Chris Raschka
Chris Raschka is a two-time Caldecott Medal Winner and is the recipient of numerous awards and honors for his illustrations. He has been hailed by Publishers Weekly as one of the most original illustrators at work today, and continues to create stories and art that appeals to readers of all ages. Read Full BiographyAbout Chris Raschka
Chris Raschka is a multi-award winning author/illustrator of over 30 books for children. Named “one of the most original illustrators at work today” by Publishers Weekly, Raschka has been the recipient of two Caldecott Medals (for The Hello, Goodbye Window and the recent A Ball for Daisy) as well as a Caldecott Honor Award for the book Yo? Yes! A graduate of St. Olaf College in Minnesota, Chris had set his eyes on a career in medicine before realizing that art is where his heart was at. Shortly after his realization, he moved to New York City where he saw his dream of illustrating children’s books come to fruition.
Chris’s wordless picture book, A Ball for Daisy, received the 2012 Caldecott Medal and conveys the story of a small dog’s heartbreak over the loss of a beloved toy, a universal theme that all small children and their parents have dealt with at some point in their own lives. The book was widely embraced by reviewers and readers alike, and was named one of the 10 Best Illustrated Books of 2011 by The New York Times. The book received many accolades and starred reviews, being hailed as “a story that is noteworthy for both its artistry and its child appeal” by The Horn Book Magazine, which also commented that “rarely, perhaps never, has so steep an emotional arc been drawn with such utter, winning simplicity.” School Library Journal remarked, “Raschka’s genius lies in capturing the essence of situations that are deeply felt by children.”
His latest work, Seriously, Norman! is a middle-grade novel that follows 12-year-old Norman Normann after he fails an important state test, and is forced to work with a tutor. But his tutor has some unique ways of teaching, and soon Norman finds himself on a journey like no other.
Chris Raschka enjoys traveling to various locations (schools, libraries, conventions, etc.) where he can spread his love of children’s literature, art, and more to the audiences that hear him speak. Personable and friendly, Chris enjoys sharing his journey into children’s literature with the people that come to hear him speak. One of the most prominent children’s book illustrators for the last two decades, Chris is sure to keep crowds of any age entertained and engaged.
