Florence and Wendell Minor 2017

Wendell Minor is nationally known for the artwork he has created for over fifty award-winning children’s books. His many collaborators include Jean Craighead George, Robert Burleigh, Buzz Aldrin, Tony Johnston, Mary Higgins Clark, and last but not least, his wife Florence. In 2009 Wendell and Florence’s If You Were a Penguin, was chosen by Pennsylvania for their “One Book, Every Young Child” 2009 early literacy program, and they enjoyed the month they spent speaking to children in Pennsylvania’s libraries, schools, Head Start facilities, and Museums.

Wendell is also the cover artist and designer of over two thousand books for authors Pat Conroy, David McCullough, Fannie Flagg, and Nathaniel Philbrick among many others.  His portrait of “Truman” for the cover of David McCullough’s book is in the permanent collection of the National Portrait Gallery in Washington DC.

Following a productive and fulfilling career as a documentary film editor for ABC News in New York, Florence Minor was happy to find a second, and equally fulfilling career in publishing after she and Wendell moved to Connecticut.  Her first project was co-editing a twenty-five year retrospective of Wendell’s book cover art, Wendell Minor: Art for the Written Word while also handling the business aspects of the minorart studio. In keeping with her lifelong love of reading and writing, and her interest in editing, the timing was perfect to begin collaborating with Wendell, to creating books that entertain, teach, and inspire children.

Learn more about Wendell and Florence on their website. 

Alex Willan

Alex Willan earned his BFA in Illustration from Savannah College of Art and Design. He also attended Illustration Academy, where he studied with award-winning illustrators, including C.F. Payne, Gary Kelley and Anita Kunz. His work has been exhibited in art galleries, and he has painted murals, theater sets, and squirmy children’s faces, but his true love has always been picture books. He is an active member of SCBWI, through which he was awarded a mentorship with author/illustrator Matt Faulkner. To see more of Alex's work, you can visit his website: www.alexwillan.com, follow him on Instagram: www.instagram.com/alexwillan, and find him on Facebook: www.facebook.com/AlexWillan.

Learn more about Alex on his website.

Jess Keating

Jess Keating is a fiction and nonfiction writer who loves telling fun stories in any way she can. She also has a Masters of Science in Zoology, so she throws around goofy animal facts a lot.

She has always loved writing and making up stories. She even started a library in her room when she was a kid, so she could charge her brother late fees. She is a self-proclaimed "giant science nerd," and loves to incorporate weird science into her books.

You can learn more about Jess on her website. 

You can download a printable version of this dot here. 

Kat Yeh

Kat Yeh grew up reading, doodling, and scribbling in Westtown, Pennsylvania. She worked for many years in advertising and sports marketing, while writing children's books in the wee hours of the night. She currently lives on Long Island where she can see water every day and explore all the bay and harbor beaches with her family. Kat's dot is a poem from The Way to Bea.

Learn more about Kat on her website.

Martha Brockenbrough

Martha Brockenbrough (rhymes with broken toe) is the author of two books for adults and five books for young readers (with three more on the way in 2017).

A faculty member at Vermont College of Fine Arts and blogger for the Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators,* she's also the founder of National Grammar Day (every March 4), and she's written game questions for Cranium and Trivial Pursuit.

The former editor of MSN.com, Martha has interviewed lots of celebrities, including the Jonas Brothers and Slash (his favorite dinosaur is the diplodocus). Her work has been published in a variety of places, including The New York Times. She also wrote an educational humor column for the online encyclopedia Encarta for nine years.

She lives in Seattle with her family. Her favorite kind of food is Indian, although Thai runs a close second. Besides writing, she likes board games, playing music with the family band, travel to places far and near, drinking lots of coffee, and working out really hard at the gym.

You can learn more about Martha on her website.

Check out her daughter, Lucy's, dot

Sean Qualls

Sean Qualls finds inspiration everywhere. Growing up in the 70's in central New Jersey, his family didn't have much money for art supplies but he made the best of what was available; discarded paper, blank end pages from old books and sometimes walls much to his mother's chagrin. Some of his earliest inspirations were the crayons and coloring books his mom would buy for him and his older sister, drawing and handwriting competitions with classmates and an illustrated bible he received for Christmas in the 2nd grade.

He moved to Brooklyn to attend art school at Pratt Institute. After only a year and a half he dropped out but continued to educate himself while working full-time at the Brooklyn Museum.

Sean's books and illustrations often explore history and non-fiction subjects. His fine art focuses on race & identity and the intersection of history & mythology, ultimately examining how we create our own identities or allow them to be scripted to for us. Together his paintings and illustrations reveal simultaneously unique and universal moments that reveal the human spirit.

