Detailed Reference:
Michigan Children's Book Authors and Illustrators: A to F

partial update 14 October 2009
compiled August 2000 by the Michigan Chapter of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators;
updated as new information is received from members
www.kidsbooklink.org

Shortcuts: Authors G to Q; Authors R to Z

Boni Ashburn, Author
Houghton, MI
email: boni@charter.net
Boni's website: www.boniashburn.com 
Hush, Little Dragon (Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2008), illustrated by Kelly Murphy

Carolyn Reed Barritt, Illustrator
Ann Arbor
Runner-up for the 2006 Don Freeman Grant from SCBWI.
email: carolyn@carolynreedbarritt.com
Carolyn's website: carolynreedbarritt.com
Books
The Day the Dragon Danced (Shen's Books, Fall 2006), written by Kay Haugaard, a picturebook.

Ruth McNally Barshaw, Author & Illustrator
Lansing, Michigan
email: ruthexpress@aol.com
Ruth's website: www.ruthexpress.com
Books
Ellie McDoodle: Have Pen, Will Travel (Bloomsbury, 2007), highly illustrated middle grade novel
Ellie McDoodle: New Kid in School (Bloomsbury, 2008), highly illustrated middle grade novel
Ellie McDoodle: Best Friends Fur-Ever (Bloomsbury, 2010), highly illustrated middle grade novel
Forthcoming middle grade novel (Bloomsbury, 2010)

Albert A. Bell, Jr., Author
Holland, MI
e-mail: bell AT hope DOT edu
Albert's website: www.albertbell.com
The Secret of the Lonely Grave (Ingalls Pub. Group, 2007), middle-grade novel
The Secret of the Bradford House (Ingalls Pub. Group, 2010), middle-grade novel

Karen Bell-Brege, Author
Brighton, MI
email: mickmorrisinfo@yahoo.com
Karen's website: www.mickmorris.com; www.ghostboardposse.com  
All books illustrated by Darrin Brege
Ghost Board Posse #2 Aloha Haunts! (Team B Creative, 2009)
Ghost Board Posse #1 London Screaming! (Team B Creative, 2008)
Mick Morris Myth Solver # 5 Abominable Snowman...A Frozen Nightmare! (Team B Creative, 2009)
Mick Morris Myth Solver #4 Grudge of the Gremlins! (Team B Creative, 2007)
Mick Morris Myth Solver #3 Champ...A Wave of Terror! (Team B Creative, 2006)
Mick Morris Myth Solver #2 Bigfoot...Big Trouble! (Team B Creative, 2006)
Mick Morris Myth Solver #1 All Isn't Well in Roswell (Team B Creative, 2005)
The Chill Art Sketchbook-How to Draw 12 of Your Favorite Chillers Creatures (Audiocraft Publishing, 2005), non-fiction, co-author and illustrator Darrin Brege 
Forthcoming books
Sketch the Myths! (Team B Creative, 2010)
Kidprov, A Fun Guide to Improvisation! (Team B Creative, 2010)

o Joan Blos, Author

Crystal Bowman, Author
Grand Rapids, MI
email: bowmanmi@netscape.net
Crystal's website: www.crystalbowman.com  
Books
My Read and Rhyme Bible Storybook (Tyndale, August 2009) with Cindy Kenney, illustrated by Christiane Engel
Cracks in the Sidewalk (WinePress Group, new edition January, 2009), illustrated by Joel Tannis, poetry
The Otter and Owl Series--4 titles (Zonderkidz, 2008) illustrated by Kevin Zimmer, I Can Read Books
The Jake Series--6 titles (Zonderkidz, 2007-2008) illustrated by Karen Maizel, I Can Read Books
What Do I See? (Zonderkidz, 2008), illustrated by Pam Thomson, an I Can Read Book
My Cowboy Boots (Zonderkidz, 2008), illustrated by Meredith Johnson, and I Can Read Book
Boz and Friends (Zonderkidz, 2008), boardbook
Let's Learn Our ABC's with Boz (Zonderkidz, 2008), boardbook
The House in the Middle of Town (Standard, 2007), illustrated by Joy Allen, picture book
Mommy May I Hug the Fish? (Zonderkidz, 2007), illustrated by Donna Christiansen, an I Can Read Book
Holiday Picture-Boardbook Series--10 titles (Zonderkidz 2005-2008), illustrated by Claudine Gevry
Is God Always with Me? (Tyndale, 2006) illustrated by Elena Kucharik, picture book
The One Year Devotions for Preshoolers (Tyndale, 2004), illustrated by Elena Kucharik, devotional/picture book
My Cowboy Boots (Zondervan, 2002)
My ABC Bible/ My ABC Prayers (Zondervan, 2001)

