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Resources for Information on Authors and Illustrators of Children's and Young Adult Books

This list provides a selection of titles and resources for anyone who is researching children's book authors and/or illustrators. All these resources are available in the Bank Street College Library and include reference books, circulating books, and Internet resources.

The list has five parts:

The Librarian's Favorites
Children's Book Author and Illustrator Biographical Resources
Oldies but Goodies
Internet Resources
Indexes of Children's Book Author and Illustrator Resources

As with any research, one should make sure that the information one is seeking and recording is accurate. This is especially true of materials that have older copyright dates and Internet sites. Although extensive, this list is not exhaustive. If you wish to do further research in this area, you may use the following subject headings for conducting searches on the Library Online Catalog.

Children's literature -- Bio-bibliography
Children's literature -- Biography
Illustrators -- Biography
Authors -- Biography
Children's literature -- History and criticism
Illustrators
The last and first name (i.e. Carle, Eric) of the author and/or illustrator.

The Librarian's Favorites

Berger, Laura Standley. (Ed.). (1994).Twentieth-Century Children's Writers. . (1st ed.). Detroit: St. James Press. (Ref. 809.89282 T971y). Twentieth Century Young Adult Writers. (1995). Detroit: St. James Press. (Ref 809.89282 T971c4). These two volumes give brief biographical information focusing on professional and literary accomplishments, including a full list of publications for each author. A section on foreign language writers is included.

Cummins, Julie. (Ed.). (1992).Children's Book Illustration and Design. . NY: PBC International, Inc. (741.642 C536b). A compilation of brief biographical entries about prominent children's book illustrators that include quotes and examples of work. There is heavy emphasis placed on the inspiration and techniques used in the creation of the illustrations.

Holtz, Sally Holmes. (Ed.). (1989).Sixth Book of Junior Authors and Illustrators. . NY: H.W. Wilson Company. (Ref 928 K96j). Seventh Book of Junior Authors and Illustrators. (1996). NY: H. W. Wilson Company. (Ref 928 K96j). Both of these titles contain over 200 biographical and autobiographical entries provided by prominent children's book authors, illustrators, and translators. Many author entries include photos.

Something About the Author. (1971- ). Detroit, MI: Gale Research. (Ref 028.520922s693a v.1- ). An on-going collection of biographical information about contemporary authors and illustrators of children's books.

Resources for Children's Book Author and Illustrator Biographical Information

Bingham, Jane M. (Ed.). (1988).Writers for Children: Critical Studies of the Major Authors Since the Seventeenth Century. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons. (Ref 809.89282 W956ch). Autobiographical entries for 84 writers of classic children's books cover the 17th century through to the 1980s.

Carruth, Gorton. (1993).The Very Young Reader's Companion. New Jersey: R.R. Bowker. (Ref. 809.892822 c319y). Biographical information is provided about the authors of children's books, the books themselves, and children's literary terms and issues.

Cummings, Pat. (Ed.). (1992).Talking With Artist: Conversations with Victoria Chess, Pat Cummings, Leo and Diane Dillon, Richard Egielski, Lois Ehlert, Lisa Campbell Ernst, Tom Feeling..NY: Bradbury Press. (741.642 T147w). Autobiographical sketches, samples of work and interviews with thirteen contemporary illustrators.

Gallo, Donald R. (Ed.) (1990). Speaking for Ourselves: Autobiographical Sketches by Notable Authors of Books for Young Adults. Urbana, IL: National Council of Teachers of English. (J 813 S). Speaking for Ourselves, Too: More Autobiographical Sketches by Notable Authors of Books for Young Adults. (1993). Urbana, IL: National Council of Teachers of English. (J 813 S). These two volumes provide brief autobiographical essays by young adult authors. Photos of the authors and bibliographies of their works are included.

Ferrara, Miranda H. (Ed.). (1997).The Writers Directory: 1998-2000.. Detroit: St. James Press. (Ref 808 W956d13). Very current and up-to-date brief biographical entries about authors who have published at least one work in the English Language. Includes information on genres, careers, publications, addresses, and birth and death dates (when applicable).

Hopkins, Lee Bennett.(1995).Pauses: Autobiographical Reflections of 101 Creators of Children's Books.New York: Harper Collins. (810.9 p334a) Interviews with children's book authors and illustrators that provide insight into their lives and inspirations.

Kovacs, Deborah and Preller, James. (1993). Meet the Authors and Illustrators Volume Two: 60 Creators of Favorite Children's Books Talk About Their Work. New York: Scholastic. (J 808 K). This attractive book (ideal for classroom handouts) profiles authors and illustrators of picture books, and "intermediate" books. Extension Activities are included in the back of the book.

McElmeel, Sharron L. (1988).An Author a Month: For Pennies. Englewood, CO: Libraries Unlimited. (027.6251 M141ac). This resource is geared toward the development of author study programs and activities and includes 12 biographies of currently well known children's book author and illustrators.

Malinowski, Sharon (Ed.). (1994). Black Writers: A Selection of Sketches from Contemporary Authors. Detroit, MI: Gale Research. (Ref. 920.B627w2). Biographical information which includes writers' careers, awards, works, and "sidelights" containing interesting anecdotes. Covers a range of Black writers, including children's writers and poets.

