Members' Preview for Sprites, Spells, and Splashes: Magical Beings in Picture Book Art

Isabel joined The Carle in 2022. As Associate Curator, she is committed to fostering curiosity about picture book art across all ages.

New York Times bestselling author and illustrator, Tony DiTerlizzi, has been creating children’s books for over twenty years. From fanciful picture books like The Spider & The Fly (a Caldecott Honor book), to chapter books likeThe Search for WondLa, DiTerlizzi imbues his stories with rich imagination. With Holly Black, he created the middle-grade series, The Spiderwick Chronicles, which has sold over 20 million copies, been adapted into a feature film, and translated in over thirty countries.

Esmé Shapiro is an author and illustrator of books for children. She grew up amongst the succulents and coyotes of Laurel Canyon, California. These days, she lives in an old farm house in the Catskills with her husband and their two scruffy dogs. A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, Esmé is a past recipient of both the Nancy Lee Rhodes Roberts Scholarship and the SILA West 53 Gold Award-Phillip Hayes Scholarship. She has exhibited at The Society of Illustrators and her work has been featured in Taproot, Quill and Quire, and Plansponsor Magazines. Her first book, OOKO, was nominated for a Governor General’s Literary Award and was # 1 on the National Post Best Seller’s List. Her book MY SELF, YOUR SELF was listed as one of the Best Children’s Books of the Year 2023 by The Bank Street College of Education. Follow her on Instagram at @esmeshapiro.

Saki Tanaka is a Mexican-Japanese author and illustrator who grew up moving around the world and now lives in Denver, Colorado. She likes to dream up enchanting stories that embrace young readers, empowering them find a sense of belonging and connection. Her picture books include Between Words: A Friendship Tale (Scholastic), and Nimbus Plays Alone (Macmillan). Her work has been exhibited at the New York Public Library, the Salmagundi Art Club, the Society of Illustrators, and The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art.