SSHEL Home > S-Collection Home > Research Children’s Literature > Authors & Illustrators
Online Resources
- Champaign-Urbana Children’s Book Authors & Illustrators
A list from the Champaign Public Library of children’s book authors and illustrators that live in the Champaign-Urbana area. The annotations include the authors’ and illustrators’ notable works and a link to their professional websites. - Kids Ask Authors This free, weekly podcast features short episodes in which children’s book authors answer questions from kids. The acclaimed author Grace Lin hosts the podcast. Each episode often includes a book review, poem, or joke, in addition to the author interview.
- Meet Authors and Illustrators
Free resource in the Children’s Literature Comprehensive Database (CLCD). Lists links to more than 2400 authors, illustrators, and/or their works. Web pages compiled by CLCD feature book reviews and image of book covers. The homepage of CLCD also lists birthdays of the month of authors/illustrators under “Birthday greetings this month to…” - Reading Rockets Author Videos
Funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, Reading Rockets features 5-10 minute video interviews with over forty well-known children’s book authors including Avi, Beverly Cleary, Eric Carle, Walter Dean Myers, and Jack Prelutsky. The videos can be viewed online via YouTube. Printed transcripts of the interview, an author biography, and a selected list of each author’s books are also available. The site “is a national multimedia project offering information and resources on how young kids learn to read, why so many struggle, and how caring adults can help.” - Something About the Author
Biographical sketches of current children’s authors and illustrators. Includes photographs and a comprehensive list of books written or illustrated. Published annually. - The Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators
The SCBWI maintains a searchable database of children’s writers and illustrators available for speaking engagements. This site also has a gallery of children’s book illustrators’ artwork. - TeachingBooks.net: Author & Illustrator Pronunciation Guide
This resource from TeachingBooks.net provides a collection of over 3,200 brief audio recordings of youth literature authors and illustrators pronouncing their own names, sorted alphabetically by last name.
Print Resources
S.810.9 AU82
Authors and Artists for Young Adults. 1989- .
This reference series was intended to bridge the gap between Something About the Author, which is for children, and Contemporary Authors, designed for adults. Each teen-friendly entry contains biographical information, lists of published works, and photographs.
S.809.89282 W25a 1990
Authors of Books for Young People. 3rd ed. 1990.
This biographical dictionary contains brief entries for nearly 4,000 children’s authors and illustrators. References point to additional information in Contemporary Authors.
S.810.9 B657w
Bostrom, Kathleen Long. Winning Authors: Profiles of the Newbery Medalists. 2003.
Bostrom profiles the 76 winners of the prestigious Newbery Medal from 1922-2002. After an overview of the history of the medal, profiles include quotes, anecdotes, insights on authors’ personal and professional lives, and discussion of how and why these authors succeeded.
S.016.8109 D331l 2003
Day, Frances Ann. Latina and Latino Voices in Literature: Lives and Works. 2003.
This book features 35 Latina/Latino children’s and young adult authors. Each author entry contains biographic material, interview sources, quotes, photos, criticism, a contact address, and an extensive list of each author’s works.
S.810.93823 D383c
DeLong, Janice and Schwedt, Rachel Contemporary Christian Authors: Lives and Works. 2000.
Focuses on authors who have achieved a wide following through at least one outstanding contribution to the market. Some are recognized in more than one genre, and many publish across age levels. All authors were living at the time of publication. Includes personal information about the author and a list of publications with their date. Selected works include summaries.
S.010 D772w
Doyle, Brian. The Who’s Who of Children’s Literature. 1968.
Biographical information and selected lists of publications for more than 300 authors from the early nineteenth century through 1968 are included in this source.
S.810.9 W939 2000
Hipple, Ted. ed. Writers for Young Adults. 2000.
Like Authors & Artists for Young Adults, this three-volume biographical set is devoted to authors who write for teens and young people. Each entry contains biographical information, quotations from the author, and selected bibliographies of published works. The third volume contains the indexes.
Q.S.741.6 K968a
Kushner, Tony. The Art of Maurice Sendak: 1980 to the Present. 2003.
This is the companion volume to The Art of Maurice Sendak written by Selma Lanes and described below.
S.741.6420924 SE55L
Lanes, Selma. G. The Art of Maurice Sendak. 1980.
