m a r y z i s k • i m a g e s a n d w o r d s
picture me a story
I've loved children's books forever and treasured all my Golden Books (I still have them) because of the illustrations. My favorites are The Pokey Little Puppy, Gaston and Josephine, Animal Friends, and Little Red Riding Hood. As I got into elementary school and junior high, my favorite books were ones that were illustrated by Robert Lawson, Thornton Burgess, Louis Darling, and Robert McCloskey.
In 8th grade, I wrote and illustrated my first book, Clyde the Chartreuse Cow. My English teacher sent it in to a contest, but it was rejected.
In my twenties, I took childrens' book classes at Parsons School of Design and wrote and illustrated my next book, Hillary's Museum. I sent it to one publisher and it was rejected (hmm, maybe I should take a second look at it).
Never losing my interest in kids' books, I finally published my first book in 2001, The Best Single Mom in the World: How I Was Adopted (A.Whitman & Co.). When I adopted my daughter as a single mother, there weren't any books I could read to her that fit our situation. The closest I found was Dr. Seuss's Horton Hatches the Egg. So, by writing and illustrating my book, I was able to fill a neglected niche.
In 8th grade, I wrote and illustrated my first book, Clyde the Chartreuse Cow. My English teacher sent it in to a contest, but it was rejected.
In my twenties, I took childrens' book classes at Parsons School of Design and wrote and illustrated my next book, Hillary's Museum. I sent it to one publisher and it was rejected (hmm, maybe I should take a second look at it).
Never losing my interest in kids' books, I finally published my first book in 2001, The Best Single Mom in the World: How I Was Adopted (A.Whitman & Co.). When I adopted my daughter as a single mother, there weren't any books I could read to her that fit our situation. The closest I found was Dr. Seuss's Horton Hatches the Egg. So, by writing and illustrating my book, I was able to fill a neglected niche.
You can buy my book through amazon.com.
Click on images below to enlarge.
All images, copyright Mary Zisk, 2010
works in progress:
Illustration sample for 'Oliver's Week'
Happy Birthday, Oliver!
works in progress
I continue to write and illustrate in hopes of publishing again. Here are some hints about my works in progress:
* A middle grade novel about 1964 and a girl who wins a Beatles contest.
* A picture book about a dog groomer with high aspirations.
* A picture book about playdates that is like a combination of HGTV and Where's Waldo?.
Do any of these sound interesting to you? Let me know at mziskjr@optonline.net
* A middle grade novel about 1964 and a girl who wins a Beatles contest.
* A picture book about a dog groomer with high aspirations.
* A picture book about playdates that is like a combination of HGTV and Where's Waldo?.
Do any of these sound interesting to you? Let me know at mziskjr@optonline.net
Illustration assignment for NJSCBWI Illustrator Intensive Workshop
Pen and ink, watercolor, and colored pencils