins Institute, Middle Tennessee State University, and the University of Tennessee. As an adult he earned a graphic arts certificate at Nashville Tech and took classes at the American Academy of Art in Chicago. He now often takes classes at Cochise Community College. Hummingbird established himself as a successful printer, graphic artist, and commercial illustrator with publishing companies in Chicago and Dallas before becoming a full-time artist in 1983. He has won several awards at regional and national American Indian shows and museums, including the Inter-Tribal Ceremonial, Heard Museum, and Santa Fe Indian Market. In 2017, Hummingbird was selected by the Cherokee Nation as a Cherokee National Living Treasure.

One Night in the Coral Sea by Robin Brickman

Robin Brickman grew up near Washington, D.C., where the Smithsonian Institution and the Virginia countryside were a regular inspiration. At Bennington College, she majored in graphic arts and botany, and over a long career, she has specialized in natural science illustrations. Brickman has long experimented with different art techniques, in particular painting, drawing, printmaking, bookbinding, calligraphy, papermaking, and fiber arts. These explorations are a foundation for the sculpted watercolor techniques she developed in the 1990s. The books she has illustrated in this method have won her accolades and awards, and the school workshops she leads are a way to introduce others to this fun art technique.

Paper Son - Lees Journey to America by Wilson Ong 01

Paper Son - Lees Journey to America by Wilson Ong 02

Wilson Ong received a bachelor of fine arts in painting and drawing at Brigham Young University in 1982. He then attended Art Students League of New York in 1983, where he studied with nationally renowned figurative artists Ted Seth Jacobs and Harvey Dinnerstein. He has sold his work professionally as an artist and illustrator since 1983 and worked as an art educator in Utah from 1991 to 2004.

People Don't Bite People by Molly Idle

Rodeo Red by Molly Idle

Study for Drum Dream Girl by Rafael Lopez

Tea Rex by Molly Idle

The Best Cat in the World by Ronald Himler

A prolific artist and illustrator, Ronald Himler has had one of the most high-profile careers in children's literature. In addition to his original self-illustrated books and the hundred-plus books he has illustrated for writers such as Eve Bunting, Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve, Byrd Baylor, and Ellen Howard, Himler has also created cover art for dozens of young adult titles. In creating his images, he employs a variety of artistic media, including watercolor, oils, gouache, and pencil. His characteristically gentle and sensitive depiction of the meaning behind numerous stories and poems has opened a window for young children onto the magical world that surrounds them.

The Hogan That Great Grandfather Built by Peterson Yazzie

Peterson Yazzie has won numerous awards from prestigious art shows at the Heard Museum, Southwestern Association for Indian Artists, Arizona State Museum, and Museum of Northern Arizona, among others. The Navajo culture and his personal experiences are the foundation of Yazzie’s work. He received an associate of fine arts (2002) and bachelor of fine arts (2004) from the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Yazzie furthered his education by earning a master of fine arts from the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque in 2008. He has been the 2-D art instructor at Northland Pioneer College in Holbrook since fall 2011.

Tito Puente Mambo King by Rafael Lopez

Waiting for Biblioburro by John Parra

John Parra is an American illustrator and graduate of ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, California. Parra's books have received awards, including the Pura Belpré Illustrator Honor Book Award, Golden Kite Award, Christopher Award, and an International Latino Book Award. He has additionally worked as an illustrator for corporate marketing campaigns and as an art instructor.

We Go Together by Calef Brown

Illustrator and children’s book author Calef Brown studied at the ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, California. With engaging and nonsensical characters, Brown crafts narrative story-poems using a jazzy beat. In interviews, he has cited wordplay, dreams, and the rhythms of music as inspirations. Brown carries a notebook for daily sketching and has illustrated the work of a variety of authors, including Daniel Pinkwater, Edward Lear, and Jonah Winter. Brown’s illustrations have also appeared in Newsweek, The New Yorker, Rolling Stone, Time, and Travel + Leisure. He has taught illustration at the Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles, the ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, and the Maine College of Art in Portland.

Zombelina School Days by Molly Idle