Author Study Resources

There are many, many sources of information to help in your author study. Take a look at this list of books about authors and illustrators, author studies, and children's literature. The Internet is a rich resource as well: browse these online resources for background on authors and illustrators and these links to more online information about author studies.

Books about authors/illustrators, author studies, and children's literature

Jenkins, Carol Brennan. The Allure of Authors. Portsmouth, N.H.: Heinemann, 1999.
Jenkins, Carol Brennan and Deborah J.D. White. Nonfiction Author Studies in the Elementary Classroom. Portsmouth, N.H.: Heinemann, 2007.
Kotch, Laura and Leslie Zackman. The Author Studies Handbook. New York: Scholastic, 1995.
Lurie, Alison. Don't Tell the Grown-Ups: Why Kids Love the Books They Do. New York: Avon, 1990.
Marcus, Leonard. Author Talk. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2002.
Marcus, Leonard. A Caldecott Celebration: Seven Artists and Their Paths to the Caldecott Medal. New York: Walker, 2008.
Marcus, Leonard. Minders of Make-Believe. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2008.
Marcus, Leonard. Pass It Down: Five Picture Book Families Make Their Mark. New York: Walker, 2007.
Marcus, Leonard. Side By Side: Five Favorite Picture Book Teams Go to Work. New York: Walker, 2001.
Marcus, Leonard. The Wand in the Word. Cambridge, Mass.: Candlewick, 2006.
Marcus, Leonard. Ways of Telling: Conversation On the Art of the Picture Book. New York: Dutton, 2002.
Silvey, Anita. Children's Books and Their Creators. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1995. (Paperback, somewhat abridged, edited is The Essential Guide to Children's Books. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2002.)
Silvey, Anita. 100 Best Books for Children. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2004.
Silvey, Anita. 500 Great Books for Teens. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2006.
Townsend, John Rowe. Written for Children. New York: HarperTrophy, 1990.

Author/Illustrator Study Unit. 7 May 2009. Esme Codell/Planet Esme.
Author Study. Clovis Unified School District. Clovis, Calif. 7 May 2009.
Author Study. Debra Henk. 8 May 2009.
Author Study: Improving Reading Comprehension Using Inference and Comparison. Claudia Moberly, Middleton, Idaho. 7 May 2009.
Author Study Project. Summit Middle School, Coquitlam, British Columbia. 7 May 2009.
Preparing to Do Author Studies. Laura Smolkin, University of Virginia. 30 April 2009.
Using Author Studies. Laura Kump, the Reading Lady. 7 May 2009.
Using Children's Picture Book Author Study to Enhance Literacy. Vicki L. Ardisana. 7 May 2009.
Preparing to Do Author Studies. Laura Smolkin, University of Virginia. 30 April 2009.