Sean's most recent books include Why Am I Me?, The Case for Loving and Two Friends all of which he illustrated with his wife, illustrator/author Selina Alko. He has also illustrated Emmanuel's Dream (Schneider Award recipient) written by Laurie Ann Thompson, Giant Steps to Change the World written by Spike Lee and Tonya Lewis Lee and Before John Was a Jazz Giant (Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor) written by Carole Boston Weatherford. He lives in lives in Brooklyn (where you can find him DJing on occasion) with his wife and their two children.





Learn more about Sean on his website.

Sharon Creech 2017

Sharon Creech is the inspiration for the Celebridot gallery. She has made a dot every year since 2011. Sharon was a teacher (high school English and writing) in England and in Switzerland. While teaching great literature, she learned so much about writing: about what makes a story interesting and about techniques of plot and characterization and point of view. She started out writing novels for adults: The Recital and Nickel Malley were both written and published while she was living in England (these books were published in England only and are now out of print). But the next book was Absolutely Normal Chaos, and ever since that book she has written mainly about young people. Walk Two Moons was the first of her books to be published in America. When it received the Newbery Medal, Sharon said, "no one was more surprised than I was. I’m still a little bit in shock."

In addition to Walk Two Moons, she wrote Absolutely Normal Chaos, Pleasing the Ghost, Chasing Redbird, Bloomability, The Wanderer, Love That Dog, Granny Torrelli Makes Soup, A Fine, Fine School, Fishing in the Air, Heartbeat, Who’s That Baby?, Replay, The Castle Corona, Hate That Cat, The Unfinished Angel, The Great Unexpected, The Boy on the Porch and Moo She hopes to be writing stories for a long, long time.

Sharon is married to Lyle Rigg, and they live in Maine. They have two grown children, Rob and Karin, and being with her family is what she enjoys most. The next-best thing is writing stories.

Learn more about Sharon on her website.

David Kalvitis

This is David Kalvitis' sixth year creating a "DOT" for International Dot Day! David Kalvitis, a lifelong puzzle and game fan, has a Fine Arts degree from Syracuse University and operated a graphic design business in Western NY. In 2000, he opened Monkeying Around Publishing, with a goal to provide fun and challenging dot-to-dot puzzles, that entertain both young and old alike. He has taken a singularly creative approach and opened up the world of dot-to-dot puzzles to a new generation of puzzle fans. So far, he has self-published nineteen books and has sold over a million books worldwide. Recently, he was honored to be asked to create and publish a new book specifically for September 2017 Philadelphia Parkway 100 Centennial Celebration. The "We Are Connected Dot-to-Dot Philadelphia" book commemorates the Benjamin Franklin Parkway area of Philadelphia, PA. Images for the dot-to-dot puzzles were taken directly from the streets of Philadelphia and include historical landmarks on the Parkway.

Our facebook page has all the Philadelphia videos. He is there now for this huge celebration J https://www.facebook.com/GreatDot2Dots

Sarvinder Naberhaus

Sarvinder Naberhaus wrote Blue Sky White Stars, which received national media attention and four reviews, all starred. Her current book LiNES, also starred, is the most favorite story she's ever written. She celebrates Dot Day every year by going on a Dot hunt with her college students. Today, she is on a Dot hunt and LiNES hunt (see below) . . .

Sarvinder writes, "My book fell into my camera and I couldn't get it out. Now every time I try to take a picture, all I can see are pages of my book. If you'd like to see inside my camera, and see what I see, check out LiNES (which is my favorite book, so I don't really mind that my camera is now broken).

After my book fell in, I noticed the end of my camera is a dot. So I took a picture of my camera with a camera, because nobody believed me that my book fell in. Now I hope at least you will believe me. If you'd like to check out my other books, or email that you believe me, go to www.sarvinder.com.

p.s. now my cat fell in"

Gina Perry

Gina Perry graduated from Syracuse University, worked as a compositor in animation, and as an art director creating products for the scrapbooking market. Her children inspire her every single day to be creative and do her best. Her dot is inspired by her book, Small.

Once upon a time, Gina played with little metal cars in her rock-filled driveway. She listened to old-time mystery radio theater in her room and built yarn canopies between trees. She could never serve the volleyball in gym class but she could draw dragons that leapt off the page.

Gina writes and illustrates books from her New Hampshire home, where trees are the tallest obstacles to the sea. She still likes yarn, and table tennis is her (only) game.

Learn more about Gina on her website.

Linda Kranz

"For as long as I can remember I have searched for, discovered and collected meaningful picture books.

The Dot has been on my bookshelf since it was first published.

