My First I Can Read Books

MERCER MAYER began writing and illustrating children’s books in 1966, and since then, he has published over 300 titles. Readers can open almost any of his award-winning books and out may pop dragons, cuddly monsters, wonderful creatures, and endearing critters. Drawing from his own childhood adventures for inspiration, Mayer created one of children’s books most cherished characters, Little Critter. He currently lives in Connecticut.

James Dean’s art has sold in more than ninety galleries and shops across the United States. He has devoted his paintings to Pete the Cat for fifteen years and has turned his natural love for cats into his life’s work. James published his first adult book, The Misadventures of Pete the Cat, a history of his artwork, in 2006. He illustrated his first self-published children’s book, Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes, in 2008, and the follow-up book, Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes, in 2011. James lives in Savannah, Georgia, with his wife, four cats, and one dog. You can visit him online at www.petethecat.com.

Corey R. Tabor is the author and illustrator of Fox and the Jumping Contest, Fox and the Bike Ride, Fox Is Late, and the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award–winning Fox the Tiger. Corey lives in Seattle with his wife and son and spends his time making pictures and stories. You can visit him online at coreyrtabor.com.

Alyssa Satin Capucilli is the award-winning creator and author of the Katy Duck series and the bestselling Biscuit series, which has sold over twenty-four million copies. A dancer as well as a writer, she lives with her family in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York.

Pat Schories is the author-illustrator of many early readers for children. Her most recent books include Squeak the Mouse Likes His House, Pie for Chuck, and Pants for Chuck, all “”I Like to Read”” books published by Holiday House. She has also created several wordless books about a dog named JACK. Pat is also the illustrator of the highly acclaimed BISCUIT series of “”I Can Read”” books written by Alyssa Satin Capucilli and published by HarperCollins Her early readers include simple text with lots of repetition. She makes sure her illustrations mirror the text, which is vital for children learning to read. Pictures become reading cues. Her books are endlessly useful for encouraging careful observation, language development, sequencing, plot development, and ultimately, a love of books and reading. Many of her books have won awards, including Junior Library Guild Selection, Bank Street College of Education’s “”Best Children’s Books of the Year,”” CCBC Choices, select state awards, and starred reviews.

Olga and Aleksey Ivanov are renowned children’s book illustrators and classically trained commercial artists from Russia. This talented husband-and-wife team immigrated to the United States in 2002 and have been in high demand ever since. In all, the two have illustrated over 70 children’s books, three of which have sold more than 100,000 copies each.

Brandon Dorman lives in Puyallup, Washington, and is the creator of Pirates of the Sea! and Santa’s Stowaway, and the illustrator of Jack Prelutsky’s Be Glad Your Nose Is on Your Face, as well as Halloween Night, by Marjorie Dennis Murray.