Gail Gibbons

Gail Gibbons (born 1944) is an American writer and illustrator of children's books.

She was born in Oak Park, Illinois, and studied graphic design at the University of Illinois. After working as an artist for a children's show, she decided to write her own children's book. Her first book was Willy and His Wheel Wagon,^[1] a 32-page self-illustrated picture book published by Prentice-Hall. Some of her books were chosen as Reading Rainbow selections.

Awards

Source:^[2] City Art Director Club award, 1979, for The Missing Maple Syrup Sap Mystery

• American Institute of Graphic Arts award, 1979, for Clocks and How They Go
• National Science Teachers Association/Children's Book Council Award, 1980, for Locks and Keys, and 1982, for Tool Book
• Certificate of appreciation from U.S. Postmaster General, 1982, for The Post Office Book: Mail and How It Moves
• American Library Association Notable Book citation, 1983, for Cars and How They Go, and 1985, for The Milk Makers
• Washington Post/ Children's Book Guild Award, 1987, for contribution to nonfiction children's literature
• National Council of Social Studies Notable Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies, 1983, 1987, 1989, 1990, and 1992
• National Science Teachers Association Outstanding Science Trade Books for Children, 1983, 1987, 1991, 1998
• International Reading Association Children's Choice Award, 1989, 1995; American Bookseller Pick of the Lists, 1992

Selected works

Willy and His Wheel Wagon (Prentice-Hall, 1975), self-illustrated Salvador and Mister Sam: A Guide to Parakeet Care (P-H, 1975), self-illustrated Behold ... the Dragons Behold ... the Unicorns! Farming Fire! Fire! Giant Pandas How a House Is Built Knights in Shining Armor My Basketball Book Penguins Pigs The Seasons of Arnold's Apple Tree (1984) Tell Me, Tree: A Book About Trees for Kids The Milk Makers The Vegetables We Eat The Reasons for Seasons Emergency! Catch the Wind!: All About Kites Sunken Treasure Department Store Zoo Beacons of Light: Lighthouses Flying

Up Goes the Skyscraper Country Fair Click!: A book about cameras and taking pictures How a house is built Paper, Paper Everywhere Exploring the deep, dark sea Deadline!: From News to Newspaper My Football Book The Post Office Book: Mail and How it Moves Fill It Up! Weather Forecasting Pottery Place Playgrounds Farming My Basketball Book Trains The Reasons for Seasons Caves and Caverns Locks and Keys The Milk Makers The Honey Makers Tunnels Yippee-Yay!: A Book About Cowboys and Cowgirls Sun Up, Sun Down My Soccer Book

References

1. Children's book author and illustrator, Gail Gibbon
2. Gail Gibbons. Contemporary Authors Online. Detroit: Gale, 2007. Literature Resource Center

External links

• Official website
• Video interview with transcript, short biography, and more at Reading Rockets
• Gail Gibbons at Library of Congress Authorities, with 150 catalog records