Elizabeth Brandt, Illustrator
Holland, MI
email: brandt000@yahoo.com
Online Portfolio: www.theispot.com/artist/brandt
Books:
[all titles are chapter books in the Angela Anaconda series (Simon Spotlight), unless noted otherwise]
Green with Envy (Feb 2002)
The Fright Before Christmas (Oct 2001)
The Bidding War (Sept 2001)
Be Nice, Nanette! (March 2001)
The Trouble with Teachers (March 2001)
Building a Better Brother (Wright Group/McGraw Hill, Jan 2002)

Randy Bulla, Illustrator
Pontiac, MI
email: flyinr2001@yahoo.com
Father, Ford, $5 a Day (Lawells Publishing, 2003) historical fiction, written by Sherry A. Wells, cover art by Randy

Janie Bynum, Author & Illustrator
Kalamazoo, Michigan
email: janie@janiebynum.com
Janie's website: www.janiebynum.com
Books
written and illustrated by Janie (all are picture books)
Nutmeg and Barley (Candlewick, Feb 2006)
Santa Baby (Little, Brown & Co, 2005)
Pig Enough (Harcourt, 2003)
Altoona Up North (Harcourt, 2001)
Otis (Harcourt, 2000)
Altoona Baboona (Harcourt, 1999)
illustrated by Janie (picture books and early readers)
Hokey Pokey (Little, Brown & Co, Jan 2006), written by Lisa Wheeler
Slippers at Home (Dutton, 2005), written by Andrew Clements
Naptime for Slippers (Dutton, 2005) written by Andrew Clements
Bathtime Blues (Little Brown & Co, 2005) written by Kate McMullan
Get Busy Beaver (Orchard, 2004) written by Carolyn Crimi
Porcupining: A Prickley Love Story (Megan Tingley, 2003) written by Lisa Wheeler
Rock-a-Baby Band (Megan Tingley, 2003)
Edna the Elephant (Candlewick, 2002)
TooBig, Too Small, Just Right (Harcourt, 2001)

Nan Willard Cappo, Author
Farmington, MI
email: nancap@attglobal.net
Books
Cheating Lessons (Atheneum, Feb 2002), a YA novel

Valerie B. Scho Carey, Author
Ann Arbor, MI
email: vscarey@aol.com
*Books [all are picture books]
*Tsugele's Broom (Harper Junior Books, 1993)
*Maggie Mab and the Bogey Beast (Arcade, 1992)
*Quail Song (Putnam, 1990)
*The Devil and Mother Crump (Harper Junior Books, 1987)
*Harriet and William and the Terrible Creature (1985)

Jill Chambers, Illustrator
Holland, MI
Jill's website: www.jillellenchambers.com
Books
Ask Me If I'm a Frog (Stemmer House Pub, 1998, ISBN 0880451408), written by Ann Milton
Seeds of Love: For Brothers and Sisters of International Adoption (Folio One Pub,1997, ISBN 0965575314), written by Mary Ebejer Petertyl

Steven Lee Climer, Author
Wayne, MI
email: stevenleeclimer@hotmail.com
Steve's websites: www.stevenleeclimer.com and www.piecesoftheworld.net
Books:
Pieces of the World: The Rising Power (Silverlake Publishing, 2007)
Pieces of the World: Lighthouse Rock (Silverlake Publishing, 2004), fantasy novel
Pieces of the World: M (Silverlake Publishing, 2003)
Pieces of the World: Infinite Keep (Silverlake Publishing, 2003)
Forthcoming Books:
Pieces of the World: Jade City (Silverlake Publishing, 2008)

