Janet Stevens

Janet Stevens is a Caldecott Honor–winning author and illustrator of children’s books, known for her humorous, character-rich animal stories and art, including the picture book Tops & Bottoms, which received a Caldecott Honor. She has created and/or illustrated more than forty titles since her first children’s book was published in 1979 and has received numerous recognitions, such as American Library Association Notable designations, state children’s choice awards, and appearances on the New York Times Best Seller list.

Born in Dallas, Texas in 1953 and the youngest of three children, Stevens moved frequently as the daughter of a naval officer, later graduating from high school in Hawaii and earning a B.F.A. in Fine Arts from the University of Colorado. Before turning to children’s books, she worked in advertising, textile design, and architectural illustration, and she is especially known for her “quirky” animal characters and for collaborations with her sister and coauthor Susan Stevens Crummel on books including The Little Red Pen, The Great Fuzz Frenzy, and Help Me, Mr. Mutt!. She lives in Colorado.