Artists

Sylvan Dell Publishing

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Salima Alikhan	John Himmelman	Laurie O'Keefe
Barbara J. Bergwerf	Ben Hodson	Gary Phillips
Shennen Bersani	Erin Hunter	Consie Powell
Kirsten Carlson	Laura Jacques	Kathleen Rietz
Lew Clayton	Laurie Allen Klein	Sherry Rogers
Susan Detwiler	Karen Lee	Emanuel Schongut
Lisa Downey	Connie McLennan	Joan Waites
Wendy Edelson	Cathy Morrison	Christina Wald
Kathryn Freeman	Sherry Neidigh	Katherine Zecca

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Author / Illustrator Interviews

School Visits

Salima Alikhan

Salima Alikhan (Pieces of Another World) decided to pursue a career in children's book illustration when she realized her lifelong passion for art would never leave her alone. Salimastudied at the Corcoran Institute of Art in Washington, DC. Her favorite medium is watercolor. She begins most of her illustrations by drawing on cold-pressed watercolor paper, going over the drawing with ink, painting the picture, and then adding the final detail with watercolor pencil. To create the effect of snow, gravel, sand, stars, or coral, she often sprinkles salt on top of watercolor while it's still wet. When the paint dries, she shakes the salt off. The mineral compositions of different types of salts create different effects. Table salt leaves smaller spots, which are good for snow, gravel and stars; and sea salt or canning salt leave large circles, which are better for coral or sand. She has the good fortune of being an art teacher in a Montessori school, where she has learned lots about both art and children. She currently resides, teaches, and paints in Austin, TX. This is her first children's book. Visit Salima's Website/ School Visit Info.

Barbara J. Bergwerf- nature photographer extraordinaire has done it again. Barbara has collaborated with best-selling novelist Mary Alice Monroe on Turtle Summer: A Journal for my Daughter which joins her other photographic book about loggerhead sea turtles; Carolina’s Story: Sea Turtles Get Sick Too! Both books stem from Barbara’s volunteer involvement at the South Carolina Aquarium’s Sea Turtle Hospital, the Island Turtle Team on Isle of Palms and Sullivan’s Island, and the South Carolina Center for Birds of Prey. Barbara thought that she was retiring when she and her husband left the Chicago area and moved to the South Carolina Lowcountry. Somehow “retirement” doesn’t seem to be in her vocabulary! Visit Barbara's website.

Award-winning children’s book illustrator Shennen Bersani has two million copies of her illustrated books cherished and read by families throughout the world. She has been a freelance illustrator since 1989. She works primarily with colored pencils, sometimes using a mixed-media technique of colored pencils, crayon, and paint. Her art delivers a unique blend of realism, heartfelt emotion, love of nature, and life lessons for children of all ages. In addition to Home in the Cave, The Glaciers are Melting!, and Astro:The Steller Sea Lion for Sylvan Dell, Shennen has illustrated a number of best-selling books, including, Snakes: Long, Longer, Longest; Sharks: Big, Bigger, Biggest; Ocean Counting: Odd Numbers; Icky Bug Shapes; and My Sister, Alicia May. Her art also appears in many magazines, newspapers, and publications. Shennen lives with her family near Boston. For more information, visit her website at http://www.shennenbersani.com/.

Kirsten Carlson is fascinated by animals and nature. Her background in biology, scientific illustration and design has given her the tools to share stories about the natural world through illustration. She believes illustrating children’s books are a wonderful way to connect others to nature. Prior to illustrating Ocean Seasons, Kirsten illustrated The Giraffe Who Was Afraid of Heights, also published by Sylvan Dell. Kirsten lives in Gig Harbor, Washington near the shores of Puget Sound. Visit Kirsten's website.

