I can’t remember a time when I have not been drawing and painting!

As a child I loved picture books and memorized Mother Goose poems. I attended public elementary school in the Bronx, New York. In kindergarten, the teacher taught us the alphabet. She asked the students to draw a picture for each letter. When we reached Z, she helped us sew the pages together.

She then said, “You have just published an alphabet book!”

“You are the Author!
You are the Illustrator!
You are the Binder!
Take it home!
You are the Distributor as well!”

When we returned to class the next day, the teacher asked, “What happened when you shared your book with everyone at home?”

We shouted, “We were hugged, kissed, and praised by everyone!”

The teacher said, “Oh, you were receiving rave reviews for your one-of-a-kind limited editions! We will keep on publishing books!”

And to this day, from under five to over ninety-five, I am still publishing books!



From the May/June 2019 Horn Book Magazine: Special Issue: CSK Book Awards at 50. Find more information about ordering copies of the special issue.