Laurie Keller

Last updated

Laurie Keller
Laurie keller 5172460 (cropped).JPG
Keller reading at the Gaithersburg Book Festival, 2014
BornMuskegon, Michigan, USA
OccupationIllustrator, writer
Alma mater Kendall College of Art and Design
GenreChildren's non-fiction, picture books
Website
lauriekeller.com

Laurie Keller is an American children's writer and illustrator. She has written and illustrated books for Henry Holt & Co. Books for Young Readers, and produced illustrations for others.

Contents

Life

Keller grew up in Muskegon, Michigan. After graduating high school, she took education classes at a local community college and studied dance until a friend brought her to see a show at the Kendall College of Art and Design, which re-sparked her interest, causing her to enroll and receive a degree from the college in illustration.

Following graduation, Keller worked for seven years for Hallmark Cards as a greeting card artist. While there, she was allowed to design entire cards, which caused her to consider writing and illustrating books. Starting in 1997, she made illustrations for Nickelodeon, and later in 1998, she directed 6 network ID's for the channel with Pitch Productions, using pipe-cleaners and cel animation.

Keller has written and illustrated six books for Henry Holt Books for Young Readers: The Scrambled States of America, an American geography book; Open Wide: Tooth School Inside, a dental book about tooth care; Arnie the Doughnut, about an anthropomorphic doughnut; Grandpa Gazillion's Number Yard, a number book, Do Unto Otters, a book about manners; and The Scrambled States of America Talent Show, the follow-up to her 1998 debut.

Books

As writer and illustrator

The Scrambled States of America

The Scrambled States of America
AuthorLaurie Keller
CountryUnited States
Subject Geography
Genre Fiction; Comedy
Publication date
1998
Media typeHardback
Pages32
ISBN 0-8050-5802-8
OCLC 38150163
[E] 21
LC Class PZ7.K281346 Sc 1998

Keller's first book, The Scrambled States of America, was released by Henry Holt Books for Young Readers in 1998. Uncle Sam tells the story about the Kansas, one of the 50 states of America becoming bored of where he is and organizing a party with Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri and Illinois, where the states meet each other and decide to trade places. The states enjoy their new locations (Nevada and Mississippi fall in love as a result.) But soon they become tired and want to move back to where they were before.

Publishers Weekly gave the book a positive review, noting that "hits hard to imagine a more engaging (or comical) way to learn the 50 states and their locations." [1]

  • A tie-in card game of the same name was published in 2002 by Gamewright. [2] It is a two to four-player game geared toward players 8 years old and up.
  • In 2008, Keller followed up with a companion book, The Scrambled States of America Talent Show. New York comes up with the idea of having all the states participate in a talent show. The states eagerly agree and prepare for their acts. However, Georgia has stage fright and is worried how her performance will go. Kirkus Reviews believed "this exuberant geographical jamboree will definitely leave readers in a state." [3] The book was a Junior Library Guild selection. [4]

Open Wide: Tooth School Inside

Open Wide: Tooth School Inside
AuthorLaurie Keller
CountryUnited States
Subject Biology
GenreFiction
Publisher Henry Holt Books for Young Readers
Publication date
2000
Media typeHardback
Pages40
ISBN 0-8050-6192-4
OCLC 41256282
617.6 21
LC Class RK63 .K44 2000

Open Wide: Tooth School Inside was Keller's second book and was released by Henry Holt Books for Young Readers in 2000. It tells the story of a day in a tooth school, with all 32 tooth students present. The book reviews the biology of teeth, tooth care, and teeth in history.

Arnie the Doughnut

Arnie the Doughnut
AuthorLaurie Keller
Cover artistkeller
CountryUnited States
Subject Donut
GenreFiction
Publisher Henry Holt Books for Young Readers
Publication date
2003
Media typeHardback
Pages40
ISBN 0-8050-6283-1
OCLC 49525694
[E] 21
LC Class PZ7.K281346 Ar 2003

Arnie the Doughnut was Keller's third book. Released in April of 2003 by Henry Holt Books for Young Readers, it is the story of an anthropomorphic chocolate frosted sprinkle doughnut named Arnie, who changes his fate after being purchased by Mr. Bing.

The story was also released on DVD in 2005, narrated by Michael McKean. [5]

Other Arnie the Doughnut books include:

  • Bowling Alley Bandit (2013). This book has received numerous positive reviews including – "yummy chapter-book series opener." [6] "Keller shrewdly targets hesitant readers with an abundance of goofy comedy" [7] " I would recommend this book to kids or adults that prefer silly books. It's very funny and made me laugh every page." [8] "This book, with comic type illustrations, will entertain children who enjoy humor, puns, and silliness." [9]
  • Invasion of the Ufonuts (2014)
  • The Spinny Icky Showdown (2015)
  • Hello, Arnie! (2020)

Grandpa Gazillion's Number Yard

Grandpa Gazillion's Number Yard
AuthorLaurie Keller
CountryUnited States
SubjectMathematics, Numbers
GenreFiction
Publisher Henry Holt Books for Young Readers
Publication date
2005
Media typeHardback
Pages32
ISBN 0-8050-6282-3
OCLC 56755961
[E] 22
LC Class PZ8.3.K294 Gr 2005

Grandpa Gazillion's Number Yard is the fourth children's book by Keller. Released in 2005 by Henry Holt Books for Young Readers, it tells, in rhyme, about the numbers 1 through 20 using the character of Grandpa Gazillion, who runs a junkyard full of numbers.

