Jackie Urbanovic facts for kids

Jackie Urbanovic is a talented American author and illustrator. She is known for creating many popular children's picture books. You might know her from her own Max the Duck series, which she both wrote and drew! Jackie is a New York Times best-selling artist, meaning her books have been very popular.

She often visits libraries and schools to talk with children about books and art. Jackie is also a member of the Children's Book Guild, a group that supports children's literature. She lives and works in Silver Spring, Maryland, where she has a special studio for her creative projects.

Jackie's Journey to Becoming an Artist

Early Education and Art Training

Jackie Urbanovic studied art at the Maryland Institute College of Art. There, she earned a special degree called a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA). This degree helped her learn many skills in drawing and design.

From Graphic Design to Children's Books

After college, Jackie started her career in graphic design. This involves creating visuals for things like advertisements or websites. However, she soon realized she loved illustrating stories for children much more. She wanted to bring characters and worlds to life in books.

Learning to Write and First Big Projects

In 1997, Jackie decided to learn more about writing stories. She was mentored by a well-known author named Jane Resh Thomas. This helped her understand how to create engaging tales. Soon after, she sent her artwork to "Highlights" magazine. This led to her first big job illustrating a trade book called Spaghetti Eddie. This was an exciting step into the world of children's literature!