children’s book illustrators

I write and illustrate children’s books, and other books. I live in Greenwich Village with my family, though I spend a lot of time in Brooklyn, writing in cafes and drinking too much coffee. (Pictured here with my espresso machine and our lazy barista.)

☕ CUPPA OF CHOICE: Stumptown, Hair Bender beans. My morning Cortado.

☕ HOT OFF THE PRESS: 8: An Animal Alphabet (Orchard Books, 2015).

☕ FAVE FOODIE CHILDREN’S BOOK(s): Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey (Puffin, 2002), or, In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak (HarperCollins, 1996).

☕☕ Visit Elisha Cooper’s Official Website

☕☕☕ JUST ONE MORE SIP: Check out Elisha’s Facebook Author Page for very cool behind-the-scenes tidbits about 8: An Animal Alphabet.

☕☕☕☕ CAN’T GET ENOUGH: Elisha discusses the genesis of 8: An Animal Alphabet and shares wonderful pics and sketches at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast.

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*Carla and Joe, husband and soulmate of 28 years.*

Today, I’m thrilled to welcome award winning artist, author, illustrator, and teacher, Carla Golembe, to alphabet soup!

I first learned about Carla’s beautiful work back in the 90’s, when she signed on to illustrate my third picture book, The Woman in the Moon. Back then, it was frowned upon for authors and illustrators to communicate about book projects, so we never met or even wrote to each other in those pre-email days. Instead, I oohed and ahhed over some of the books she had illustrated for Mary-Joan Gerson, like People of Corn, How Night Came from the Sea, and Why the Sky is Far Away, a New York Times Best Illustrated Book.

Carla’s art is eminently suited for multicultural stories. She is especially adept at capturing the essence, rhythms, and natural beauty of places like Central America, Brazil, Nigeria, and Hawai’i through her sensual, color-saturated, vibrant and exotic paintings, which bring to mind Frida Kahlo, Matisse, Gauguin, and some of the whimsical and mystical elements of traditional folk art. On her website, she says her intention is “to create a visual haven that encourages viewers to enter my personal vision.”

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