Sendak fans take note! Lane’s biographical look at Sendak’s work includes photographs of the artist and his family as well as numerous full color reproductions of his well-known illustrations
S.810.9 C437
Laughlin, Jeannine L. and Sherry. Children’s Authors Speak. 1993.
This book contains the transcripts of acceptance speeches from more than 50 authors and illustrators who received the University of Southern Mississippi’s Medallion for children’s literature. The book’s introduction gives a profile of the de Grummond collection of Children’s Literature and the Medallion award.
S. 810.9 M153c
McElmeel, Sharron L. Children’s Authors and Illustrators Too Good to Miss: Biographical Sketches and Bibliographies. 2004.
Who are today’s must-know children’s authors and illustrators? McElmeel’s ready reference introduces you to some of the hottest new names in children’s literature, and reacquaints you with established authors and illustrators who are just now becoming recognized for their contributions to the field. You’ll find engaging biographical sketches, photos, selected bibliographies, and lists of resources for 45 authors and illustrators, including Laurie Halse Anderson, Toni Buzzeo, David Diaz, Kate DiCamillo, Linda Sue Park, Simms Taback, and many more.
Q.S.741.6420922 M575t
Meyer, Susan E. A Treasury of the Great Children’s Book Illustrators. 1987.
This treasury contains 13 essays and 93 color plates celebrating the works of illustrators such as Walter Crane, Kate Greenway, Edward Lear, and Beatrix Potter. A bibliography and index are included.
S.026.1 M647I
Miller, Bertha E. Mahoney. Illustrators of Children’s Books, 1744-1945. Supplements cover 1946-1956, 1957-1966, and 1967-1976.
Each volume begins with an overview of the time period covered. Entries give basic biographical information. Includes bibliographies and indexes.
S.011.62 R658b2007
Murphy, Barbara Thrash and Deborah. Black Authors and Illustrators of Books for Children and Young Adults. 4th ed. 2007.
This biographical dictionary provides brief entries and short bibliographies for noted African-American authors and illustrators. In addition, it provides lists of African-American publishers, distributors, and book dealers for children’s literature.
Q. S.809.89282 St1
Pendergast, Sara and Tom. ed. St. James Guide to Children’s Writers. 5th ed. 1999.
This comprehensive biographical dictionary covers children’s authors from the twentieth century. Appendices cover some authors from previous centuries, children’s authors who write in foreign languages, and a title list.
Q. S.820.9 T91851999
Pendergast, Sara and Tom Pendergast. ed. St. James Guide to Young Adult Writers. 2nd ed. 1999.
This comprehensive biographical dictionary covers 500 young adult authors from the twentieth century. Includes a title and nationality index.
S.809.89282 T26
Rockman, Connie. Tenth Book of Junior Authors and Illustrators. 2008.
The authors and illustrators included in this volume were chosen by a committee of young adult and children’s literature specialists. The criteria for inclusion were based on reviews, criticism, and awards received. The index also includes the authors and illustrators in all six of the previous editions in the series.
S.860.9 C767
Schon, Isabel. ed. Contemporary Spanish-Speaking Writers and Illustrators for Children and Young Adults: A Biographical Dictionary. 1994.
Originally published in Spanish, this biographical dictionary has been translated into English to provide personal data, lists of writings, quotations, and citations to critiques for more that 200 Spanish-speaking author and illustrators for children. The biographies come from Spain, Mexico, and the United States, as well as Central and South America. Appendices include an index and a list of the authors/illustrators by country of origin.
S.814 SE55c1990
Sendak, Maurice. Caldecott & Co.: Notes on Books & Pictures. 1988.
Contrary to the title, the scope of this essay collection is not limited to Caldecott winners. Sendak shows his wide appreciation for a number of children’s authors ranging from Beatrix Potter to Margot Zemach to Mother Goose. The second half of the book contains transcripts of his acceptance speeches for the Caldecott Medal, the Hans Christian Anderson Medal, and Laura Ingalls Wilder Award. Citations are given for the original publications of the essays.
S.809.89282 Y48
Yesterday’s Authors of Books for Children. 1977.
This two-volume set uses quotations and diary entries to provide overviews of the lives and works of children’s authors and illustrators who died prior to 1961.