Lew Clayton (Felina’s New Home, Spring 2010) has worked as an illustrator for 20 years. He has a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from Brigham Young University, and he is a Graphic Designer in the Media Industry. He is a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. His medium of choice is Prismacolor colored pencil, and his favorite subject matters are people and animals. He has two previously published books: The Adventures of Willy B and Archie's Christmas Tale. Felina’s New Home is his first picture book with Sylvan Dell Publishing. Visit Lew's website.

Susan Detwiler is the illustrator of several books for children including Big Cat, Little Kitty(Spring 2011), award-winning Pandas’ Earthquake Escape, and award-winning One Wolf Howls for Sylvan Dell, The First Teddy Bear, and The Wonderful Bicycle Parade. She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators and her illustrations have appeared in the children’s magazines, Highlights For Children and Ladybug. Susan’s artwork has also been used for puzzles, games, and greeting cards. Books have always been a source of joy in her life, and as a child she particularly loved books with beautiful illustrations. Susan was educated at the Maryland Institute College of Art and lives with her artist husband in Baltimore. Visit Susan's website.

Lisa Downey is a freelance artist and graphic designer. Although she has always been interested in illustrating children's books, it was not until she worked with an in-house design firm at a paperboard book manufacturer that she realized children's books should be her focus. The combination of illustration, design and 3D surfaces to tell a story encompasses everything she has learned and enjoys doing. Lisa's style ranges from cartoonish to very representational. Her favorite medium is pastels. Lisa has illustrated Blackberry Banquet, Julie the Rockhound and Happy Birthday to Whooo? for Sylvan Dell. She lives in the SC Lowcountry, with her very supportive husband, Len, and their cats; Pom Pom and Ophelia. Visit Lisa's website.

Wendy Edelson (Saturn for my Birthday) illustrated the first of many books, “Whose Garden” at the age of 18. Since then she has divided her time between illustrating children’s books and “grown-up” books, and working on advertising and editorial projects. All of Wendy’s illustrations begin with very detailed pencils drawings and are then painted mostly with watercolor with the addition of occasional bits of colored pencil and pastel…the painting is definitely her favorite part! Wendy, her husband, and 4 cats currently live on an island in the Pacific Northwest. A corgi puppy will hopefully be joining the family soon! Visit Wendy's website.

Kathryn Freeman (Loon Chase) spent many summers on Conway Lake in the White Mountains region in New Hampshire where she learned to use pastels from her uncle, the landscape artist Robert Jordan. He and Kathryn often took a canoe out at dawn to check on nesting loons. Kathryn is known foremost as a painter. Her works have been exhibited nationally and internationally and are held in numerous private and public collections. She has also done a number of large public commissions, including three story murals for the new public library in Jacksonville, Florida. While this is her first children’s book, it will likely not be her last! Her life-like pastels are superb. Visit Kathryn's website.

John Himmelman (Tudley Didn't Know) has written and/or illustrated over 60 children's books since 1981. His award-winning book "Pipaluk and the Whales" (published by National Geographic) is based on the true story of how far people will go to save their wild neighbors. John's "Nature Upclose" series of 13 different books (published by Children's Press, a division of Scholastic) includes such titles as: A Monarch Butterfly's Life, A Pillbug's Life, A Luna Moth's Life, and A Woodfrog's, Life. He based his Animal Rescue Club (Harper Collins) beginning reader book on a group of real children who rescued orphaned and injured wildlife. John's first book for adults, Discovering Moths, was recently published by Downeast Books. Most of John's book stem from his obvious passion for animals and nature. When John isn't busy writing or illustrating his books, he is involved with the CT Butterfly Association, the Killingworth Land Conservation Trust, leads nature walks and gives natural history lectures throughout the country. He works with schools by offering special science observation programs, and teaches courses on children's book writing. As if he isn't busy enough, John has two children (one in college and one in high school) and a working wife (high school art teacher) with a busy life of her own. John says he has never lost his love of reading and ends each day curled up in bed with a good book!
Visit John's website / School Visit Info.

