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An all-star lineup of the most notable children's book illustrators working today peels back the curtain on the process of creating art for illustrated works for kids. In this inspiring and visually interactive program, these artists impart real-world knowledge about bookmaking, writing and illustrating picture book narratives, working with authors, editors, and agents, getting your work noticed, and how to pave the road to publication. Picture book writers, illustrators, kid-lit enthusiasts, and creators of all kinds will enjoy this informative and engaging program featuring Selina Alko, Nina Crews, Pat Cummings, Steven Savage.
Moderated by Andrea Davis Pinkney, New School Writing for Children and Young Adults faculty, Scholastic publisher and author.
Presented by the Creative Writing Program at The New School for Social Research.
The New School offered the first academic creative writing workshop in 1931 and pioneered a new philosophy of education. The idea: students would make their own lives and their own stories part of their education. Today, The New School continues to celebrate and cultivate daring and diverse new voices through its Creative Writing program. The value of this approach is reflected in the publications and achievements of our MFA Creative Writing graduates and faculty.
Visit New School Writing, the blog of the MFA Creative Writing Program, for interviews, profiles, and a digital bookshelf featuring the New School writing community.
Discover more Creative Writing Program events here.
Committed to amplifying diverse voices, The New School offers more than a thousand public programs and events each year, providing fresh perspectives and unique learning opportunities. These lectures, exhibitions, concerts, and performances feature prominent and emerging artists, activists, and thought leaders.
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Stephen Savage is a New York Times bestselling children’s book illustrator and author whose accolades include a New York Times Best Illustrated Book (Polar Bear Night), a Geisel Honor (Supertruck), and a Sendak Fellowship. In addition to books, he has illustrated for the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Time, Newsweek, and Entertainment Weekly. He’s taught illustration at the School of Visual Arts since 2001 and lives in Park Slope, Brooklyn with his wife, daughter and their dog.
Nina Crews is an award-winning children’s book author and illustrator of picture books for children from Pre-K through 3rd grade. 2025 brings two new titles Big Family Beach Day (pub. May) and Liftoff!: How the Apollo Moon Missions Made Alma Thomas’s Art Soar (pub. November.) Other titles include One Hot Summer Day, I’m Not Small, Not Done Yet: Shirley Chisholm’s Fight for Change, A Girl Like Me, The Neighborhood Mother Goose, Seeing into Tomorrow: Haiku by Richard Wright, and Extraordinary Magic: The Storytelling Life of Virginia Hamilton. While she is known for her distinctive photo collage style, Nina has put her camera aside to create digitally rendered and collaged illustrations in her latest projects. Nina’s work has been recognized by the ALA Notable Committee, the Black Caucus of the ALA, The Horn Book, Junior Library Guild, NCTE, CCBC, New York Public Library, Chicago Public Library, Bank Street College of Education, and many others. She is the recipient of the 2023 New York State Library Association’s Empire State Award. Nina is the daughter of children’s book authors and illustrators Donald Crews and Ann Jonas. She lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her husband and son.
Selina Alko is an award-winning author and illustrator who blends words and mixed-media art to tell stories of identity, social justice, and hope. Raised in Vancouver, Canada by a Turkish Jewish father and an Ashkenazi Jewish mother, Selina was deeply influenced by art, language, and activism from an early age. Her acclaimed books include: The Case for Loving: The Fight for Interracial Marriage, Sharing Shalom, Daddy Christmas & Hanukkah Mama, I is for Immigrants, and The Keeper of Stories. Selina lives in Park Slope, Brooklyn, where she draws inspiration from her neighbors, her heritage, and the ever-evolving experience of parenthood.
Pat Cummings is a Children's Book Illustrator, Author. Member: Authors Guild, Authors League Fund (President of the Board), Society of Childrens Book Writers and Illustrators (Advisory Boardmember), Society of Illustrators Original Art Show (Founders Award Chair), Writers Guild of America, East. Exhibits: Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, Brooklyn Public Library, National Museum of Women in the Arts, Society of Illustrators, Baltimore City Museum. Awards: NAACP Image Award, Boston Globe-Horn Book, Coretta Scott King, Orbis Pictus, NY Public Library Best Books.