Kevin Scott Collier, Author/Illustrator
Grand Haven, MI
email: kevinscottcollier@yahoo.com
Kevin's website: www.kevinscottcollier.com
Kevin is a faith-based children’s book author, writing teacher, illustration instructor and Art Director for the Grand Haven Tribune daily newspaper.
Books
written and illustrated by Kevin:
Esther’s Channel (Baker Trittin Press, 2005)
illustrated by Kevin:
Benjamin Oliver Flanagan (New World Publishing, 2006)
Mice In My Tummy (New World Publishing, 2005)
The Little Sea Rock (New World Publishing, 2005)
If You’re Gonna Be A Monster (Book Locker, 2005)
Topsy Turvy Land (Hidden Pictures Publishing, 2005)
The Adventures of Peter Potato (New World Publishing, 2005)
written by Kevin:
barthpenn@heaven.org (Baker Trittin Press, 2004) Writer

Bernadine Cook, Author
Kincheloe, MI
Books
The Little Fish That Got Away (in continuious print 1956-1997, re-released by Harper Collins 2005), a picture book illustrated by Crockett Johnson

Kim Delmar Cory, Author
Holt, MI
email: kcory@lcc.edu
Kim's website: www.kdelmarcory.com
Books [titles are Michigan-based historical novels for grades 4-6]
Tending Ben's Garden (Royal Fireworks Press, 2009)
Home to Mackinac (Mackinac State Historic Parks, May 2006), Michigan based YA Historical Fiction
Charlie Boy (Royal Fireworks Press, 1999)
Lilly's Way (Royal Fireworks Press, 1998)

Mark Crilley, Author/Illustrator
Novi, MI
email: mark@markcrilley.com
Mark's website: http://www.markcrilley.com
Books
Miki Falls (four volumes, HarperCollins, 2007-2008), YA graphic novel series
Billy Clikk (two volumes, Random House Children’s Books, 2004-2005), young reader novels with illustrations
Akiko (ten volumes, Random House Children’s Books, 2000-2008), young reader novels with illustrations
“Akiko” (53 issues, Sirius Entertainment, 1995-2004), children’s comic book series
The Enormous Egg (illustrations only, text by Oliver Butterworth, Little, Brown, April 2009), young reader novel with illustrations.

Shutta Crum, Author
Ann Arbor, MI
email: shutta@shuttacrum.com
Shutta's website: www.shuttacrum.com
Books [all are picture books unless otherwise noted]
A Family for Old Mill Farm (Clarion, 2007)
The Bravest of the Brave (Knopf, January 2005), illustrated by Tim Bowers
My Mountain Song (Clarion, 2004), illustrated by Ted Rand
Click! (Stoddart Kids [Canada], 2002; Fitzhenry & Whiteside Ltd [US] Oct 2003), illustrated by John Beder
Spitting Image (Clarion, April 2003), a middle grade novel
House in the Meadow (Albert Whitman, March 2003), illustrated by Paige Billin-Frye
Fox & Fluff (Albert Whitman, Sept. 2002), illustrated by John Bendall-Brunello
All On A Sleepy Night (Stoddart Kids, 2001), illustrated by Sylvie Daigneault
Who Took My Hairy Toe? (Albert Whitman, 2001), illustrated by Katya Krenina
Forthcoming Books
[picture books unless noted otherwise]
Jubah, Li’l Sister (Hyperion/Jump at the Sun)
Thunder-Boomer (Clarion)
Shutta also writes Media for Adults

Marci Curtis, Author/Illustrator
Troy, MI
email: Curtisf8@aol.com
Marci's website: www.marcicurtis.com
Books [all are picture books]
Big Brother, Little Brother (Dial Books for Young Readers, 2004)
*I Was So Silly - Big Kids Remember Being Little (Dial Books for Young Readers, 2002) picture book
Big Sister, Little Sister (Dial Books for Young Readers, 2000)

Ardyce Czuchna-Curl, Author
Kalamazoo, MI
email: oakwoods@net-link.net  
Books 
Days of Gold (Oakwoods Media, 2002), young adult

Deborah Diesen, Author
Grand Ledge, MI
email: deborah@deborahdiesen.com
Deborah's websites: www.deborahdiesen.com and http://jumpingthecandlestick.blogspot.com/
Books:
The Pout-Pout Fish (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2008), illustrated by Dan Hanna
Forthcoming Books:
The Barefooted, Bad-Tempered Baby Brigade (Tricycle Press)

