Champaign-Urbana Area Children’s Book Authors & Illustrators

Janice N. Harrington

Champaign, Illinois

Janice Harrington is a storyteller and poet as well as the author of Going North, which was awarded the 2005 Ezra Jack Keats Award, The Chicken Catching Queen of Lamar County, Roberto Walks Home, and Busy-Busy Little Chick. Learn more on her website »

Betsy Hearne

Champaign, Illinois

Betsy Hearne has published picture books, poetry, and fiction for young people, as well as books about folklore and children’s literature. She has also taught children’s literature and storytelling at the Graduate School of  Information Science at the University of Illinois. Learn more on the University of Illinois Archives website .

Susan E. Kirby

McLean, Illinois

Susan Kirby’s books and stories reflect her love of quilts and quilting.
Learn more »

Robin Luebs

Urbana, Illinois

Artist Robin Luebs is the illustrator of How Do You Say Goodnight? and the author and illustrator of Please Pick Me Up, Mama!  She also illustrated the picture book, Who Said Coo?, written by her twin sister, Deborah Ruddell. Learn more on her publisher’s website »

Marianne Malone

Urbana, Illinois

Marianne Malone is a writer, artist, and teacher.  Her series The Sixty-Eight Rooms was inspired by the the Thorne Miniature Rooms at The Art Institute of Chicago. Learn more on her website.

Alice B. McGinty

Urbana, Illinois

Alice McGinty is a prolific writer of information books for children of all ages. Learn more on her website.
Email alice@mcgintyzone.com

Patricia Hruby Powell

Champaign, Illinois

Patricia Hruby Powell’s books reflect her extraordinary animated storytelling talents. Josephine: The Dazzling Life of Josephine Baker, illustrated by Christian Robinson, is a Sibert Honor book. Learn more on her website.
Email phpowell@talesforallages.com

Melodye Rosales

Champaign, Illinois

Melodye Rosales is an author and illustrator of children’s books that have multicultural appeal. Learn more on her website.