Sophie Blackall, is this month’s featured CSLF author/illustrator, who has illustrated over thirty books for children. She is a Brooklyn-based multi-award-winning artist, whose awards include earning the 2016 Caldecott Medal for Finding Winnie, and again in 2019 for Hello Lighthouse. Her books, including the Ivy & Bean series are frequently featured on the New York Times bestseller list. In 2020, Sophie was awarded the Advance Australian Global Icon Award for her social impact as an ambassador for The Measles and Rubella Initiative to eradicate measles through vaccination – a partnership with UNICEF, The American Red Cross, WHO, CDC, and the UN Foundation. She also has been involved in promoting children’s literacy in Rwanda and Bhutan, with Save the Children. 

Sophie grew up in Willunga, South Australia spending her time reading books up in a gum tree, or drawing pictures at the beach with a stick. As a girl her biggest dream was to tell stories, and indeed she does so through her words and illustrations. Her work can be described as creating places to escape to during stormy times, and return from wiser, calmer, and changed. See TeachingBooks for more information on her books, including videos and resources. 

You can find Sophie Blackall’s Storytime illustration on a number of different products at the Library Advocacy Store. A percentage of the cost is donated to the California School Library Foundation. 

Renée Ousley-Swank School Library Technology Consultant

California Department of Education

California School Library Foundation Board Member