Ben Hodson is an award-winning illustrator of nearly twenty books. He loves creating art and he also loves a good adventure, like hiking the Rocky Mountains with a team of rescued wild burros, living in a mountain village in Nepal, or drawing comics with youth in South Africa. Ben created the artwork for How the Moon Regained Her Shape using acrylic paints, handmade papers, old wallpaper, pencil crayons, gesso, and ink on watercolor paper. He illustrates full time from his home in Ottawa, Canada. Visit Ben's website.

As both a children’s book and scientific illustrator, Erin Hunter specializes in entomological and botanical illustrations. She illustrated The Great Divide, Multiply on the Fly, and A Day on the Mountain for Sylvan Dell, and she has taught botanical illustration and field sketching at University of California at Santa Cruz. Erin’s portfolio includes print and online design projects for clients ranging from marketing firms to culinary groups to educational organizations—and she’s drawn insects under a microscope for the Smithsonian’s Museum of Natural History. Erin lives with her husband on California’s Monterey Peninsula. When she’s not sketching and painting, she tends to flowers, fruit trees, and vegetables in her backyard garden. Visit Erin's website/ School Visit Info.

Award-winning illustrator Laura Jacques (pronounced Jakes) has more than 25 years of professional experience as an illustrator in the fields of advertising and publishing. She enjoys illustrating children's books that focus on natural history, wildlife, and the environment. In addition to illustrating Baby Owls' Rescue (Fall 2009) and Whistling Wings for Sylvan Dell, she has also illustrated At Home in the Rain Forest, Wildlife Refuge; A Classroom Adventure, and Sweet Magnolia. Her books have won several honors and awards, including "NSTA-CBC Outstanding Science Trade Books for Children" sponsored by the Children's Book Council and the "KIND Children's Book Award" sponsored by the Association for Humane and Environmental Education, a division of the Humane Society of the United States. Laura was chosen by the Rocky Mountain National Park's Superintendent to participate in the 2008 Artist-in-Residence Program in Colorado. Her work will be used by the park's Next Generation Program and Fund, whose mission is to engage children in nature and interest them in becoming environmental stewards for the future of our National Parks and the communities in which they live. Visit Laura's website.

Laurie Allen Klein has been a freelance artist for nearly 25 years. Over the lastseveral years, she has worked as the on-staff artist for a marine park, where she does everything from painting life-size sea animal murals, to illustrating children's activity books. As evident by the extras included in the art, she has combined her love and fascination with outer space (and science fiction) with children’s illustration in both Solar System Forecast and Meet the Planets. Laurie also illustrated Fur and Feathers, Where Should Turtle Be?, Little Skink's Tail, and If a Dolphin Were a Fish for Sylvan Dell. Laurie lives in Florida. See more of her artwork at http://www.lauriekleinarts.com.

Karen Lee has quite a humorous imagination, and it shows in her illustrations for One Odd Day, My Even Day and My Half Day. These books are full of odd (and even) hidden items that children will love to find. Karen has also written and illustrated ABC Safari. Each of her illustrations begins with thoughtful design and drawing. The paintings are finished with watercolor on illustration board. Karen majored in illustration at the Columbus (OH) College of Art and Design. She began her career as a storyboard artist and editorial illustrator but it wasn't until she had children of her own that she discovered her true artistic passion: children’s illustration. Karen's ABC Safari was the runner up for the 2005 SCBWI Don Freeman Grant. She is also the recipient of the 2004 SCBWI Magazine Merit Award for Illustration for her wok in Highlights For Children. She and her husband, also an illustrator, are raising their family outside of Raleigh, NC. Karen’s children join her on many research trips to museums, zoos and aquariums–a tough job, but someone has to do it! Visit Karen's Website / School Visit Info.

