Peter Catalanotto

Peter Catalanotto is an American author and illustrator of children's books. Educated at Pratt Institute, Catalanotto began his career as an illustrator in the 1980s, painting jackets for young adult books and illustrating for newspapers and magazines. After painting more than 150 young adult book jackets, including Judy Blume's "Just as Long as We're Together," editor Richard Jackson approached him to illustrate the picture book "All I See," written by Cynthia Rylant. Jackson encouraged Catalanotto to write his own stories after observing how his illustrations extended the text and introduced new ideas.

Catalanotto has published 50 books for children, 20 of which he has written, including "Ivan the Terrier," "Matthew A.B.C.," and "Emily's Art." The last two books in his emerging reader series, "Monkey & Robot," are graphic novels: "Monkey & Robot: Friends and Neighbors" and "Monkey & Robot: Flights of Fancy." He has also illustrated works by writers such as Mary Pope Osborne, Joanne Ryder, Megan McDonald, George Ella Lyon, and Robert Burleigh. His picture book "Emily's Art" received recognition from School Library Journal, and his watercolor imagery has been noted for enhancing texts and adding new dimensions to stories in the field of children's literature.

Catalanotto's career includes honors such as the Most Promising New Artist designation from Publishers Weekly, a Best Book for Teens designation from the American Library Association for "Soda Jerk," a Keystone Book designation for "Cecil's Story," and a Best Book designation from Publishers Weekly for "Who Came Down the Road?" He received the Carolyn Field Award for "Dreamplace," the Pennsylvania Library Association Lifetime Contribution to Children's Literature Award, and "Question Boy Meets Little Miss Know-It-All" was named to Kirkus Best Books. His book "The Painter" was featured on PBS Storytime.

Catalanotto has presented his creative process in more than 1,600 elementary schools across 40 states. He was commissioned to illustrate the White House holiday brochure and teaches the first children's book writing course at both Columbia University and Pratt Institute. Catalanotto has also narrated "Peter and the Wolf" with the Bucks County Symphony Orchestra. His speaking engagements at institutions such as the International Reading Association and the National Conference of Teachers of English highlight his expertise in children's literature and visual storytelling.