Author Study Resources

There are many, many sources of information to help in your author study. Take a look at our list of books about authors and illustrators, author studies, and children’s literature. The Internet is a rich resource as well: browse the online resources below for background on authors and illustrators. You’ll also find links to more online information about author studies below.

Books about authors and illustrators, author studies, and children’s literature

• Bickmore, Steven T. and Shanetia P. Clark. On the Shoulders of Giants: Celebrating African American Authors of Young Adult Literature (opens in a new window). Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2019.
• Cotter, Charis. Born to Write: The Remarkable Lives of Six Famous Authors (opens in a new window). Annick Press, September 2009
• Jenkins, Carol Brennan. The Allure of Authors (opens in a new window). Heinemann, 1999.
• Jenkins, Carol Brennan and Deborah J.D. White. Nonfiction Author Studies in the Elementary Classroom (opens in a new window). Heinemann, 2007.
• Haidle, Elizabeth. Before They Were Authors: Famous Writers as Kids (opens in a new window). Etch/Clarion Books, 2019.
• Hart, Melissa. Better with Books: 500 Diverse Books to Ignite Empathy and Encourage Self-Acceptance in Tweens and Teens (opens in a new window). Sasquatch Books, 2019.
• Kotch, Laura and Leslie Zackman. The Author Studies Handbook (opens in a new window). Scholastic, 1995.
• Lurie, Alison. Don’t Tell the Grown-Ups: Why Kids Love the Books They Do (opens in a new window). Avon, 1990.
• Marcus, Leonard. Author Talk (opens in a new window). Simon & Schuster, 2002.
• Marcus, Leonard. A Caldecott Celebration: Seven Artists and Their Paths to the Caldecott Medal (opens in a new window). Walker, 2008.
• Marcus, Leonard. Comics Confidential: Thirteen Graphic Novelists Talk Story, Craft, and Life Outside the Box (opens in a new window). Candlewick, 2016.
• Marcus, Leonard. Funny Business: Conversations with Writers of Comedy (opens in a new window). Candlewick, 2009.
• Marcus, Leonard. Minders of Make-Believe (opens in a new window). Houghton Mifflin, 2008.
• Marcus, Leonard. Pass It Down: Five Picture Book Families Make Their Mark (opens in a new window). Walker, 2007.
• Marcus, Leonard. Side By Side: Five Favorite Picture Book Teams Go to Work (opens in a new window). Walker, 2001.
• Marcus, Leonard. The Wand in the Word (opens in a new window). Candlewick, 2006.
• Marcus, Leonard. Ways of Telling: Conversation On the Art of the Picture Book (opens in a new window). Dutton, 2002.
• Northrup, ALA. Telling Their Own Stories: Autobiographies of Children’s Book Creators (opens in a new window). (Article originally appeared in the May 2004 issue of Book Links).
• Silvey, Anita. The Essential Guide to Children’s Books and Their Creators (opens in a new window). Houghton Mifflin, 2002.
• Stabler, David. Illustrated by Doogie Horner. Kid Authors: True Tales of Childhood from Famous Writers (opens in a new window). Quirk Books, 2017. 
• Stewart, Melissa. Nonfiction Writers Dig Deep: 50 Award-Winning Children’s Book Authors Share the Secret of Engaging Writing (opens in a new window). NCTE, 2020.
• Thrash Murphy, Barbara and Deborah L. Murphy, editors. Black Authors and Illustrators of Books for Children and Young Adults (4th edition) (opens in a new window). Routledge, 2016.
• Townsend, John Rowe. Written for Children (opens in a new window). New York: HarperTrophy, 1990.