Links

Author/Illustrator websites:

Writing and Illustrating is solitary work! Critique groups are a lifeline to others who who are happy to discuss how many elephants might fit into the back of a dump truck, what costumes monkeys might wear for Halloween, special pens, fonts, contracts and PUBLISHERS! Here are a few websites of friends and colleagues.

D.B. Johnson

Author-illustrator of wonderful picture books, including Henry Hikes to Fitchburg and Magritte’s Hat. A member of our illustrator group. Take a look at his animated books!
www.dbjohnsonart.com

Liza Ketchum

Liza is an author of middle grade and young adult fiction and non-fiction. Many years ago we started a writer’s group.
www.lizaketchum.org

Matt McElligott

Matt is an author/illustrator of children’s picture books and middle-grade novels.
www.mattmcelligott.com

Tracey Campbell Pearson

Tracey is another member of our illustrator crit. group. She writes and illustrates picture books with lovely free-wheeling watercolors.
www.traceycampbellpearson.com

Catherine Stock

Catherine Stock is an author, illustrator and book designer. She designed my book, The Robbery at the Diamond Dog Diner. The cover of that book is one of my favorites! Check out her watercolor workshops in France. I went a few years ago; it’s an experience not to be missed!
www.catherinestock.com

John Stadler

Author-Illustrator of some favorite picture books. The quirky humorist of our illustrator group who (tries) to keep us all in line.
www.johnstadler.com

Wendy Watson

Author and illustrator of many wonderful books I read to my daughter when she was a toddler. A member of our illustrator group and a walking partner—until she moved west…sigh!
www.wendy-watson.com

A few resources for aspiring authors and illustrators:

CBC – The Children’s Book Council

A good site to connect with other children’s book author and illustrator websites. Good information about children’s books.
www.cbcbooks.org

SCBWI – Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators

SCBWI is a great source of support and information for authors and illustrators of children’s books as well as for people trying to get started.
www.scbwi.org

MFA Writing Programs:

These two colleges offer MFA programs focusing on writing for children and young adults. Both are two-year programs with twice-a-year intensive 10-day residencies. The rest of the year students work via mail one-on-one with faculty advisors. There are many others; I mention these two because some faculty members are friends.

Vermont College of Fine Arts

Offers an MFA Program focusing on writing for young readers.
www.vcfa.edu/wyca

Hamline University

MFA in Writing for Children & Young Adults
www.hamline.edu/cla/mfac/

Also Google:

MFA programs
Writing for Children

For Illustrators Interested in Graphic Novels, Comics, Cartoons:

The Center for Cartoon Studies

They offer MFA, one and two-year certificate programs as well as summer workshops.
www.teachingcomics.org

Books to Read:

The Giblin Guide to Writing Children’s Books, Fourth Edition by James Cross Giblin (Advice from my editor—an award-winning author.)

Writing with Pictures: How to Write and Illustrate Children’s Books by Uri Schulevitz Indispensable for anyone contemplating illustrating a picture book.

How to Write a Children’s Book and Get It Published by Barbara Seuling (An author, editor and teacher).

The Business of Writing for Children by Aaron Shepard

Blogs:

Teachers! Librarians! Parents! Kids! Looking for a good book?

Anita Silvey, author, publisher, editor has produced an invaluable Children’s Literature resource: Anita Silvey’s Book-a-Day Almanac
www.childrensbookalmanac.com

Illustrators! Aspiring illustrators! Take a look at these:

Wendy Watson, long-time author and illustrator blogs about the illustration process. I could have used this when I was getting started!!! http://thewendywatsonblog.blogspot.com/

Tracey Campbell Pearson: tcp scribbles—an illustrator’s process and more! https://traceycampbellpearson.com/blog/

Karen Hesse: Karen answers questions about her many wonderful books! http://karenhesseblog.wordpress.com