Do Unto Otters: A Book about Manners

Do Unto Otters
AuthorLaurie Keller
CountryUnited States
Subject Manners
Publisher Henry Holt Books for Young Readers
Publication date
2007
Media typeHardback
Pages40
ISBN 0-8050-7996-3
OCLC 76133475
[E] 22
LC Class PZ7.K281346 Do 2007

Do Unto Otters: A Book about Manners was released in 2007 by Henry Holt Books for Young Readers. Keller brings the "Golden Rule" to life in the form of Mr. Rabbit and his new neighbors, the Otters, who show kids that a simple "please" or "thank you" goes a long way in making friends, while animating every page with their well-behaved hijinks.

This book was a Junior Library Guild selection. [10]

Weston Woods distributes a fully animated version of this book on DVD under the same name. [11]

Kirkus Reviews stated "While kids may well have encountered the Golden Rule elsewhere, this explanation and elaboration nicely unifies what might otherwise seem like a dreary list of manners. This lively book is anything but." [12]

Birdy's Smile Book (2010)

Kirkus Reviews found that "The collaged illustrations are bold and textured and occupy white space in Keller's characteristically exuberant style." but "The narrative voice and illustrative feel ... are at odds with much of the content, which requires the sense of humor and irony of an older child. Whether they will embrace the presentation and Birdy's exhaustive salute remains open to question." [13]

Potato Pants! (2018)

Potato Pants! was Keller's seventh book and was released by Henry Holt Books for Young Readers in 2018. It tells the story of Potato and his eggplant nemesis, who struggle to find the perfect pants. The Weston Woods adaptation, released in 2019 and narrated by a full cast, was directed by Galen Fott.

As illustrator only

Related Research Articles

Elizabeth Fama is a young adult author, best known for her book Monstrous Beauty, a fantasy novel for teens. Her third book is Plus One, which published in April 2014.

William Bradley Strickland is an American writer known primarily for fantasy and science fiction. His speculative fiction is published under the name Brad Strickland except for one novel written as Will Bradley. By a wide margin his work most widely held in WorldCat participating libraries is The Sign of the Sinister Sorcerer, which concluded the Lewis Barnavelt series created by John Bellairs (1938–1991).

Ellen Potter is an American author of both children's and adults’ books. She grew up in Upper West Side, New York City and studied creative writing at Binghamton University and now lives in Candor in upstate New York. She has been a contributor to Cimarron Review, Epoch, The Hudson Review, and Seventeen. Her novel Olivia Kidney was winner of the Child Magazine Best Book award and was a Best Book of the Year selection for 8-12 year-olds by Parenting magazine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Morris Gleitzman</span> Australian writer

Morris Gleitzman is an English-born Australian author of children's and young adult fiction. He has gained recognition for sparking an interest in AIDS in his controversial novel Two Weeks with the Queen (1990).

<i>Catwings</i> Childrens fantasy story and picture book, 1989

Catwings is a series of four American children's picture books written by Ursula K. Le Guin, illustrated by S. D. Schindler, and originally published by Scholastic from 1988 to 1999. It follows the adventures of kittens who were born with wings. Catwings is also the title of the first book in the series. The series is in print from Scholastic as of August 2015.

Ellen Wittlinger was an American author of young adults novels, including Gracie's Girl and the Printz Honor book Hard Love.

<i>Tuesday</i> (book) 1991 picture book by David Wiesner

Tuesday, written and illustrated by David Wiesner, is a 1991 wordless picture book published by Clarion Books. Tuesday received the 1992 Caldecott Medal for illustrations and was Wiesner's first of three Caldecott Medals that he has won during his career. Wiesner subsequently won the Caldecott Medal in 2002 for The Three Pigs, and the 2007 medal for Flotsam.

<i>The Happy Lion</i> 1954 book by Louise Fatio and also a series of books

The Happy Lion (ISBN 0-375-82759-5) is a 1954 children's picture book by Louise Fatio and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin. The tale follows a Happy Lion in France who, after escaping the small zoo where he lives, is surprised that people, who loved visiting him there, are now scared of him.

<i>The Gentle Falcon</i>

The Gentle Falcon is a historical novel for young readers by Hilda Lewis, based on the story of King Richard II and his child bride, Isabella, written in first person from the point of view of a close companion of the Queen. It was published by Oxford University Press in 1952 and adapted as a television series by the BBC in 1954. In 1957 the first American edition was published by Criterion Books.

<i>Penguin</i> (book) Book by Polly Dunbar

Penguin is a 2007 award-winning children's picture book by Polly Dunbar. It is about a boy who receives a penguin as a present and how they interact.