Award-winning illustrator Connie McLennan has been a freelance artist for over 25 years, since attending Academy of Art College in San Francisco. In addition to illustrating Ready, Set...Wait! (Fall 2010), she has also illustrated Mother Osprey: Nursery Rhymes for Buoys & Gulls, The Rainforest Grew All Around, River Beds: Sleeping in the World's Rivers, Water Beds: Sleeping in the Ocean, and Octavia and her Purple Ink Cloud for Sylvan Dell Publishing. Her studio is at her home in California, where she lives with her husband, teenage son, and one big, black cat. Visit Connie's website.

Cathy Morrison may have started her art career in animation but she soon fell in love illustrating children’s books and has been doing so for 20 years. Some of the other titles she’s illustrated include Animalogy: Animal Analogies for Sylvan Dell as well as Ignacio’s Chair, and the Young Patriots Series including Alexander Hamilton, Young Statesman;Frederick Douglass, Young Defender of Human Rights; and Juliette Low, Girl Scout Founder. Cathy works from her home in a studio loft overlooking a beautiful view of the Mummy Range, on the northern side of Rocky Mountain National Park. Check out Cathy’s website at www.cathymorrison.com or read her blog at www.cathymorrison.blogspot.com.

Sherry Neidigh, a graduate of Ringling School of Art and Design, has been freelance illustrating since 1987. Sherry’s love of animals and nature comes through in her bright, colorful art. In addition to illustrating Deep in the Desert(Spring 2011), Count Down to Fall, and The Best Nest for Sylvan Dell, Sherry has illustrated several trade and education titles including Who Needs That Nose?, If I Had a Tail, and Black and White. She has been a freelance Sherry lives in upstate South Carolina. For more information about Sherry, visit her website at http://www.sherryneidigh.com/.

Sherry Neidgh

Laurie O’Keefe’s undergraduate degree in zoology and her graduate degree in human anatomy have helped with her scientific illustrations in the medical and scientific fields. Her client list reads like a “Who’s Who” in scientific illustrations from text books and magazines to zoos and museums. Gopher to the Rescue! A Volcano Recovery Story is her first picture book.

Gary R. Phillips (Ten for Me, Fall 2010, Animals are Sleeping, and Ocean Hide and Seek) has been a freelance illustrator for 25 years. He has illustrated for numerous clients in both the editorial and children’s illustration markets receiving “Verse Page Illustrator of the Year” from Highlights magazine in 2003 as well as five other awards from Highlights. Gary has several books to his credit, including 86 Years: The Legend of the Red Sox, New Old Shoes, The Naptime Book, and Santa’s Little Sleigh. He has also taught illustration and creative thinking as an adjunct professor. Gary lives in a rural corner of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, with his wife, two daughters, and two Siamese cats. He loves camping, tennis, painting out in nature, and drawing wherever he goes. Visit Gary's website.

Consie Powell is an author, illustrator and a visual storyteller. Because she loves the outdoors, much of her work centers on nature and the environment. In addition to illustrating A Day in the Salt Marsh, Consie has also written and illustrated the award-winning Leave Only Ripples: A Canoe Country Sketchbook ( which won the Sigurd Olson Nature Writing Award), The First Day of Winter, Amazing Apples, Old Dog Cora and the Christmas Tree, A Bold Carnivore: An Alphabet of Predators and has illustrated Baby Bear Isn’t Hungry and Who Lives in the Snow? She also edits, designs, illustrates and occasionally writes for the North Carolina WILD Notebook (the young readers’ feature in the monthly Wildlife in North Carolina magazine), and has created artwork for the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences and the North Carolina Zoo. Consie and her husband spend the academic year in North Carolina and the summer in the isolated lake country of northern Minnesota where she loves to paddle her wooden canoe and explore marshes and bogs. And, of course, she always has her sketchbook handy. Visit Consie's website.

