No one in the town of Bonnyripple ever kept a grudge. No one, that is, except old Cornelius, the Grudge Keeper. Ruffled feathers, petty snits, minor tiffs and major huffs, insults, umbrage, squabbles, dust-ups, and imbroglios–the Grudge Keeper received them all, large and small, tucking each one carefully away in his ramshackle cottage. When a…

Read More

I’m so excited about the announcement of a new picture-book I’ll be working on later this year with my editor for MISS MAPLE’S SEEDS, Nancy Paulsen. The story, called OUR BABY, written by Varsha Bajaj, celebrates a baby elephant’s birth. The text is so sweet, and is bound to be a great new baby gift! I’ve been paying…

Read More

I created artwork for the cover of a sweet and emotional middle grade novel, The Desperate Adventures of Zeno and Alya, by author Jane Kelley, released earlier this Fall. The book goes between two characters’ stories: Zeno, a newly orphaned parrot, and Alya, an 11-year old girl struggling to recover from leukemia treatments. Jane Kelley’s story is…

Read More

I’m happy to be able to announce a new middle grade book series that I’ll be creating illustrations for called NOT EVEN CODY and CODY AND THE MEEN KIDS, by author Tricia Springstubb with publisher Candlewick Press. I’ve always admired the artistry of Candlewick books, and they’ve been one of the publishers I’ve hoped to…

Read More

My dad is an elementary art teacher and was recently reading from a book to his students with advice from Maurice Sendak to young artists. He sent me some of the quotes, and I couldn’t help but share them here: An illustration is an enlargement, an interpretation of the text, so that the reader will comprehend…

Read More

The Girl Scouts of America have invited me to be their featured artist on The Studio for this week, August 12, 2013. The Studio is a website where girls can learn about the craft of storytelling from their favorite authors and illustrators. How cool is that? Check it out >> http://forgirls.girlscouts.org/studio-feature-eliza-wheeler  

Read More

Friends shared three links with me this week that were inspiring:   16 Quotes About Writing for Children (Article on Mental Floss) http://mentalfloss.com/article/51869/16-quotes-about-writing-children One that especially resonates right now is from Margaret Wise Brown: “In this modern world where activity is stressed almost to the point of mania, quietness as a childhood need is too often…

Read More

Exciting news! I’ll be illustrating a new picture-book by Pat Zietlow Miller called “Wherever You Go”, with Little Brown Books! When I saw this announcement in Publishers Weekly Rights Report yesterday, it was extra exciting to scroll down to see illustrator friend and fellow mentee Brian Won’s picture sitting right there next to my own. Awesome, Brian!…

Read More

I’m not sure there’s anything more exciting to an illustrator than the moment you get to see your artwork in the final printed book. Better yet, a stack of printed books! I’m so grateful that Simon and Schuster chose me to illustrate Holly Black’s fabulous new middle-grade novel. You can’t see it in these photos,…

Read More

I have some amazing Kidlit artist friends, and at the top of that list sits Debbie Ohi. Debbie is an artist, writer, musician, gamer, and social media fiend. She generously shares great industry info with everyone around her. We have both been on similar career paths since we met in 2010 during the SCBWI summer…

Read More