Laura Vaccaro Seeger authored and illustrated her first picture books as a child, and in the fifth grade wrote an essay firmly declaring that she was born to create picture books. After earning a bachelor of fine arts degree from the State University of New York-Purchase, she worked in Manhattan as an animator, artist, and editor in network TV, earning an Emmy Award for her opening animation for an NBC special. Among her many other awards are two Caldecott Honors, two Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Awards, and a Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Best Picture Book.
Laura’s paintings have been exhibited at many museums and galleries, including the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, the Mazza Museum of Picture Book Art, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Society of Illustrators, the New York Public Library, and the New York Nassau County Museum of Art.
Laura determines each book’s art style by the story, paying close attention to visual literacy while tenderly inspiring readers’ senses. Her various art styles have included layers of watercolor and pencil, acrylic or oils, collage, homemade paper, India inks, flat color, splotch painting using gigantic brushes, die cuts, and painting with twigs from her back yard. Laura notes, “With every book, I try to distill the story down to its essence, and I always draw upon strong feelings and beliefs while writing and illustrating.”
Laura and her husband divide their time between her native Long Island and New York City. She loves painting, writing, surfing, boating, tennis, running, playing the piano, and spending time with her family and friends.