I LOVE making books for children!
I have been a children's book illustrator and author for many years. I have illustrated and/or written about 20 books, ranging from baby to middle school. It has been an honor to have been published by Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins, Dutton, Golden Books, Hyperion, Little Brown, Dial and Henry Holt. I also wrote 20 baby books for KoreaHermannhesse. Thrilled to have received several awards and good reviews for my work, including a nice review from The New York Times!
Funny early reader books are my favorite genre. Many of my books feature anthropomorphic animals. I find that animal characters can convey humor and meaning on a child's level more readily. Plus, I'm better at drawing animals than people! I have a background in early childhood education and was a Montessori pre-school teacher for several years in NYC. I believe this gives me a unique perspective on books for young children. Plus, I'm a mom.
When I approach a new project, I first consider the tone or mood of the manuscript. When I am writing, I can picture what I want the drawings to look like. For me, it's important to match the illustrations to the feel of the writing. I think it's an advantage and a skill to be adaptable and versatile. Therefore, my books look similar but not the same.
I grew up in New York City, where so many adventures from the books I loved took place: Harriet the Spy in Central Park, Lyle on East 88th Street or Stuart Little in the Conservatory Boat Pond.
My mother loved reading to me and sharing her insights on how the illustrations enhanced the stories. I would spend hours in my room writing tremendously original stories about boys being saved from wells by their heroic dogs. Even though I tried my best, I drew terrible pictures to go with them.
I went to Parsons and majored in illustration, where I finally did learn how to draw! Also, did the Parsons In Paris summer program which was amazing. Now I live in the Hudson Valley with my husband and we have a grown daughter who is a photographer. My studio is in a renovated chicken coop.
It's been a privilege and a dream come true to write and illustrate books for children.