When I read The Dot, I immediately thought of my high school art teacher who saw a spark in my eyes when I, a quiet, soft spoken student arrived in his classroom so many, many years ago. I loved his class. We’ve kept in touch through all these years. I was thrilled to be able to completely surprise him, when I put a copy of a book that I wrote and illustrated in his hands. I watched his expression as he studied the cover - front and back. He smiled. When he turned to the dedication page – he blinked and shook his head, when he read that the book was dedicated to him, “Thank you, Mr. Duren you made a difference.” He was touched and I was delighted that I could share my gratitude in person. The teacher and the student came full circle that day. How lucky I was, to have such a special teacher in my life, who nudged me to find my voice.

I wanted my dot to be a reminder to always focus on what you love and what is inside of you! Find your own unique style – and create!" Linda Kranz

Linda Kranz, winner of the IRA Children’s Choices Award, is the author and illustrator of several journals and books including the bestselling Only One You (Rising Moon 2006), You Be You (Taylor Trade 2011), Love You When (Taylor Trade 2012) and Where I Belong (Taylor Trade 2016). Let’s Rock: Rock Painting for Kids Updated Edition (Muddy Boots 2017) is the book dedicated to her art teacher. Find out more about Linda on her website lindakranz.com

Jamie Michalak

Jamie Michalak is the author of the highly praised Joe and Sparky early reader series, illustrated by Frank Remkiewicz — Joe and Sparky Get New Wheels; Joe and Sparky, Superstars!; Joe and Sparky Go to School; and Joe and Sparky, Party Animals!

In the forthcoming Joe and Sparky, Party Animals! (Candlewick Press, August 2017), the endearingly mismatched duo has their hands full when a surprise party for a worm goes comically awry.

About her dot, Jamie writes:

“This bandaged dot was inspired by a mysterious guest in Joe and Sparky, Party Animals! Nobody knows his name, but this guy is the life of the party! He always wears a smile on his face. Even after an unfortunate dancing incident involving a porcupine in Chapter Three.

I can’t help but admire his resiliency and positive attitude.”

Jamie shared this story about reading "The Dot" before it became a book:

"Long ago I was fortunate to work for Peter Reynolds's editor, Mary Lee Donovan. As her assistant, I often read her submissions first to help organize them. I vividly remember the moment I opened an envelope from Peter Reynolds and read his latest submission called THE DOT. It was inspiring and beautiful. The ending made me want to read the story over again. But what struck me the most was how effortless it all seemed, like a fully formed, perfect story had sprung right out of his head and onto the page. Like he was born to write that book.

I also remember immediately walking the [book] dummy over to Mary Lee's desk. "Is it good?" she asked. I nodded with a big smile and handed it to her. Then she quickly found out for herself.

Learn more about Jamie on her website.

www.jamiemichalak.com

Ruth Spiro

Ruth Spiro is an award-winning children's book author and freelance writer whose articles, essays, and stories have appeared in magazines and anthologies. Her debut picture book, Lester Fizz, Bubble-Gum Artist (Dutton), won awards from Writer's Digest and Willamette Writers and was a Bank Street College of Education Best Book of the Year.

Ruth says, "Creativity is a matter of perspective. Looking at things up close, and also from a distance. Taking elements apart, then putting them back together. Trying new combinations to see what fits. An idea is only the beginning. Where you take it is what makes it art."

Learn more about Ruth on her website. 

Pascal Lemaître

Pascal Lemaître is the illustrator of several books for children, including Who's Got Game? The Ant or the Grasshopper? (Simon & Schuster, 2003), Who's Got Game? The Lion or the Mouse? (Simon & Schuster, 2003)—both New York Times bestsellers—as well as Who's Got Game? Poppy or the Snake? (Simon & Schuster, 2004), and The Book of Mean People (Hyperion, 2002), all by Toni and Slade Morrison. Pascal also created the artwork for Supercat (Workman, 2002), Supercat to the Rescue (Workman, 2002), and Baby Goose (Hyperion, 2004), all by Kate McMullan, Do Not Open This Book! by Michaela Muntean (Scholastic, 2006), and the Doctor Ted series by Andrea Beaty (Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2008). Pascal's more recent books include Hush Baby Ghostling by Andrea Beaty, Always by Alison McGhee, Let's Get a Checkup by Alan Katz, Bulldog's Big Day by Kate McMullan, Goodnight Dragons by Judith L. Roth, and a retelling of Pinocchio by Kate McMullan. He also illustrated Come With Me by Holly McGhee, to be published September 5, 2017.

Pascal was born in Belgium in 1967. He began illustrating in 1989, and now also teaches visual narration in Brussels at La Cambre, a school created by H. Van de velde where he once studied. Pascal spends his year between Brussels, Brooklyn, and Trouville with his wife, Manou, and their daughter, Maelle...and their dog, Doodle.

Learn more about Pascal on his website.