Joyce Dunbar is an English writer. She primarily writes books for children, and has published over seventy books. Dunbar is perhaps best known for Tell Me Something Happy Before I Go To Sleep, This Is The Star, and the Mouse and Mole series. She is the mother of the children's writer-illustrator Polly Dunbar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Weston Woods Studios</span> American film production company

Weston Woods Studios is a production company that makes audio and short films based on well-known books for children. It was founded in 1953 by Morton Schindel in Weston, Connecticut, and named after the wooded area near his home. Weston Woods Studios' first project was Andy and the Lion in 1954, and its first animated film was The Snowy Day in 1964. In 1968, Weston Woods began a long collaboration with animator Gene Deitch. Later, they opened international offices in Henley-on-Thames, England, UK (1972), as well as in Canada (1975), and in Australia (1977). In addition to making the films, Weston Woods also conducted interviews with the writers, illustrators, and makers of the films. The films have appeared on children's television programs such as Captain Kangaroo, Eureeka's Castle, and Sammy's Story Shop. In the mid-1980s, the films were released on VHS under the Children's Circle titles, and Wood Knapp Video distributed these releases from 1988 to 1995.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wilfrid S. Bronson</span> American painter

Wilfrid Swancourt Bronson was an American natural history artist and a "prolific writer and illustrator of children's books on various aspects of animal life".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elizabeth Garton Scanlon</span> American writer

Elizabeth "Liz" Garton Scanlon is an American writer of children's books, primarily picture books in collaboration with other illustrators.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ellis Credle</span> American author

Ellis Credle (1902–1998) was an American writer. She wrote a number of books for children and young adults, some of which she also illustrated. Credle is best known as the creator of the acclaimed children's book Down Down the Mountain (1934) and other stories set in the South. While the most successful of her work has been called inspirational, some other stories were controversial for her depiction of African Americans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lynne Berry</span> American writer

Lynne Berry is an American writer of children's books, including the picture books Duck Skates from the Duck series, The Curious Demise of a Contrary Cat, and What Floats in a Moat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grace Moon</span> American novelist

Grace Moon (1884–1947) was an American children's author, publishing many works on Native American themes. Her most notable work was Runaway Papoose, which won a Newbery Honor in 1929.

Sidney Offit is an American writer. He is perhaps best known as the author of various children's books during the 1960s, including The Adventures of Homer Fink, illustrated by Paul Galdone. In 1971, Boys' Life wrote that "more than a few of BL's millions of readers must be among the millions who know Mr. Offit's books for young readers: The Adventures of Homer Fink, Soupbone, Cadet Attack, and Cadet Quarterback." Offit is currently the President of the Authors Guild Foundation, and teaches fiction writing at The New School, for which he was recognized in 2001 with a Distinguished Teaching Award. For decades, he has been a member of both the Century Association and PEN American Center, serving a number of terms on the latter's board of trustees. For 32 years, he was also curator of the George Polk Awards in Journalism.

<i>Ketzel, the Cat who Composed</i> 2015 picture book by Lesléa Newman

Ketzel, the Cat who Composed is a children's picture book by Lesléa Newman. Based on a true story, it is about the friendship between Moshe Cotel and a kitten, Ketzel, who composes a musical piece that Cotel enters into a music competition and receives a special mention.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patrice Barton</span> American illustrator of children’s literature

Patrice Barton is an American illustrator of children’s literature. She has created the art for more than 20 books in the picture book and chapter book formats.

References

  1. "The Scrambled States of America". Publishers Weekly. PWxyz LLC. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
  2. "The Scrambled States of America™ Game". gamewright.com. Gamewright. Retrieved June 21, 2015.
  3. "The Scrambled States of America". kirkusreviews.com. Kirkus Media LLC. May 20, 2010. Retrieved June 14, 2015.
  4. "The scrambled states of America talent show". willistonndlibrary.org. Williston Community Library. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
  5. "Arnie the Doughnut (2005)". IMDb. Retrieved June 21, 2015.
  6. "Bowling Alley Bandit". kirkusreviews.com. Kirkus Media LLC. March 17, 2013. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
  7. "Bowling Alley Bandit". Publishers Weekly. PWxyz LLC. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
  8. "Review of Bowling Alley Bandit". darienlibrary.org. Darien Library. June 25, 2013. Archived from the original on June 18, 2015. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
  9. "Read May 2014". ci.broomfield.co.us. Mamie Doud Eisenhower Public Library. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
  10. "New Books – December, 2009 New books for the week of December 7, 2009 Juvenile Collection". sils.unc.edu. University of North Carolina. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
  11. "Do Unto Otters (2008)". IMDb. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
  12. "Do Unto Otters A Book of Manners". kirkusreviews.com. Kirkus Media LLC. May 20, 2010. Retrieved June 14, 2015.
  13. "Birdy's Smile Book". kirkusreviews.com. Kirkus Media LLC. July 15, 2010. Retrieved June 14, 2015.