Kelly DiPucchio, Author
Macomb, MI
email: kelly.dipucchio@comcast.net
Kelly's website: www.kellydipucchio.com
Books [all are picture books]
How to Potty Train Your Monster (Disney-Hyperion, 2009), illustrated by Michael Moon
Sipping Spiders through a Straw (Scholastic, 2008), illustrated by Gris Grimly
Grace for President! (Hyperion, 2008), illustrated by LeUyen Pham
Mrs. McBloom, Clean up Your Classroom! (Hyperion, 2005), illustrated by Guy Francis
Dinosnores (HarperCollins, 2005), illustrated by Ponder Goembel
What's the Magic Word, Little Bird? (HarperCollins, 2005), illustrated by Marsha Winborn
Bed Hogs (Hyperion, 2004) illustrated by Howard Fine
Liberty's Journey (Hyperion, 2004) illustrated by Richard Egielski
Forthcoming Books
Alfred Zector, Book Collector (HarperCollins, 2010), illustrated by Macky Pamintuan
Gilbert Goldfish Wants a Pet, (Dial Books for Young Readers, 2011), illustrated by Bob Shea
Dog Days of School  (Disney-Hyperion), illustrated by Brian Biggs

Joan Donaldson, Author
Fennville, MI
email: sparrowmi@verizon.net
Joan's website: www.joandonaldson.com
Books
The Secret of the Red Shoes (Ideals Children's Books, Feb 2006), a picture book
A Pebble and a Pen (Holiday House, 2000, ISBN 0823415007), a middle grade novel
*The Real Pretend, a picture book illustrated by Tasha Tudor
Joan also writes media for adults.

Karen Douglas, Author
Lansing, MI
Books
Tales of Aesop (Perfection Learning, 1999) retold folktales
Tales of Ancient Civilizations (Perfection Learning,1999), retold folktales
Tales of Animals (Perfection Learning,1998) retold folktales
Tales of Enchantment (Perfection Learning,1998) retold folktales

Jean Sparks Ducey, Author
Niles, MI
Books
The Bittersweet Time (Eerdmans, 1995, ISBN 0802851134), a YA novel

Stacey Duford, Author
Beverly Hills, MI
email: sduford@aol.com
Stacey's website: www.stadeyduford.com
Books
The Fairy Painting (Mackinac Island Press, 2005), a picture book
See also Other Media for Adults

Nancy Edwards, Author
Port Huron, MI
email: nancy_leigh@hotmail.com
Books
Mom for Mayor (Cricket Books, Feb 06), a MG novel
Glenna's Seeds (Child and Family Press, 2000, ISBN 0878687882), a picture book

Jean Alicia Elster, Author
Detroit, MI
email: author@jeanaliciaelster.com
Jean's website: www.jeanaliciaelster.com
Books:
Who's Jim Hines? (Wayne State University Press, 2008), a middle grade novel
I'll Do the Right Thing (Judson Press, 2003), a picture story book, illustrated by Nicole Tadgell
I'll Fly My Own Plane (Judson Press, 2002), a picture story book, illustrated by Nicole Tadgell
I Have a Dream, Too! (Judson Press, 2002), a picture story book, illustrated by Nicole Tadgell
Just Call Me Joe Joe (Judson Press, 2001), a picture story book, illustrated by Nicole Tadgell

o Matt Faulkner, Author/Illustrator
Royal Oak, MI

Marcy Heller Fisher, Author/Educator
Bloomfield Hills
email: marcy@campfisher.com
more about Marcy's book, Fired Magic... on the web
Books
Fired Magic: Detroit's Pewabic Pottery Treasures (WSU Press, Great lakes Books, October 2003), historical fiction for ages 8-up, illustrated by Marjorie Hecht Simon
The Outdoor Museum: The Magic of Michigan's Marshall M. Fredericks (WSU Press, Great Lakes Books, April 2001), historical fiction for ages 8-up, illustrated by Christine Collins Woomer
Forthcoming Books
Painting for the People: Diego Rivera's Detroit Industry Frescoes (WSU Press, 200?)