Marcus, Leonard S. (1998).A Caldecott Celebration: Six Artists and Their Paths to the Caldecott Medal. NY: Walker and Company. (741.642 M322c). Biographical information about six Caldecott winners with an emphasis placed on their development as illustrators.

Rollock, Barbara.(1992).Black Authors and Illustrators of Children's Books: A Biographical Dictionary. New York: Garland Publishing. (809.89282 R755b2). A collection of brief biographical and bibliographical entries for many black authors and illustrators of children's books.

Ryan, Bryan (Ed.). (1991). Hispanic Writers: A Selection of Sketches from Contemporary Authors. Detroit, MI: Gale Research. (Ref. 016.8609 H673w). Biographical information which includes writers' careers, awards, works, and "sidelights" containing interesting anecdotes. Covers a range of Hispanic writers, including children's writers and poets.

Silvey, Anita (Ed.). (1995).Children's Books and Their Creators. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company. (Ref. 028.162c536b). Biographical information about children's and young adult book authors and illustrators of the twentieth century is provided. Information on the history, issues, and genres of children's and young adult literature as well as selected brief essays written by the authors and illustrators are included.

Oldies but Goodies

American Picturebooks from Noah's Ark to the Beasts Within. (1976). New York: Macmillan Publishing Co. Inc. (741.642 B134a). An exhaustive look at the history of picture books in America that includes detailed information about the careers of many authors and illustrators who have played a role.

Commire, Anne (Ed.).(1978).Yesterdays' Authors of Books for Children: Facts and Pictures About Authors and Illustrators of Books for Young People, From Early Times to 1960. Detroit: Gale Research. (Ref 028.5 Y47a). Overviews of the lives and works of children's book authors who died before 1961 are provided. Personal narratives are presented along with significant dates. Excerpts are taken from diaries, autobiographies, and letters.

Doyle, Brian. (Ed.). (1968).The Who's Who of Children's Literature. New York: Schocken Books. (028.52 D754w). Brief biographical entries of notable authors and illustrators of children's books from the early 19th century through to the 1960s.

Hoffman, Miriam and Eva Samuels. (1972). Authors and Illustrators of Children's books: Writings on their Works. New York, NY: R. R. Bowker. (809.89282 H711a). Biographical information for 50 children's book authors and illustrators as well as literary criticisms of their works.

Hurlimann, Bettina. (1968).Three Centuries of Children's Books in Europe. Cleveland: The World Publishing Company. (028.5094 H965t). Covers the history of children's literature in Europe as well as the professional lives of many European children's book authors and illustrators.

Magill, Frank N. (Ed.). (1958).Cyclopedia of World Authors.. NY: Harper and Row, Publisher, Inc. (Ref 803 M194c). Although this resource predominantly focuses on writers for adults, it is a good resource for biographical information about authors of children's classics (i.e., Lewis Carroll, Charles Dickens, etc.).

Miller, Bertha E. Mahony, and Elinor Whitney. (Comp.).(1930; 1978). Contemporary Illustrators of Children's Books. . Detroit: Gale Research Company. (741.0922 M647c). Brief autobiographical entries of children's book illustrators with a focus on their personal growth as artists. The book was originally published in 1930, so this features information on illustrators working from the late 1800's through to the early 1900's.

Miller, Bertha E. Mahony. (1947).Illustrators of Children's Books: 1744-1945. Boston: Horn Book. (028.509 M647). Viguers, Ruth Hill.(1958).Illustrators of Children's Books: 1946-1956. Boston: Horn Book. (028.509 M647s). Kingman, Lee. (1968)Illustrators of Children's Books: 1957-1966. Boston: Horn Book. (028.509 M647s2). These three titles contain brief biographical sketches and entries for children's book illustrators who were active during the time periods specified by the title.

Internet Resources

Vandergrift, Kay. Kay Vandergrift's Learning About the Author and Illustrator Page
http://www.scils.rutgers.edu/~kvander/AuthorSite/index.html
Rutgers University Professor Kay Vandergrift's children's literature websites contain a career's worth of insight. Topics covered include illustration, a history of children's literature, and gender and culture in children's picture books. Visit this site when you have time, because there is so much here.

Brown, David K.(1998).The Children's Literature Web Guide. Retrieved December 21, 1999 from the World Wide Web:
http://www.acs.ucalgary.ca/~dkbrown/authors.html
A comprehensive collection of links for children's book author and illustrator biographical information.

Ramsey, Inez. (1997).Internet School Library Media Center. ISLMC general children's and young adult literature sites. Retrieved December 21, 1999 from the World Wide Web:
http://falcon.jmu.edu/ ~ramseyil/litgen.htm
This site has many links to children's and young adult literature sites that provide book reviews, lists of book awards, and biographical information on illustrators.

Indexes of Children's Book Author and Illustrator Resources

La beau, Dennis (Ed.).(1976).Children's Authors and Illustrators: An Index to Biographical Dictionaries. Detroit: Gale Research Co. (Ref. 028.5l116c). An Index of children's book authors and illustrators that provides references to 26 publications containing biographical information.

Nakumura, Joyce.(1987).Children's Authors and Illustrators: An Index to Biographical Dictionaries. . Detroit, MI: Gale Research Co. (Ref. 028.5 L116c4). An extensive index of children's book authors' and illustrators' biographies that references over 450 resources.