A lifelong artist and lover of nature, Kathleen Rietz was drawing and painting before she learned to write her name. Originally from Peoria, IL, Kathleen received her formal training from the American Academy of Art in Chicago, IL. In addition to illustrating Desert Baths, The Tree That Bear Climbed, Prairie Storms, and Champ’s Story: Dogs Get Cancer Too! for Sylvan Dell, Kathleen’s other books include Conce Tu Parque, Little Black Ant on Park Street, The ABC’s of Yoga for Kids, and Prayers for Children. She taught art to children and adults at the Community School of the Arts at historic Wheaton College in Wheaton, IL, and through a local home school program in her community. For more information about Kathleen, visit her website: http://www.kathleenrietz.com/.

Sherry Rogers spent twelve years as a corporate graphic designer and artist before "leaving it all behind" for the freelance world. In addition to illustrating The Penguin Lady for Sylvan Dell, Sherry has illustrated Ten For Me; Hey Diddle Diddle; Paws, Claws, Hands & Feet; Kersplatypus; Burro's Tortillas; and the award-winning Moose and Magpie; Newton and Me; Sort It Out!; and If You Were a Parrot for Sylvan Dell. Sherry lives in Northern California. Visit Sherry's website.

Emanuel (Manny) Schongut (Christmas Eve Blizzard and Turtles in my Sandbox) is a prolific, multi-faceted freelance illustrator who works in children's books, book covers, textbook illustration, editorial art, posters, and advertising art – essentially he does it all!. Some of his numerous clients include Masterpiece and Mystery Theater, Public Television, New York Magazine, and New York Times Sunday Magazine. His cover art and/or illustrations grace books from a wide variety of book publishers including Harper & Row, MacMillan, Doubleday, Morrow, Green Willow Books, and now Sylvan Dell. In addition to his own artwork, Manny taught reportorial art and figure drawing at Pratt Institute in New York for several years. He now illustrates and teaches in the San Francisco Bay area. Visit Manny's website.

Joan Waites (What’s the Difference?, Spring 2010, and What's New at the Zoo?) has been a freelance illustrator for the past 18 years. She received a Bachelor of Science degree from DeSales University in 1982. Employment followed for 15 years as a neo-natal intensive care nurse in Philadelphia and Washington DC, while she simultaneously returned to college to study illustration and launch her freelance career. In addition to What’s the Difference? and What's New at the Zoo?, Joan has illustrated nearly 40 books for the educational and trade marketplace. She is also an adjunt
faculty member of The Corcoran Museum School of Art and Design in Washington, DC, where she teaches various children's classes for the college's "Aspiring Artists" program. Visit Joan's website.

In addition to illustrating A Warm Winter Tail, Habitat Spy, Little Red Bat, and Henry the Impatient Heron for Sylvan Dell, Christina Wald has illustrated for a wide variety of toys, games, books, and magazines. From a book that featured hundreds of animals on each page (Look, Find, and Learn: Animals of the World) to games including the Star Wars role playing game series, every assignment covers something new and exciting. In recent years, she has illustrated tons of different animals for books and other publications. Christina enjoys the research aspect of such projects, saying that each new book is a fascinating new learning experience. She often integrates travel to research for her illustrations. She lives in Ohio with her husband and three cats. Visit Christina's website.

Katherine Zecca was a scientific illustrator and graphic artist for NOAA, where she created illustrations of seals, whales, dolphins, crabs and fish for marine biologists. Celebrating the 125th Anniversary of NOAA Fisheries, Katherine was presented a National Award for her illustration of an historical poster. She continues to illustrate for the Smithsonian's National Zoo and created a logo for the National Museum of American Art. In addition to In My Backyard, Katherine has written and illustrated a book about the Atlantic Puffin for Down East Books. Katherine teaches nature journaling/sketching, from as far a field as the Pribilof Islands, Alaska, to New Brunswick, and Maine. Katherine and her husband live in a small town outside of Seattle. Visit Katherine's website.

Artists in Action

Cathy Morrison wins a blue ribbon at the Colorado State Fair for Animalogy