My Friends Make Me Happy!

Jan Thomas’ picture-book career started when she was sitting on the couch with her son, trying to interest him in a picture book. He wasn’t interested. Jan got out a sketchpad and wrote and illustrated a simple story. It seemed to do the trick. A few years later, a friend asked Jan to come along with her to a Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators conference. Jan brought the story, WHAT WILL FAT CAT SIT ON?, and a couple of weeks later, she had a contract! Jan’s books have received a lot of recognition, including numerous state children’s choice awards, Junior Library Guild Premier Selections, Bakers’ Dozen lists, Bank Street Best Book of the Year, and New York Public Library—100 Books for Reading and Sharing selections. Her books have also been recognized as a Kirkus Best Book of the Year, Nick Jr. Best Book of the Year, an Oppenheim Toy Portfolio selection, and have also been made into audio books, and animated and broadcast on the PBS program Between the Lions. When Jan’s not working on children’s books, she’s hanging out with her husband, sons, and rambunctious dogs. When she’s not doing that, she’s running and painting in the magnificent mountains of New Mexico.