Laura Vaccaro Seeger

Children's Author

Laura Vaccaro Seeger writes and illustrates children’s books that seem disarmingly simple at first but reveal complex, conceptual ideas with every reading. She tackles big themes like friendship (Dog and Bear) and creativity (One Boy), and uses her design and animation background to bring a visual freshness to her books. Seeger’s award-winning and best-selling picture books encourage readers young and old to look closely and perhaps discover something hidden, and profound.

Biography

Laura Vaccaro Seeger grew up on Long Island, New York, with her parents, two brothers, a younger sister, and both grandmothers. She began to draw at the tender age of two — and never stopped. For as long as she can remember, she wanted to make picture books for children and by fifth grade had written and illustrated her own little library.

Seeger studied art at the School of Fine Art and Design at SUNY Purchase, where she received her BFA degree. After graduating, she moved to Manhattan and began a career as an animator, artist, and editor in network television. She created animated show openings and special segments for NBC and ABC for many years and she won an Emmy Award for an opening animation for an NBC special.

Seeger has continued her award-winning work through her second career as a children’s book author and illustrator. Her very popular picture books include the Dog and Bear series, The Hidden Alphabet, First the Egg (see video), and One Boy (see video). In her young career, she has received a 2008 Caldecott Honor, the Theodor Seuss Geisel Honors for both 2009 and 2008, a 2007 New York Times Best Illustrated Book Award, and the 2007 Boston Globe/Horn Book Award for Best Picture Book. She has worked closely with her editor, Neal Porter (Neal Porter Books/Roaring Brook Press) since the very beginning.

She still lives on Long Island, now with her husband, their two sons, and their dog, Copper, the star of her Dog and Bear series. Seeger takes long walks at the beach every day — where she works out ideas for current and future picture books — and paints in her studio every night.

Books by this author

Black? White! Day? Night! A Book of Opposites

Laura Vaccaro Seeger

Age Level:

3-6

Genre:

Nonfiction

A small bull is told to go away by a bigger bull. In turn, the little bull feels bigger when he calls smaller farm animals names (“chicken!” he shouts to chicken). The young bull deflates (literally) when called a bully. The gentle ending satisfies with forgiveness and friendship. Readers will appreciate the the humor created by double meanings of the words.

Bully

Laura Vaccaro Seeger

Age Level:

3-6

Genre:

Fiction

Dog and Bear

Laura Vaccaro Seeger

Age Level:

3-6

Genre:

Fiction

Dog and Bear: Three to Get Ready

Laura Vaccaro Seeger

Age Level:

3-6

Genre:

Fiction

Dog and Bear: Two’s Company

Laura Vaccaro Seeger

Age Level:

3-6

Genre:

Fiction

“First the egg” and then — with a page turn, readers see the previously concealed chicken. Later in the book words and paint become a story and a picture. Seemingly diverse, all objects are cleverly brought together in a final image. Finely designed, expertly crafted, this intriguing book uses die cuts on sturdy pages for a rich visual experience ideal for multiple readings.

First the Egg

Laura Vaccaro Seeger

Age Level:

3-6

Green

Laura Vaccaro Seeger

Age Level:

0-3

Genre:

Nonfiction

Lemons Are Not Red

Laura Vaccaro Seeger

Age Level:

6-9

One Boy

Laura Vaccaro Seeger

Age Level:

3-6

The Hidden Alphabet

Laura Vaccaro Seeger

Age Level:

3-6

Genre:

Fiction

Walter Was Worried

Laura Vaccaro Seeger

Age Level:

3-6

Genre:

Fiction

What if two seals play with a beached ball but a third seal isn’t invited to join them? What happens if the other two seals play in the water but the third one doesn’t? But in the third “what if” scenario, things turn out well for all! This seemingly simple saga is sure to require multiple readings — and generate lots of discussion.